Sixteen filmmakers from the SADC region had an early Christmas bonus with the granting of the recent Hivos /Sithengi Film Fund awards.
South African writers and directors of features, shorts and documentaries were the main beneficiaries of the second round of awards announced recently, with projects from Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique also sprinkled amongst the winners.
Many of the successful projects fulfil Hivos' inclination to reward regional efforts, boost co-productions that emphasise the Southern African family and encourage initiatives from the fringe, by writers and young directors who may still be struggling to find their way into mainstream filmmaking.
Two feature films in development earned scriptwriting grants. Actor-writer Sechaba Morojele's South East, is emblematic of the type of story that has been rewarded. The Yizo Yizo star and writer of Ubuntu's Wounds - a well-regarded work he made graduating from Los Angeles film school - set his screenplay in Lesotho and Korea.
It's a story inspired by a situation that happened to his cousin. "It fascinated me because of the relationship he struck up with this Korean man who came for his help. For once it is about a black man who is helping another race and not the other way round," he quips. The 10,000-euro grant enables Morojele the luxury of taking time off to "concentrate solely on writing". He hopes to complete the script before Sithengi 2006.
Namibian writer and director Vickson Hangula carried off the other 10 000-euro scriptwriting grant for his new feature project, King Mandume, about the leader who heroically resisted British and Portuguese colonial settlers. Leo Phiri produces.
Two Zambian newcomers scooped two of the five grants available for First-Time Filmmakers of Short Films. Malingose Kambandu (director) and Swatulani Munthali (producer) get to play with 5000 euro for the project, Eden's Playground, whilst Chongo Lembalemba produces The Black Samaritan. Zimbabwean producer-director Chumile Jamela will make First Cut. The final two slots in this section go to new South African teams: producer Bhekani D.F. Thabede and director Bongiwe Sisi Chiliza for The Working Day, and Cape-based filmmakers, Rustum August together with Jemima Spring and Simon Damast of Griffin Films. Their film is The Importance of Fear and Misinformation.
A poet from the Eastern Cape, Sonwabile Mfecane, was excited about being pitched into the filming fray when he received 5000 euros to make a short film called Boiled Eggs. He teams up with experienced filmmaker Chris van Vuuren, with Luyolo Dambuza as director.
From Lesotho, producer-director Kaizer Matsumunyane said he felt "blessed" about receiving a sizeable 12,500 euros for his film, which is currently untitled.
"It has put a capstone on the building of filmmaking, not only in Southern Africa, but in Lesotho," he said. "I hope the fund will also help in a way to make the people and the government of Lesotho realize that filmmaking is possible in Lesotho."
Matsumunyane's belief that "stories transcend borders and are reflective of human experiences regardless of colour, race, creed and religion" underlines the spirit behind the HIVOS/ Sithengi awards.
The third award, also of 12,500 Euros, went to rising Zimbabwean filmmaker Rumbi Katedza whose controversial story, The Queuing Quest, will be produced with another ascendant producer, Beautie Masvaure.
Amongst the eight grants for documentary filmmakers, Villant Vriginia Ndasowa and producer Stevie Mannion of Malawi were the sole recipients outside of South Africa for their project Sapitwa Peak.
The documentary proposal appealed to the selection panel for its unusual, haunting story about a Dutch woman who disappeared on Mount Mulanje. Ndasowa grew up hearing tales of the mountain from her grandmother and, among her people, many local villagers believe that the woman is being held by the spirits, and may some day return.
Acclaimed South African documentary veteran, Rehad Desai, claims 10 000 euros for Bushdoctor. Sipho Singiswa directs The Revolution Eats Her Children, together with producer Gillian Schutte. Keiskamma, directed by Miki Redelinghuys and produced by Lauren Groenewald, and Down Rockey Street, directed by Khubu Meth and produced by Richard Green and Richard Gibbs also glean 10 000 euros from the HIVOS funds. And, John Fredericks (producer, director) & Martina Della Togna (producer) get a lift of 10 000 euro for Mr Devious. Nena Parbhoo (director) and Bertram September were allocated 5 000 euro for On the Wright Track.
Cape Town-based producer Edwin Angless sets up a Mozambican co-production in the Karen Boswall-directed, In the Palm of Their Hands, for which they received 25 000 euro.
Two other special projects earned significant grants. The Zimbabwe International Film Festival received a much-needed boost of 15 000 euros for its annual Short Film project that grooms aspirant filmmakers, and AVEA - Audiovisual Entrepreneurs of Africa, based in South Africa - added 10 000 euros to its coffers for development projects.
Posted on Wednesday 23 Nov 2005
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