In June 2006, SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival will present CELEBRATE SOUTH AFRICA!
The South African film community is fast emerging as a key player in the international film world. In 2005 alone, South African films achieved critical acclaim at major international film festivals, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin and AFI Fest. The complexity and richness of South African history and the recent emergence of a compelling film industry invites a serious exploration of the work.
At the 2005 festival, SILVERDOCS explored the meaning of democracy and the importance of freedom of speech through the lens of the documentary filmmaker. In the fall of 2005, SILVERDOCS was invited by the US Department of State to go to South Africa to present a selection of films inspired by that programme.
Festival organizers presented highlights of the Festival, conducted workshops with emerging South African filmmakers, and met with a wide variety of film and television professionals.
Moved by the passion and talent of the South African filmmakers, and the diversity and richness of their stories, festival organizers determined to create a special programme celebrating the work of South African filmmakers at the forthcoming SILVERDOCS festival, whose dates coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Soweto Youth Uprisings on June 16, 2006.
With assistance from the Cape Town Film Commission, the National Film and Video Foundation in Johannesburg and the US Department of State, SILVERDOCS will now bring some of the diverse and powerful creative voices of the new South Africa to US audiences - both on screen and in person.
CELEBRATE SOUTH AFRICA! PROGRAMME ELEMENTS
In collaboration with two leading organizations dedicated to arts and advocacy in South Africa - ENCOUNTERS, the pre-eminent South African International Documentary Festival and ARTISTS FOR A NEW SOUTH AFRICA (ANSA) - AFI and SILVERDOCS will present two South African film programmes. In April and May, following up to the Festival, the AFI Silver theatre will curate a programme of new, critically acclaimed South African narrative films. In June, SILVERDOCS will present six documentary films made by South African filmmakers and/or about the rich social, political and emotional landscape of South Africa.
The centerpiece of the celebration will be an outdoor screening and concert featuring prominent South African musicians, presented on the actual anniversary date.
In addition, a series of contemporary, award-winning narrative films from South Africa will be presented at the AFI Silver Theatre in advance of the documentary festival to draw even greater attention to the creative story-telling and invigorating film movement coming out of the new South Africa.
CELEBRATE SOUTH AFRICA! HOW TO SUBMIT:
"Celebrate South Africa!" will feature works from filmmakers who have chosen the cinematic form to explore the rich social, political and emotional landscape of South Africa.
SILVERDOCS is seeking documentary features and shorts that demonstrate excellence in cinematic craft and innovation in storytelling. Exhibiting films in state-of-the-art digital projection theatres, SILVERDOCS provides filmmakers with a stellar Festival experience.
Apply now at:
www.SILVERDOCS.com http://www.SILVERDOCS.com
or
www.WithoutABox.com http://www.Withoutabox.com
Send your tapes or DVDs with Entry forms to
Encounters, who will forward them onto Silverdocs
First Floor, 27 Caledon Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa Tel 021 4654686 Fax 021 4616964
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Or email : Joan Legalamitlwa on [email protected] or Nazeer Ahmed on [email protected]
Application deadlines are: March 3 (regular); March 24 (final)
Posted on Thursday 23 Feb 2006
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