September 2007

A cultural highlight for those who prefer their film fare with substance, relevance and controversy, the fifth annual Tri Continental Film Festival goes red hot this year with an explosion of provocative, cutting-edge contemporary cinema from Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Tri Continental Film Festival, the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, together with the Southern Africa Communications for Development (Sacod), has announced the launch of South Africa’s first full scale, dedicated documentary conference.

Arts Alive and AFDA, with the support of the Gauteng Film Commission, has partnered on the hosting of a Young Filmmakers Expo to coincide with this year’s Arts Alive festival which will take place in Newtown, Johannesburg.

MAPPP Seta in partnership with Consulting Dynamix has announced the New Venture Creation Skills Programme which is aimed at equipping learners who have been working in film, television and video production with small business management skills.

Entries for the 9th annual MultiChoice VUKA! Awards have opened. With a brief to produce a public service announcement that will enrich the lives of the people of South Africa, the MultiChoice VUKA! Awards is a competition for both professional filmmakers and newcomers with a burning passion for filmmaking.

Johannesburg based casting and locations companies found the ideal talent and location for a series of Diageo Africa’ Guinness brand commercials shot for Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town by commercial production company Picture Tree. 

Close to the broadcasting centre of Auckland Park and just around the corner from Atlas studios, 44 Stanley Avenue has attracted a variety of businesses and has become known as the vibey, comfortable and relaxed home of several film and commercial production companies.

An idea born out of a bronze sculpture seen in Simonstown in the Western Cape was the inspiration for local filmmaker Karen Van Schalkwyk’s pilot for a trilogy of short films. With assistance from the Gauteng Film Commission the first 10 minute movie is complete and had its premiere on the 6th of August.

Sophiatown, one of Johannesburg’s most famous suburbs was established in 1904. Before 1913 black South Africans had freehold rights, and they bought properties in the suburb. By the 1920s whites had moved out, leaving behind a vibrant multi-cultural community of blacks, coloureds, Indians and Chinese. But on 12th February 1955 apartheid authorities flattened the suburb; around 65 000 residents were forcibly removed and a new neighbourhood was born. Andrew Worsdale reports on an initiative to bring Triomf – a film adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Marlene van Niekerk, to life.