Apart from its exciting programme of top documentaries from all over the world, the Encounters 10th South African International Documentary Festival also includes some events for the industry during its run in Johannesburg and Cape Town in late June and early July.

Admittance is free but seating is limited and places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. To register please e-mail Lisa Mini at lisa@encounters.co.za or call 021 465 4686 with your name and contact details.

SABC Roundtable / Presentation – meet the team

JHB Friday 27th June - Goethe-Institute, 119 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, JHB

The SABC Factual Department will be hosting roundtable discussions, providing members of the film industry an opportunity to meet the team from Genre Factual in a relaxed and informal environment. All Commissioning Editors (CE) will be present and both established and emerging filmmakers are encouraged to attend.

A new brief with the theme of Human Rights will be announced and elaborated on by Acting Head of Genre, Eddie Manzingana before the commencement of the roundtable discussions for 10-15 mins each. Filmmakers will be able to engage with Commissioning Editors in one-on-one discussions for 10-15 minutes each.

Announcement of Brief: 18:00 – 18:30
One-on-One: 18:30 – 20:00

In attendance will be:
Commissioning Editors: Thando Shozi, Desmond Naidoo, Nhlanhla Hlongwane, Khanya Ngwenya, Mpho Maringa, Nigel Bird, Andile Genge and Danie van der Walt. Assistant Commissioning Editors: Marianne de Klerk, Nonhlanhla Mabelane and Mandisa Mlonyeni.

SABC/Encounters Master class with filmmaker Sunny Bergman
Master class: Saturday 28th June, 9 – 11 am
Goethe Institute, 119 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, JHB
Sunny Bergman is an award winning young Dutch director. Her films have been shown internationally on numerous festivals. She often uses her own life as inspiration, putting the old feminist credo “the personal is political” into practice. She operates the camera herself and has a very direct and honest way of approaching her subjects.

Sunny will interactively talk about subjective filmmaking and how a personal reflective and politically involved way can bring about not only awareness, but also change. How can directors use their own thoughts, interactions and dilemma’s to highlight universal themes and aid cultural analysis?

Film viewing: Over the Hill - Nu Metro Hyde Park
Sunday 22nd at 8.15 pm and Thursday 26th at 8.15pm, Sat 28th 8:15pm Nu Metro Hyde Park

Over the Hill The Netherlands. 60 mins: What to do when a doctor tells perfectly normal women they need half their bodies chopped away to look good. Bergman’s look at beauty standards is both deadly serious and shockingly funny, it exposes the dark side of the cosmetic industry – and it ain’t pretty.

SABC/Encounters Master class with filmmaker Stanley Nelson
Master class: Saturday 28th June 12 – 3 pm
Goethe Institute, 119 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, JHB

Emmy Award winner Nelson, who is best known for his groundbreaking historical documentaries, will share his experience and expertise on documenting overlooked history, what makes a ‘good’ story, and on how to tell a story where there is scant visual historical material. How can the chronicles of the post be (re-) discovered and what techniques can be helpful in, contribute to, finding and interviewing the witnesses of forgotten stories.

Film viewing: A Place of Our Own - Nu Metro Hyde Park
Wed 25th 8:30pm, Fri 27th 8:30pm Sun 29th 8:15pm

A Place of Our Own. USA. 60 mins: A personal account of halcyon days, living the 1960s American Dream – growing up in an affluent, upper middle class African-American community on Martha’s Vineyard. Those carefree days are affectionately recreated through archival footage, interviews and amusing anecdotes. A Place of Our Own begs the question of the cost of abandoning a class struggle in achieving the American Dream.

For more information on the films and biographies please visit: www.encounters.co.za

Distiribution, Co-production and Sales Workshop
Cape Town only
Friday 4th July
09:00 – 12:00 and 14:30 – 17:00
Protea Hotel Victoria Junction.
Cnr Somerset and Ebenezer rd, Greenpoint.
Encounters, the Cape Film Commission (CFC) and the Documentary Filmmakers Association (DFA) are hosting an open workshop on Distribution and Sales facilitated by international and local experts.

Diana Holtzberg: Vice President – Acquisition, Project Development Sales for Film Transit. Leading Documentary Sales Agent

Claire Aguilar: Director of Programming. Independent Television Service (ITVS), USA.

Don Edkins: Executive Producer, Why Democracy Series, SA.

A key area affecting the South African film industry is distribution and co-production. Owing to lack of information and networks, filmmakers are not easily finding co-production partners nor are they sufficiently exploiting the various avenues of distribution available: DVD, Television (local and international, satellite, cable, terrestrial) and digital downloads/VOD.

Other elements of distribution that need clarification include contracts, marketing and playing the Film Festival Game. We believe that if filmmakers can attain business fluency it can maximize profits and exposure and increase capacity in the industry.

Open to all. Seating Limited. To register please contact Lisa Mini at lisa@encounters.co.za or call 021 465 4686.

Meet the experts in ONE ON ONE MEETINGS:

Locally there is a marked absence of Distribution, Co-production and Sales opportunities specifically for the documentary genre.

Diana Holzberg, Claire Aguilar and Don Edkins will be available for one-on-one meetings with filmmakers who have a project in development, a rough cut, or a completed product.

These meetings will take place on July 5th

09:00 – 13:00 and 14:30 – 17:30

At: Runway, Waterfront Studios, 1 Port Rd, Waterfront

To secure a slot: Please send a one page profile, a synopsis of your film including information on the status of the project, your budget and partners to Lisa Mini – lisa@encounters.co.za or call 021 465 4686.

Encounters is supported by SABC, NFVF, Cape Film Commission, Western Cape Government, Jan Vrijman/IDFA, Africalia, The Times, , Nu Metro Theatres, Gauteng Film Commission, Goethe Institut, Exclusive Books, French Embassy, Tempest, US Consulate, British Council, Holland Film

For more info please visit www.encounters.co.za.