The 9th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival 2007 has excelled itself in providing a packed programme of films, workshops and panel discussions which take place at Johannesburg Nu Metro Hyde Park (13 - 22 July) and Cape Town Nu Metro V&A Waterfront (20 July - 5 August).

The Encounters line-up includes 11 world premieres, 52 films from 18 countries, a delegation of Brazilian producers, the launch of an Africa documentary project, a skills workshop for producers, a debate with some of SABC's new cultural advisors, new media discussion and a workshop on producing short films for cell phones.

Encounters will also hold its second African Focus with films from Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A new addition is the Jameson Environment Focus and a prize of R20 000 for the winner of the Jameson Encounters Audience Award for the Best South African Documentary.

Besides A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle, the opening night film which is directed by Vincent Moloi, another local film to look out for is Love, Communism, Revolution & Rivonia - Bram Fischer's Story, directed by Sharon Farr. It will be introduced by satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys and Albie Sachs, an ANC stalwart and judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Read more in the July 2007 issue of Screen Africa