“Congratulations on a very successful Sithengi. The fact that you were able to pull together such a well-organised event with the financial and time challenges that you faced is quite impressive.”
Brennen Young, Trade Commissioner
Canadian High Commission Trade Office
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On the MEC’s Market Opening Party
“Thanks again, it was a great party and the music DJ´s well chosen. Excellent musicians. Communication was unfortunately only possible by shouting. Partying is fine, but - my recommendation - networking should also be possible. Take care”
Dr Bodo Schaff, German Embassy
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"Thank-you so much for a wonderful, well organised, accessible film market. Your support for the young filmmakers trying to break through is inspiring. I truly appreciate the work that Sithengi put into all the details. I'm really optimistic about my projects. Hope to see you next year.”
Mary-Ann Mandishona
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“Just to inform you that I arrived safely to Bamenda-Cameroon. I want to thank you immensely for your unflinching support from the very beginning to the end of the programme. I must admit that I have learnt quite a lot from the workshop/masterclass which is going to help me in any future projects and our budding production house (Spear Productions).
This years Sithengi Talent Campus was a huge success, thanks to you all, the organisers of the Sithengi and Berlinale Talent Campus and the Goethe Institute. I have just written to the director of the Goethe Institute of Yaounde informing him of my safe arrival.
Please dont hesitate to feed us (Talents) with any information in the area of filmmaking, scriptwriting and cinematography. I pray that God should continue to guide and protect you in your bid to promote young talents. Stay Blessed.”
Patience Laka
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“I just wanted to say another personal thank you, to you. You guys put in a lot of work, giving us all a fantastic experience I know I'll never forget! I've left the campus really fired up, fuelled with a much needed burst of passion and inspiration.”
Steve
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“I did not feel the evaluations so let me just say it was a great experience! The thing I loved the most is the realisation of what the film industry in Africa is. You cannot be in your little world and be all you can be unless you know how big your industry is and what size you can grow into. I loved most of the classes! I was challenged to work and grow in my own environment and grow out of it into the international market. Thank you!”
Mary Migui
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From the director of King and the Clown, upon learning that the film had scooped the Best Feature Film Award;
“I had the good fortune to be part of the jury for the 4th Asiana International Shorts Competition, which took place in Seoul in early November. We awarded the Grand Prize to LUCKY, a short film about South Africa directed by Avie Luthra. So it is all the more special to get the news that KING AND THE CLOWN has been named the Best Feature Film at Cape Town World Cinema Festival. I am grateful for this news from a half way around the world. I am very happy to hear that the African audience at the festival has embraced a film which takes place in Korea over 500 years ago.”
Jun Ik Lee, director, King and the Clown
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“This is just a short note to thank you and your staff for the hospitality I enjoyed on Saturday. My only regret is that there was such a small audience but I found the comments of your foreign guests very stimulating and I hope that they and the few people who attended were also enlightened. Best regards to all concerned, Thank you again,”
Phillip Altbeker, Film Critic
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“Hubert Bals Fund from the Rotterdam Film Festival and the Göteborg International Film Festival Fund has been co-operating with Sithengi for quite some time now and we are very pelased to see that the present way to work seems to be the right one. Workshops in southern Africa supported by our festival funds and managed by Sithengi has attarcted a lot of young talent and six of the best projects has been invited to Sithengi and the co production forum and out of them we have chosen two projects that get the travel grant to Europe, two our two festivals, to try out the projects there. We believe this is a model that works and both our festivals wants to continue this process together with Sithengi in the years to come.”
Sandra den Hammer, Director, Rotterdam International Film Festival
and Bengt Toll, Chairperson, Hubert Bals Fund
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In response to Isaka Sawadogo winning Best Actor for his role in Sounds of Sand:
"My dear friends, up to know i am steel in the deepest side of me, very happy and flotting in my body of happyness. For me the best awards that this distinction mean to me is/ this message of sorrow giving with art and love will make some people stop a second ,to think about your existence and give hand to someone. There are mllions of hands who are waiting a second of attention.
