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Opportunity for African Filmmakers to develop scripts in South Africa, Nigeria and Switzerland

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Six African filmmakers will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop their fiction film story ideas and work-in-progress scripts in a three-month residency that includes attending film industry programmes in three countries in the 2022 edition of the Realness African Screenwriters’ Residency.

Now in its 7th year, the residency takes place from 3 August to 13 November, and is open to any African on the continent or living in the Diaspora.

This year’s exciting news is that the Realness Institute has partnered with the Locarno Filmmakers’ Academy (Switzerland) so that these filmmakers can attend the Locarno Film Festival, and the Academy’s creative incubation programme “BaseCamp”. In addition, one of the selected six will also attend the Academy, the festival’s industry development programme.

Following this, the cohort will spend 6 weeks at the tranquil and nurturing Nirox and Farmhouse 58 in The Cradle of Humankind, in South Africa, where they will be mentored by Story Consultants Selina Ukwuoma and Mmabatho Kau and Creative Producer, at Urucu Media, Cait Pansegrouw. Elias Ribeiro, Executive Director of the Realness Institute, will accompany the group to the Locarno Film Festival and Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development and Partnerships at the Realness Institute, will accompany the cohort to the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

From 7 to 13 November they will attend AFRIFF, in Lagos, Nigeria. Here they will have the chance to attend the festival to take meetings and present their projects to an audience of potential stakeholders. The Realness team will develop and present a two-day programme, dedicated to development, during AFRIFF’s Industry event.
Head of Locarno Filmmakers’ Academy and Project Manager for BaseCamp, Stefano Knuchel says, “After five years of an inspiring and fruitful collaboration between Realness and the Locarno Film Festival, by selecting every year one Realness talent for our prestigious Filmmakers Academy, we’re happy to deepen our exchanges by welcoming all the Realness participants in our new creative initiative called BaseCamp. The BaseCamp is a unique space in the context of film festivals, where 200 young talents from very different creative fields and from all over the world gather in a huge ex-military headquarters during the Locarno Film Festival to enjoy privileged access to the content of the Festival and also to create an utopian space, where they give shape to different forms of creations. An innovative concept that allows the experimentation of new languages and new hybrid forms of creation.”

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“Africa has been at the forefront of storytelling from the very beginning. We are passionate about telling our authentic stories. It is important to script our stories well for the global audience hence the partnership with the Realness Institute,” says Chioma Ude, Founder and Executive Director of AFRIFF.

Finally, the most promising projects will be awarded participation in the prestigious La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde in Cannes, receive an EAVE Producers’ Workshop partial Scholarship, invitation to TorinoFilmLab Meetings Event and Locarno Filmmakers Academy.

“We are thankful to our old partners and excited to welcome our new. Nigeria is an exciting market we have long been interested in entering so it’s wonderful that our writers will get a chance to showcase their projects at AFRIFF,” says Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development and Partnerships for the Realness Institute

Online submissions are now open for this intensive programme that is offered by the Realness Institute, the South African-based NPO that aims to develop African stories created by Africans for a global film market.

The programme is open to anyone who has a valid African passport. Full application criteria and how to apply can be found on the Realness Institute’s website: https://www.realness.institute/realness-residency

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The highly regarded programme is presented in partnership with Urucu Media, Nirox Foundation, Farmhouse 58, AFRIFF, the French Institute of South Africa and Institute Français’ La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, TorinoFilmLab, Locarno Filmmakers’ Academy, Cocoon, CNC, EAVE, IFFR Pro, IEFTA , Berlinale Talents and Area51.

Deadline for submissions is 7 March 2022.
Follow Realness on Twitter @rlnsinstitute, Instagram realnessinstitute or Realness Institute on Facebook for up to date information.

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Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful sales team. When sales leaders harness the power of clear and constructive interaction, they create an environment where trust prospers, and their effectiveness soars through the roof in terms of coaching sales teams. From active listening to personalized feedback, each conversation shapes the future of sales engagements. This impacts not only the team’s cohesion but also its ability to close deals and foster client relationships. In this article, we explore how communication channels and styles can significantly impact sales team dynamics and outcomes.

Understanding the Impact of Effective Communication in Sales Team Performance

Effective communication fosters a culture of transparency, enabling a sales team to operate as a united front. When sales representatives understand the goals, strategies, and tactics at play, they are better equipped to function cohesively. Clear guidelines and expectations mitigate confusion and provide a solid foundation from which sales teams can rise to the occasion.

Beyond clarity, effective communication also involves empathy and understanding. Sales managers who listen to their team’s feedback and concerns can make informed decisions that boost morale and productivity. Acknowledging achievements and addressing challenges head-on shows a level of engagement that encourages team members to strive for excellence.

Leveraging Active Listening to Identify Sales Opportunities

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Active listening extends beyond simply hearing a client’s words; it involves understanding the underlying needs and desires that drive their actions. For sales professionals, this skill is critical in identifying opportunities that might otherwise be missed. Active listening can reveal the subtle nuances of a sales conversation, leading to more effective positioning of products or services.

Sales coaching often highlights the importance of active listening in building rapport with clients. When team members demonstrate that they truly understand a client’s situation, it builds trust and credibility—two essential components in any sales relationship. By mirroring and validating client concerns, sales professionals increase the likelihood of a successful transaction.

However, beyond understanding the client, active listening within the team itself is also vital. When sales leaders listen to their representatives, they capture valuable insights into frontline experiences, customer feedback, and product pain points. This internal intelligence is instrumental in refining strategies and addressing market challenges.

The Power of Constructive Feedback in Sales Team Development

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To be truly effective, feedback must be timely and relevant. This means highlighting specific instances where a sales representative excelled or could use improvement, rather than vague generalizations. In doing so, sales leaders set clear benchmarks for performance and create a roadmap for individual and collective progress.

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Recognizing that each sales representative has a unique communication style is essential for leaders nurturing their teams. Customizing the delivery of training content to match the learning preferences of each member can lead to more effective uptake of sales techniques and improved performance. This means varying the mode of delivery between written, visual, or experiential learning as necessary.

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Measuring the Success of Communication Strategies in Sales Growth

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Any communication strategy’s effectiveness is ultimately measured by its impact on sales growth. Tracking key performance indicators like lead conversion rates, customer retention, and sales cycle lengths can provide tangible insights into the success of communication methods. Regularly analyzing these metrics enables leaders to fine-tune their approaches for optimal results.

Tools such as customer relationship management (CRM) software provide a treasure trove of data to assess communication efficacy. By examining patterns in customer engagement and sales outcomes, sales leaders can identify which communication tactics are resonating and which need reevaluation.

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