Distribution deal ahead for Maretlwaneng film

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 28, 2009 00:00

Maretlwaneng's award winning documentary, based on the emergence of Australian hip-hop, could soon be distributed to television channels around the world. The film owner says he is currently in negotiations with a USA distribution company, ITN Distribution, which also happens to be the distribution wing for the New York Independent Film and Video Festival. 'We are still negotiating the contract as to how I will be benefiting. They will find television channels around the world to buy the film. They will also distribute the DVD around the world. It played on cinema and people liked it very much,' Maretlwaneng told Monitor Showbiz.

ITN Distribution, Inc. travels to major film and television markets and has acquired quality products from all over the world. Headquartered in New York and Las Vegas, the company has quickly established itself as a major player in the world of distribution and specialises in negotiating the best deals possible for international filmmakers and buyers.

Maretlwaneng, 26, attended the film festival from the March 19-26th 2009. The trip was sponsored by the American Embassy in Gaborone. His documentary feature, which he produced as a film student in Australia, was officially accepted to screen at the festival on the March 21st at the Village East Cinemas in New York.

The Best Soundtrack honour, awarded to Head Up, was based on the 15 music soundtracks featured in the documentary film recorded in Australia from various artists. The main theme soundtrack is called Head Up, recorded by 360, a hip-hop group in Melbourne comprising of UK-born Mike Justice and Chapter One.

The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF), is the largest independent film festival in the world. Founded in 1993 by entertainment impresario, Stuart Alson, NYIIFVF has been recognised by the film and entertainment industry as one of the leading film events on the festival calendar. At each festival, NYIIFVF exhibits over 200 films, world premieres, high quality documentaries, short films and animations from around the world.