Since the Encounters Documentary Festival released information last week about the financial crisis it faced and the possibility of cancellation of the Cape Town event, support has been expressed by the industry with offers to assist. The Johannesburg leg of the festival has been cancelled due to the funding problems.
Encounters has confirmed that the National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) will continue to assist with funding for the festival. Other funders who have committed to the 2009 festival include the British Council, the High Commission of Canada, the French Embassy, Tempest, the Goodman Gallery, Business Arts South Africa, The Times, Exclusive Books, Nu Metro and Cape Town TV. We are still waiting for confirmation of support from the Cape Film Commission.
Encounters has sent out an appeal to friends of the festival to contribute R1,000 or more to the festival budget. The donation will contribute to cover costs for the South African film screenings at Encounters 2009.
Those who make donations will be invited to the Opening Night on 2 July and receive 10 complimentary tickets for the festival screenings. Sponsors names and contributions will be listed as “Friends of the Festival” on the encounters website.
Please note that in November 2008 Encounters registered a non-profit Section 21 Company – the Encounters Training and Development Institute 2008/026397/08.
It is governed by a Board of Directors, who are:
– Kgomotso Matsunyane – Television Producer (TOM Pictures)
– Dr Susan Levine – Anthropologist (UCT)
– Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC – Chairman, Barloworld Limited
– Professor Ciraj Rassool – Historian (UCT and UWC)
– Mandisa Zitha – Festival Director, Encounters
– Nodi Murphy – Co-Founder, Encounters
– Steven Markovitz – Co-Founder, Encounters
In line with the requirements for a Section 21, the Encounters Training and Development Institute is subject to an annual audit.
Please deposit your donation into the following bank account (and send proof of payment to reception@encounters.co.za or Fax 021 4616964):
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: Gardens Cape Town
Branch Code: 10 100 900
Account Name: Encounters Training & Development Institute
Acc No.: 1010 113518 (Current Account)
If you would like to help but cannot afford a monetary donation, here are a few suggestions of how to show your loyalty to the festival:
- 1. Are you a hobby Paparazzo? If you take fairly good pictures and have a digital camera, you could cover our opening night and world première events and make your pictures available to us free of charge.
2. Get the word out there: If you have some time on your hands, help us distribute our programme booklets and posters in cafés, libraries, shops and other suitable venues in your area as from 11 June.
3. Hobby Chef needing to be discovered? Maybe even heading your own home catering business? Impress our guests at the opening night or world première functions with your culinary expertise.
4. Do you have an uncle who owns a wine estate? We are looking for a sponsor providing wine and/or other beverages for the opening night and other events.
5. If you own a 3 star hotel or Bed & Breakfast (preferably Waterfront vicinity), how about accommodating any one of our festival guests free of charge for 3 to 5 nights?
6. You’re a budding filmmaker or just enjoy multimedia editing? Please present us your ideas for the Encounters 2009 trailer (30 sec screen advert based on the 2009 Encounters design; includes festival dates, venues, website and sponsors’ logos). This might take up to 3 days of your life….
7. If you have time during the festival to volunteer to work at the cinemas, please let us know.
8. None of the above? Then mobilize your friends and extended family to visit the festival screenings on a daily basis. Encounters is on at Nu Metro V&A Waterfront from 3 to 19 July, you can choose from at least four screenings per evening. Tickets cost R33. Forward the Encounters program to all your e-mail contacts, rave about it on your face book profile and help us get full houses for every screening.
For any enquiries please contact Irmgard Schreiber on project@encounters.co.za .
