29/04/2008

Londoner Nuru Rimington-Mkali (21) has won the first annual Filmaka feature film competition with his short And I Refuse to Forget. He will receive $5 million funding for his feature directorial debut, which Filmaka will produce.

Filmaka was set up by producer Deepak Nayar (Bend it Like Beckham, Buena Vista Social Club) and erstwhile Fox Entertainment Group head Sandy Grushow to provide opportunities for undiscovered filmmakers and writers from across the world. Judges for the competition included Colin Firth, Werner Herzog, Neil LaBute, John Madden and Wim Wenders.

Nayar said, “The quality of films Filmaka received was excellent! In a community of more than 3,600 filmmakers and film lovers, Nuru stood out among them and rose to the top.”

Grushow added, “Nuru is a great example of how Filmaka creates professional opportunities for undiscovered talent. Our annual competitions are a powerful engine for generating top-quality content from our expanding community. We look forward to working with many of the 2007 finalists and in seeing the exciting new works our 2008 competitions will deliver!”

LaBute said, “I found Nuru’s film a wonderfully impressive paranoid thriller that was told with great economy and vivid imagery. I was also duly impressed with his technical work on the picture – which was very assured – and I feel that Nuru has great potential as a feature director.”

Rimington-Mkali said, “I have been making films for several years, spurred by a passion for cinema and joining the Filmaka community has allowed me to pursue my ultimate dream of creating a feature film.”

Anne Heeno from Copenhagen and Max Sacker of Berlin were amongst the runners-up and were awarded $2000 each. Filmaka’s 2008 competition is now open.