The Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) not only recognizes Youth Month as an important historical time of remembrance of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, but also celebrates the youth as an integral part of society. To commemorate this, the GFC seeks to empower the youth as future pioneers through select Youth Month activities occurring throughout June 2022.
The GFC kickstarted the festivities by supporting the #FunkITImWalking night walk which took place in Soweto on Thursday, 2 June to promote the safety of women in our country. The walk began at the historical Vilakazi Street and featured a visit to various heritage sites such as the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the Hastings Ndlovu site narrated by Mr Seth Mazibuko, the youngest member of the South African Students’ Organisation that planned and led the Soweto uprising. The night concluded with a dinner and live performance by singer and songwriter, Nomsa Mazwai at The BoxShop Lifestyle- Top Deck.
The GFC Acting CEO, Ms Keitumetse Lebaka, said, “The youth are, and will always be our future. Through this night walk, we aim to highlight the importance of a bustling nightlife for the township economy and get the youth engaged with activities that support their growth. The GFC is incredibly happy to be a partner for this event as we continue to build the lives of future pioneers throughout Gauteng.”
The GFC joined as a filming partner to capture this historic event as they believe it will be a landmark occasion for future generations of South Africans to witness and to recognise the incredible work our current generation is doing. Over and above that, the youth are the biggest drivers of the film industry which is GFC’s key mandate. The GFC also knows that safety is the key requisite for the film industry, in particular for women and youth. As such, they will always have the support of the GFC as they continue to nurture an industry that provides an inclusive and safe space for the continued development of the South African Youth.
Beyond the walk, the GFC will also be engaging in other activities throughout Youth Month, namely:
- Saturday, 4th of June – Sports Day at the Sports Ground in Orlando East
- Monday, 13th of June – Kids Dialogue Session, YMCA/DOCC in Orlando East
- Wednesday, 15th of June – Youth Engagement Dinner at The BoxShop Lifestyle
- Thursday, 16th of June – Youth Day Commemorative Walk at Morris Isaacson High
- Thursday, 16th of June – Youth Market at The Box Shop Lifestyle Parking Lot
- Friday, 24th of June – Discover Summit Inaugural Lecture at TUT (Pretoria)
The GFC Youth Month activities form part of the journey which leads to an international summit that they will be hosting, which is a modern, revolutionary experience, set to position local filmmakers as titans of the film industry – aiming to equip both the current and next generation with the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving industry landscape.
The event will be held at the Sandton Convention Center from 18-20 October 2022. To register as a speaker, delegate or exhibitor, please visit www.gautengfilm.org.za/gauteng-discover-summit/
ENDS
ISSUED BY THE GAUTENG FILM COMMISSION
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT
Lucky Lukhele,
Agency Partner, Rain Communications
lucky@raincommunications.co.za
072 743 6591
About The Discover Summit 2022
The Discover Summit 2022 is an all-encompassing 3-day filmmaking platform, aimed to equip local filmmakers with the skills necessary to make them global leaders and financially sound industry entrepreneurs. Taking place from the 18th-20th October 2022 at the Sandton Convention Centre, the annual Discover Summit 2022 will upskill and develop local filmmakers, whilst providing the access to market and access to funding