Many things (ugly)seems far away from us but they all are always at the next corner of your life.We must not refuse to look at it.because we never know when and how its coming to us. In the connection of spirit lets join for the best to everyone.Long life to your festival and big success to for the fight of better life.Any success of african manifestation is a mother blessing for the world to be better.Good luck and think you to all brother and sister in south Africa. Love from a brother of west africa (Burkina faso)"
Issaka Sawadogo
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“Thanks very much for the good news, this is great, I am very happy. I just called Issaka in Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso. He was very excited and proud. I also gave the news to Fortissimo our Sales agent.”
Marion Hansel, director, Sounds of Sand
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“HOURRA ! You wouldn't believe how happy I am, that we were awarded by such a prize!
I loved being at your festival and have wished to stay longer. I met old friends and make new ones. Had very interesting talks with young directors from all over the world. Was so well welcomed and cheered up by the festival's crew, so attentioned, and had a great pleasure to talk about the film and Marion's work. I'll come back with a lot of pleasure.”
Marc Baschet
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“I wish to thank you and the team for a wonderful job at the just concluded Cape Town World Cinema Festival and Sithengi Market. You were all helpful and friendly. It was a rewarding experience for me and I look forward to future festivals.
I wish you all huge success in your future endeavours.”
Tunde Kelani, Mainframe Productions
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“Thank you so much for all help and letting us join you at Sithengi this year. Your feedback is very valuable, it is very difficult to please everybody, but we try to add something for everybody. You can book us already for next years masterclass.
The market was good, although I didn't get enough time to spend on it.
The organisation was good, just the registration was a little frustrating otherwise the staff where very helpful and able to assist us with all of our strange last minute requests.
The Panel was disappointing as the majority of people where at the Freeman discussion, I would suggest that you try not to put these sessions against each other.
Otherwise well done and we will be there in force next year.”
Simon Bromfield, Apple IMC
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“Thanks Sithengi for according me to be part of this festival. Hope to produce an award winning film for you soon for 2007. Had lots of meeting opportunities at the just ended CTWCF thanks to you, and thanks for the information you continuously send to me.”
Dorothy Meck
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“Brilliant with regards to networking. Having a stand allowed us as a company to network with relevant people that we otherwise might not have had contact with or have known about. Saturday on the exhibition stand was a disappointment as there was hardly anybody about but Thursday and Friday were great.
On the organizational side communicating and working with the Sithengi team was professional and really easy. Registration though was a bit of a nightmare, could one not get your ID card and lanyard posted to you?
Peter Morgan, Global Creative Studios
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"I have landed safely back in London. Back to the cold and wet and grey skies!
Just wanted to send a quick mail to say it was really good to meet you and thanks for making my time in South Africa so enjoyable. I know you worked very hard to make things go as smoothly as possible and I appreciate it. Best regards"
Ken Williams, Life & Lyrics
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“The Cape Town World Cinema deserves its Name, because I have gathered many useful experience from this Film Festival.
I wish you a lot of success in the future as well.”
Solomon Bekele
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“I just wanted to send you a quick note thanking you for your wonderful hospitality and all your help. I had a wonderful market and learned much about the various territories. I hope you will remember me when it comes to newsletters, events etc.
Have a wonderful week and I hope you are finally relaxing. Best regards from your friend in Miami,”
Karina Etchison, Tepuy International
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“Just a note to say thanks again for the opportunity to participate in Sithengi this year. I saw quite an improvement in the quality of content at the Doc Forum from last year and will be tracking at least 3 or 4 projects over the next year as potential acquisitions. The Market has been a terrific opportunity for P.O.V. to connect with producers on the continent and to engage a dialogue about the American documentary field and how we can work together with African producers and support organizations to present strong representative African stories to an international audience. Incidentally, following our lunch last Sunday, I had a wonderful meeting with Nhlanhla Hlongwane at SABC which is hopefully the beginning of an ongoing conversation.
Please extend my sincerest thanks as well to your incredible staff who were all very supportive and welcoming. They put together a fantastic program.
Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season!
Anne del Castillo, Associate Director
American Documentary | P.O.V.
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Posted on Thursday 30 Nov 2006
