The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival runs from 9 to 26 June in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Here are some highlights:
Mining for Change: A Story of South African Mining
13 June, Nu Metro Hyde Park, Johannesburg
Featuring the likes of Cyril Ramaphosa and Julius Malema discussing nationalization, Eric Miyeni and Navan Chetty’s overview of the mining industry in South Africa is sure to spark heated debates. Nic Dawes, editor of The Mail & Guardian, will moderate a panel discussion with Peter Leon, who co-chairs Webber Wentzel’s mining, energy and natural resources practice group,and Jacinto Racinto, South Africa’s former deputy director general in The Department of Mineral Resources.
G-Spotting Screening & Panel
Friday, 17 June, 6pm, Nu Metro V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
How, in 2011, can there still be myths around female sexuality? Director
Segolene Hanotaux will discuss her film about the illusive and elusive search for the G-spot with author and gender activist Melanie Judge.
Columnist and comedian Marianne Thamm will moderate a second discussion on Saturday 25 June 2011 at the same venue with sexologist and radio personality Dr. Eve and tantric sex teacher Jonti Searll.
Our Daily Poison
Thursday, 23 June, 8:15pm, Nu Metro V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Marie-Monique Robin’s documentary is an eye-opening investigation into the terrifying amounts of chemicals in our food. She asks important questions like who really sets the Allowed Daily Intake and who regulates the Maximum Residue Levels, finding answers that will both surprise and shock. Martin Welz, the founding editor of investigative magazine Noseweek, will moderate a discussion with Professor Leslie London, who has published widely in the field of pesticide hazards, and anti-GM activist Glenn Ashton, the founder of SafeAge.
Feathered Cocaine
Sunday, 12 June 2011, Nu Metro V&A, Cape Town
Tuesday, 14 June 2011, Nu Metro Hyde Park, Johannesburg
Orn Marino Anderson and Thorkell Hardardson’s film explores Middle Eastern falcon smugglers with links to Osama Bin Laden. Judge Dennis Davis will moderate a panel discussion with Murray Michell, the director of The Financial Intelligence Centre, and Markus Burgener, a senior programme office with TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring agency. There will also be a panel discussion in Johannesburg, where Michell will be joined by TRAFFIC’s David Newton.
There will also be Q&As with many of the directors after their screenings, including Sweden’s Goran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975), New Zealand’s Julian Shaw (Cup of Dreams), Germany’s David Sieveking (David Wants to Fly), and France’s Segolene Hanotaux (G-Spotting: A Story of Pleasure and Promise).
FILM INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
The Pleasure and Pain of Realising your First Film and the Perils of Success!
Saturday, 18 June 2011, 10am-1pm, City Varsity, 4 Park Road, Gardens
This seminar is with first-time filmmaker David Sieveking, whose debut, David Wants to Fly, is screening at Encounters. He describes the seminar as
“an illustrated guide to finding your way between the happening
and the haphazard.”
How to Make Sense of a Massive Archive & Produce a Tight & Topical Documentary
Saturday, 25 June, 2-5pm, AFDA, 18 Lower Scott Road, Observatory, Cape Town
The best historical films illuminate current events. This master class is with Goran Olsson, whose film The Black Power Mix Tape 1967-1975 is screening at Encounters. It won the Best Editing award at Sundance 2011.
Cutting Documentary Film: The Craft of Editing
Saturday, 25 June, 2-5pm, AFDA, 18 Lower Scott Road, Observatory, Cape Town
The South African Guild of Editors (SAGE), in association with Encounters, presents this panel discussion with editors whose work is showing at Encounters. These are Khalid Shamis (Forerunners and Imam and I); Ángela Ramirez and Sara Gouveia
(Mama Goema); Ronelle Loots (King Naki and Robert Mugabe: What Happened?) and Marshall Curry and Matt Hamachek (Ifa Tree Falls).
The above filmmaking workshops cost R50. To book, email project@encounters.co.za.
CFC & NFVF Discussion Session
Friday, 10 June 2011, 1:30–3:30pm, Fire & Ice Hotel, New Church Street, Cape Town, 8002
The Cape Film Commission (CFC) and The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will co-host an information sharing session.
The NFVF will update members and industry on their current thinking and strategy and will respond to questions from the audience. Topics include:
• Funding of documentaries in view of the new budget
• International documentary festivals
• Box office report for 2010
• Co-production report and the intention to introduce the South African film criteria.
The NFVF Panel will include:
• Eddie Mbalo – Chief executive officer
• Lehlohonolo Mokhosi – Economic analyst
• Thandeka Zama – Production and development executive
• Neiloe Khunyeli – Junior production and development executive
RSVP by 17h00 on Thursday, 9 June 2011to tracy@capefilmcommission.co.za.
Rasha Salti, Programmer, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Wednesday, 22 June 2011, 4:30-6pm, City Varsity, 4 Park Road, Gardens
Salti programmes films from African and the Middle East for TIFF. She is in South Africa to view films for possible selection for TIFF 2011. Salti will talk about the importance of festivals for your film, how to develop a festival strategy, and the importance of auteur documentaries in world cinema.
Cost: Free entry. To book, email reception@encounters.co.za.
