The Film and Television Division (Film/TV) within the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Arts continues to expand on its already established exchange programmes with other leading international film schools.
Wits provides a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television with a unique blend of practical and theoretical applications around its courses in visual storytelling and image creation.
Wits Film and Television pioneered international collaborations 15 years ago when it initiated a programme with New York University’s celebrated film school involving students from both institutions collaborating on short film projects. A first for a South African institution, Wits Film/TV has continued to build on this trend over the last ten years with leading institutions in Africa and abroad through the Diversity and Documentary (D&D) programme. D&D’s tri-national collaboration involved students from South Africa, Ghana and Finland in a north –south annual exchange where students from each of the countries working together produced over 50 award winning documentaries.
Wits has made important inroads in developing an African practice of filmmaking by offering students an opportunity to share in the creation of African narratives and explore the aesthetics and politics of filmmaking across the continent. For Prof Jyoti Mistry, a driving force behind many international programmes at Wits Film/TV, working with African institutions “provides opportunity to consider the tensions between developing a commercial industry and the possibilities for an authentic African cinematic language”. Out of this approach a successful teaching exchange with the Masters filmmaking programme at the ALLE Arts School at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, was initiated in 2014.
Wits also participates in the Bologna Summer film programme which is held by the International Film Academy (IFA) and is part of the oldest registered university in the world, Bologna University, situated in Italy and established in 1088. The IFA Summer programme is a prestigious event that selects universities from around the world based on their outstanding curriculum design and research approach. Dr. Tanja Sakota – Kokot, the head of Wits Film/TV Division, is an IFA Counsellor and has been invited to join the IFA Board of Directors. Wits Film/TV’s involvement provides a unique opportunity for students to access mentors from amongst internationally acclaimed film directors who have exhibited their work at top international film festivals including Cannes, Venice and Berlin. Selected students have one week at the film festival and two weeks in the mentorship workshop in Bologna with these renowned directors.
In an exciting new project, Wits Film/TV is currently developing an innovative programme with Valand Academy at the University of Gotheburg. This Swedish based institution has impressive credentials through its association with Roy Andersson who many regard as one of the most important living European film directors. It also boasts the success of recent graduates including Ruben Östlund, director of the Cannes Film Festival award winning feature film, Force Majeure.
As part of the exchange programme, Gotheburg along with Wits Film/TV are piloting a project in South Africa that considers film as a research tool while also exploring alternative approaches to screenplay writing.
“Our ongoing international exchange programmes build on our commitment to preparing graduates with all round skills as well as a sound academic education,” says Dr. Tanja Sakota. This approach offers selected final year students the opportunity to make films alongside international students which not only exposes them to various filmmaking cultures, but also equips them with essential tools in a rapidly transforming media landscape.
The division continues to benchmark itself against leading international film and media teaching institutions through its membership with CILECT (The International Federation of Film Schools).
