The newly formed Soweto Writers Centre will host a seminar in partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) to facilitate the dissemination of industry information to community based screenwriters and filmmakers, on 11 October at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus.

The seminar will also provide a forum for interaction and exchange between aspirant writers and established producers, script editors and directors. It is organised and presented as part of the Soweto Writers Centre’s open cultural day, celebrating the official launch of the centre and the Soweto International Book Festival.

“We are proud to host the NFVF in Soweto as part of our mission to empower writers and aspirant filmmakers from historically disadvantaged communities,” says Basil Dube, the Soweto Writers Centre’s new executive director.

The NFVF provides film funding in various categories, including education and training, development funding, production funding, marketing and distribution. Beginner scriptwriters from Soweto and other regions of South Africa could also benefit from the NFVF’s Sediba scriptwriting training and development programme.

According to Dube, the Soweto Writers Centre also intends to open a film information and career desk on campus. “We are currently engaging First National Bank as a potential sponsor for this initiative. It is hoped that the desk will also be utilised to promote and market the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The UJ Soweto Campus is a vibrant and strategic centre that will also host the Soweto International Book Festival in 2009.”

The Soweto Writers Centre has been established as an institute of excellence, to provide outcomes based skills development training to writers in film, television, theatre, radio and publishing.

Registration to attend the NFVF seminar is free, though booking is essential. Please contact Buhle Kechane on 083 945 3242 for more information and registration. The seminar commences at 12h30.