The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will for the second time participate in the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) through running the NFVF Macufe Film Week. Local films to be screened include Skeem, Material, Man on Ground, Blitz Patrollie, Umbilical Cords, 31 Million Reasons and The Bare Footed Comrade. Filmmakers will be in attendance to answer questions resulting from the screenings.
The initiative is a partnership between the NFVF and Macufe meant to “take film and cinema to the people’. The event will run from 9 to 13 October at Muse Pacofs. This is in a bid to achieve the NFVF’s primary objective of promoting and developing the South African film industry locally.
“Once again, we are pleased to fulfil our mandate of ensuring that filmed material is accessible to the disadvantaged communities. With this exercise we hope to achieve significant growth of film in the region, particularly focusing on the youth taking film as their chosen career and telling their own stories,’ says Azania Muendane, NFVF Head of Marketing and Public Affairs.
The NFVF schedule for this year’s film week will be different from the previous year, as there will be direct participation by audience in activities such as screen writing by members of the audience, and directing their shot film. “The audience participation will assist us in ensuring that the information shared during our workshops is well comprehended,’ adds Muendane.
The audience will be taken through a series of workshops on Screen Writing, Careers in Film, Director’s Masterclass and an interactive session on How to enter the Film industry. The NFVF has invited a number of popular filmmakers and actors who will be in attendance to interact and guide the audience. These include award-winning director Akin Omotoso (God is African, Man on Ground), Rosie Motene (Nothing but the Truth, Man on Ground), Isaac Mogajane (Blitz Patrollie), Wandile Molebatsi (Skeem, The Wild), and Jerry Tsie.
The NFVF calls on all aspiring filmmakers to attend the NFVF Macufe Film Week which will benefit them in areas such as training, skills development and understanding of filmmaking.
