What a great start to the year for SA film. We were just settling down after all the excitement over u'Carmen eKhayelitsha taking the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, when Yesterday was nominated for an Oscar, and now Drum, the Opening Film of the Cape Town World Cinema Festival last year, has won the Gold Yenenga for Best Film at Fespaco.
Two more well-deserved awards were presented at Fespaco - Zulu Love Letter won Best Actress and the EU prize and Max and Mona was awarded for script originality.
Sithengi would like to congratulate the makers of u'Carmen eKhayelitsha, Yesterday, Drum, Zulu Love Letter and Max and Mona on these phenomenal achievements.
Ten years is not a long time, but with the rate at which SA film has been recognised internationally, this surely proves a watershed for the South African film industry. We commend those filmmakers and directors for setting a standard and proving that South Africa can produce films that are unique yet have international appeal without compromising quality.
Of the international films already on circuit are Motorcycle Diaries and Ray, for which Actor Jamie Fox won an Oscar for his lead role. Then soon to be released are South African films, Drum, Max and Mona and Twist. Well, if you attended the Cape Town World Cinema Festival (CTWCF) last year, you can say "I saw it first at the CTWCF". Other South African films soon to be released are The Flyer and 34 South.
At Sithengi we believe that this is just the beginning for South African film. We have the talent, creative direction, business savvy and a strong Rand to generate award-winning South African films with strong commercial value to contribute viably to a strengthening South African economy.
We are also very excited to announce Sithengi's 10th Anniversary this year and we look forward to a great Cape Town World Cinema Festival, 11 - 20 November, and its business component, the Sithengi Film & TV Market, 15 - 18 November 2005.
We will soon be putting out our calls for entry to the various components of the Festival and Market. So log on to our website regularly at sithengi.co.za, to keep up to date with the latest developments.
For more information, contact us at;
Tel: +27 21 430 8160
Fax: +27 21 430 8186
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: sithengi.co.za
Posted on Wednesday 16 Mar 2005
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