Telecommunications giant Vodacom is partnering with the Jozi Film Festival (JFF) in what is dubbed “Jo’burg’s first ever mobile phone film competition’. The best films will be screened at next year’s JFF, which runs from 15 to 17 February.
“We love Jozi (ie. Johannesburg) and we love film,’ says Lisa Henry, one of JFF’s founding members. “A lot of people have aspirations about making a film so we’re giving “Jo-burgers’ the chance to do just that.
“Your film can be about anything that inspires you or makes you happy or sad. It can be a slice of life; a homage to your “gogo’; a rant about rush hour traffic; an ode to jacarandas. Go mad, get creative, get out into our city and make a film on your phone,’ says Henry.
Films must be between one to three minutes long and made in Johannesburg or by a “Jo’burger’ anywhere.
The competition opens on 15 November and closes on 30 December 2012, with the top 10 films to be uploaded to a dedicated YouTube site in January 2012, where the public will vote via sms for their favourite film.
JFF sponsor Audio Network, a production music library, is offering free music downloads to entrants and a R1,000 prize for the Best Usage of Music in a Mobile Phone Film category.
For more information about the competition visit www.jozifilmfestival.co.za.
Winners will be announced at the JFF closing ceremony, to be held at Villa Arcadia in Parktown on 17 February 2013. The top three entrants will all win a Blackberry 9790, one-year RIM plus airtime courtesy of Vodacom and the winner, R5,000 in cash from JFF.
“In the past, a network provider might have exclusively used television and radio advertising to reach and impress potential consumers,’ says Vodacom’s Sergio Martins (brand manager: Youth). “Now it’s very different – it’s about leadership, reaching the community, and building up the people we’re talking to. Importantly, it’s about putting into action rather than merely talking. Words are just words, nothing more. The youth respond to action, and companies have to be seen to be acting on their promises.’
The Jozi Film Festival launched in February of this year with the South African premiere of Akin Omotoso’s Man On Ground which has gone on to acclaim all over the world.
“It’s time Johannesburg had something like this. I’m excited about the festival and hope it grows in the coming years. I love Jo’burg and I feel, as filmmakers, we haven’t yet managed to fully capture its essence.’ says Omotoso. “But I love the regeneration I’m seeing.’ It’s this energy and creative passion that JFF aims to promote and foster.
The brainchild of filmmakers Lisa Henry and Shareen Anderson and community activist Brendon Burmester, the festival was born out of a desire to create a platform for local talent and to reach new audiences by taking films to venues not traditionally associated with film.
Tickets for the festival are R20 and some screenings will be free. Workshops will also be held during next year’s three-day festival, taking place from 15 to 17 February and launching at The Bioscope Independent Cinema in Maboneng Precinct.
JFF’s 2013 sponsors and partners includ Etana Insurance, Communications Advisory, Audio Network, Left Hand Films, Fort Greene Filmworks, Inspire, Deacon Designs and newest partner, Vodacom.
