Fireworx Marketing and Distribution (FMD) is a new marketing and distribution company focused on South African and African documentaries and features, handling straight to DVD and broadcast rights.

It works with formal DVD wholesale distributors such as Next Video, bookstores such as Xara and Clarks Books and other retailers to deliver non-traditional DVD releases through a network of sellers.

The division was launched in August 2009 and has so far distributed the popular South African feature comedy SWOP in a straight-to-DVD and TV release, has licenced numerous social/human interest documentaries such as the award winning Sea Point Days, Reflections of Xenophobia and Courting Justice for DVD and to local and international broadcasters and to South African libraries via 3rd party distributors.

In the second quarter of 2010, FMD will launch a Section 21 NGO that will see the splitting of it’s distribution activities into 2 distinct areas. The NGO will market and promote documentaries to schools, universities, government agencies, NGO’s museums, galleries and cultural centers, while FMD will continue to sell and distribute more entertainment and commercially oriented films.

In 2010, the company has plans to release uGugu no Andile, Chimro and The Adventures of Bamuza, and will expand into other regions of South Africa and Africa.

Dan Jawitz and Charlie Sapadin co-manage FMD.

Dan has been involved in the distribution of African film for the past 15 years. He has released numerous feature films onto the South Africa Cinema circuit working with Ster Kinekor and Film Resource Unit and worked as a consultant to Film Resource Unit for many years. He is also an executive producer of numerous documentaries and won an Emmy in 2006 for "most outstanding cultural and artistic achievement" for the film A Lions Trail. He currently advises the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) on distribution and marketing.

Charlie is a graduate of the USC School of Cinema-Television and has written, produced, and edited numerous television drama, documentary, and feature film projects including the SAFTA winning The Lab, Hard Copy, and Rhythm City. In 2007, he created Dark Continent Pictures with director/producer Hlomla Dandala which produces low-budget feature films for the home entertainment market.

For more information contact Dan or Charlie.