The Independent Mzansi Short Film Festival (IMSFF), which takes place at the Maxi Cineplex in Hatfield Plaza from 25 to 29 June 2014, will be supported by a number of leading industry sponsors, headlined by Global Access, a private broadcaster on the DStv platform.
Global Access offers its customers a number of services including: digital signage, IPtv, video on demand and broadcast facilities and is supplying airtime and other contributions to the festival, in an initiative to help emerging creatives expose their talent to the world.
Guy Sclanders, Creative Producer at Global Access says, “There are many reasons that a short film festival is important. A succinct short is in many ways far more challenging to create than a feature length film. And what is television if not a series of short films? The borders between these different formats is shrinking daily, and any effort to encourage South Africans – with a history of good story telling – to explore this is important. The skills and experiences of today’s short film makers will ripple forward into the future to give rise to a creative, sophisticated South African voice in narrative story telling. Raising the bar beyond the norm is a goal of Global Access, clearly one of the IMSFF’s, and one we believe should be the goal for all media companies in South Africa.’
In addition to Global Access, the following sponsors will also be participating at the festival:
• Hatfield Plaza and MAXI-Cineplex, headed by by Gerrie Germishuys, will be the cinema sponsor.
• SAFTEC, an events consortium, will ensure smooth running of the events and workshops.
• Media Film Services film equipment rentals will be the technical and awards sponsor, specifically focusing on the grand gala evening on 29 June.
• Product placement and co-promotion company MadRobot, will be responsible for placement sponsorship and venue promotions.
• Slender Wonder will sponsor the IMSFF opening film.
• Afrinolly will supply a rich contribution of African short film content for the festival line-up.
• The Gauteng Film Commission, which have endorsed the festival.
• Grey Cloud Productions, spearheaded by co-founder of IMSFF Jacques Brand, will be responsible for the production of the Awards gala evening on 29 June.
Sclanders concludes, “A short film is a brief glimpse into the psyche of the film-maker. For just a few minutes we get to see the world through someone else’s eyes; sometimes bringing us joy, sometimes sadness -but always giving us something to think about. The IMSFF is run by exceptional people who have compiled an amazing collection of shorts. This is a festival like a no other, and promises us an awesome experience.’
Visit the IMSFF website for more information.
