As the winner of the SA’s Next Top Filmmaker (SANTF) 2013 competition, Donna
Sibande directed a music video in Newtown, Johannesburg for the MTN8 official anthem
by Professor, featuring Oskido, Busisiwe and Zulu. Sibande directed under the careful
mentorship of award-winning director Tim Greene of Quizzical Pictures.
SNTF, now in its fourth year, is a General Post initiative aimed at identifying and
developing emerging filmmaking talent.
The judges for the 2013 competition were: JP Potgieter (head of Commercial
Productions, Quizzical Pictures); Anton Burggraaf (head of TV, Endemol); freelance
producer Alan Roberts; Jamie Taylor (senior editor, General Post); and Kirsty Galliard
(MD, General Post).
Says Galliard: “We shortlisted the six most promising entries and once we received the
winning artist’s name and track from MTN, the finalists had 24 hours to write a
treatment for a music video for that track. They were given some examples of music
video treatments and a document explaining why it was necessary to assist them. We
also gave them parameters as to what resources were available to them.
“The finalists had 20 minutes to pitch their treatment to a panel of judges. Our decision
was based on the creativity of the idea, how executable the idea was in the timeframe,
and whether they had taken into account the resources they were given. Donna Sibande
was chosen as the winner by four votes to one.’
SANTF 2013 was held in partnership with MTN Last Muso Standing. Sponsors for the
competition were Quizzical Pictures, Nates Audiovisual Hire and the Bladeworks, with
support from Ochre Media
Galliard continues: “MTN contributed towards the “people’ costs of the production. This
allowed us to work with some of the best crew around, including Alan Roberts
(producer), Adam Bentel (DOP), Rusty Ruthen (focus puller) and award-winning General
Post editor Jamie Taylor.’
MTN held their own competition for musicians who were competing for the chance to be
the Last Muso Standing and have their track chosen to be the official anthem of the
MTN8 2013 tournament. This meant the SA’s Next Top Filmmaker team had to wait for
the Last Muso Standing winner to be announced before pre-production could begin. The
team then had nine days to produce a complex music video which had to be delivered in
time for the opening MTN8 match.
