Head Up heads for New York

Sidney Baitsile
Correspondent | Wednesday March 11, 2009 00:00

 

It has been officially accepted into the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival (NYIIFVF) for screening from March 19-26.

A letter from Stuart Alson, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the prestigious New York Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF), the largest independent film festival in the world, says: 'We are delighted to be exhibiting this great film in our well-established international section. Our festival has proven to be a valuable experience for international filmmakers as they get a chance to win awards and network with American buyers, distributors and members of the press.'

NYIIFVF was founded in 1993 by entertainment impresario Alson and has been recognised by the film and entertainment industry as one of the leading film events on the festival calendar. Each festival, NYIIFVF exhibits over 200 films, world premieres, high quality documentaries, short films and animations from around the world.

The festival exhibits in the two entertainment capitals of America - New York and Los Angeles. Traditionally, the event kicks off with a huge networking party, followed by seven days of screenings, red carpet premieres, panels with industry executives and after-parties in premier locations.

NYIIFVF attracts many global entries from various countries across the globe, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, India, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, to name a few. The scope of the festival ranges from high profile to novice, so audiences can experience an array of films and individuals driven by independent movie making.

Past festivals have included the work of Abel Ferrara, Andy Garcia, Benjamin Bratt, Calista Flockhart, Cameron Diaz, Chad Allen, Christopher Walken, Daryl Hannah, Kristanna Loken, Danny Trejo, Drea De Matteo, Dominique Swain, Zac Efron, Eva Herzigova, Guy Pearce, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Modine, Melanie Griffith, Meryl Streep, Michelle Philips, Rod Steiger, Susan Sarandon, Tippi Hedren, Tony Danza, Vin Diesel and Willem Dafoe.

The NYIIFVF is a competitive event and is dedicated to making things happen for emerging filmmakers and screenwriters. The festival has cultivated excellent relationships with hundreds of companies in New York and Los Angeles.

We are constantly following up with acquisitions representatives from Peace Arch, ITN Distribution, LionsGate, Maverick Entertainment, Showtime, HBO, Comedy Central, etc, in the hope that they will acquire and distribute independent films from our extensive library.

The festival is known as 'the voice for independent film' and receives extensive coverage in major publications, including: Variety, CNN, New York Observer, New York Times, LA Times, LA Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, Fox TV, Time Out NY, E News, Daily News, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Screentalk Magazine, to name a few. The festival's distribution wing, 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 deal possible for international filmmakers and buyers.

ITN's objective is to become a top source for attracting, acquiring, understanding and selling products and their international presence at Cannes, NATPE, and American Film Market (AFM) has shaped a realistic approach to selling, programming and closing deals with buyers worldwide. Alson says: 'The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival cares about filmmakers. We are passionate about exposing the films and documentaries that people make. We are very proud of our filmmakers and have a long list of festival friends, delegates and repeat clients'.

Thabiso Maretlwaneng attended a film and television school at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, where he also starred in a karate team, winning several medals. Upon returning from Australia he worked at the Botswana Gazette in the sports department while assisting Shike Olsen with video production. Olsen is Channel O's multiple award winning music video producer. Maretlwaneng recently set up his own, Dee-Zone production company, that has already produced a number of great videos for the likes of Star Luu, Babalabadi, T.H.A.B.O.'s Untshwarable, Steez's Rhyme Supreme, his younger brother MIC's MIC, Real Magosi Oyi, TDot's Valentine, and Skazo's Follow Follow.

He recently shot a video in downtown Johannesburg for a South African-based Motswana hip-hop artist, T-Ray. Maretlwaneng's trip to New York has been made possible by Ren Partson, a businesman based in Maun whom he thanks profusely for funding part of the trip. Partson owns lodges in the Okavango Delta and has upcoming projects in the music industry.

He also owns a record label called Maun Brand that is aimed at nurturing talent of rappers in Maun. Maretlwaneng has shot two music videos from one of the soon to be released projects from this label. We wish Maretlwaneng a safe trip to The Big Apple and great screening of Head Up!