South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will participate in the upcoming Bojanala Film Week, the brainchild of the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. In partnership with the North West Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and Ster-Kinekor, the film week aims to establish and promote film activity in the North West Bojanala District, Rustenburg. The activities will take place from 26 to 29 October at the Royal Bafokeng Cinema Complex, Phokeng.
The festival will host NFVF coordinated workshops, master classes in the areas of sciptwriting, directing and documentary filmmaking. Industry professionals who’ve confirmed their participation include actors Rapulana Seiphemo, Tony Kgoroge and Presley Chweneyagae.
Mandated to spearhead the growth of the film sector locally and globally, the NFVF has through the years committed itself to growing the local industry through initiatives such as supporting and participating in local and international festivals, conducting awareness campaigns, funding filmmakers and training programmes.
“By participating at the Bojanala Film Week, the NFVF is of the view that this will culminate in re-igniting a culture of local film appreciation in the region with a long term strategy to develop those interested in filmmaking, to chart careers in film and hopefully have a feature film produced from the Bojanala region in the near future,’ says Azania Muendane NFVF Head of Marketing and Public Affairs.
Festival director Kea Malao adds: “The municipality is proud to embark on this invaluable initiative. Our focus as the municipality during the festival will be given to out of school youth and unemployed members of the Bojanala Community who would like to pursue film as a career.’
The NFVF will also use the opportunity to assess the area for the development and erection of digital screens. Last year the NFVF launched a project of installing digital screens in rural and township areas.
“With digital screens also in consideration, our focus in Bojanala district will not only be on the festival participation but will also ensure future access for filmed products in the area. We will furthermore assess the area for the possibility of establishing industry information access points in the province. These will serve as areas where the local community can learn more about local film. We therefore appeal to industry companies and individuals to donate films and literature on film to contact the NFVF,’ comments Muendane.
Part of the NFVF’s presence at the festival is to conduct intensive screen writing workshops with students that have already been identified by the festival organisers.
Popular South African films will be screened at the festival, including opening night film Retribution, Skin, Jozi, Paradise Stop, Otelo Burning, White Wedding, A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle and Surfing Soweto among many others.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture would like to encourage the Bojanala community and surrounding areas to support the festival. “As we’re on a national drive to develop skills and promote South African films we have identified this festival as one of the key events that will provide a platform to build a cinema going audience and a platform where aspiring filmmakers can be introduced to the world of film,’ concludes Muendane.
