The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) congratulates Ross Van Leeve for being shortlisted in Kevin Spacey Jameson’s First Short Film Competition. Van Leeve is an NFVF bursary recipient and has completed the Sediba Spark training programme. A film director and scriptwriter, he stands the once in a lifetime chance to have his script turned into a short film, starring the one and only Kevin Spacey.

Ross received the exciting news from Jameson First Shot on Friday 27^th January, followed by a telephone call from Ireland. “I feel very honoured to have made it through to the stage 2 of the competition as it means that I’m on the right track in my career. Being selected as a short-listed finalist is a personal victory for me and a victory that I share with all my writing mentors, past and present,” said Van Leeve.

Ross further indicates that he would be delighted if he can be chosen as the South African winner.  “Kevin Spacey is a brilliant actor and if I get to be selected as the South African winner, I hope to learn a few tips while working with him.  Hopefully I'll get an opportunity to pitch a couple of my other concepts. Overall the experience would be a personal test which I'm keenly looking forward to, to see how I measure up alongside the best talent in the world.”

Born and raised in Cape Town, Leeve was awarded an NFVF bursary in 2006 to study Film and TV Production at CityVarsity. Upon his graduation he returned to the NFVF to hone his skills, attending the Sediba Spark Training programme. Ross already has a wealth of experience having worked as a freelance Camera Operator, DOP & Editor, Director and writer for productions including those of XCOM Films, City Varsity, The Magic Mill, The Youth Media Movement, Tiny Productions, VIPRO (Dutch Broadcaste). He’s also worked as an actor in a number of productions.

Commenting on his current job as a director and scriptwriter, Van Leeve had this to say, “With both professions, which are and will always be the work I was born to do, I finally find myself living snippets of this coveted dream. And I can’t thank the NFVF enough for that bursary in 2006 and the Spark training.  In a short time I have become skilled in other fields such as camera work and editing.”

During his ‘stage 2’ Jameson one minute film, he had support from various mentors and friends, which comprise the talented cast and crew, and Cape Town City Varsity MD, “whose generosity and assistance towards the production was immense.”  For those aspiring filmmakers he had this to say “...life will always present you with tough challenges. When you get knocked down, don't give up. Find your way back onto your feet again and keep moving...'”

The short film competition, backed by highly acclaimed actor Kevin Spacey and his company Trigger Street Productions, was launched last year in South Africa by Jameson Irish Whiskey. Designed to discover talented screenwriters and directors from Russia, South Africa and the USA, Jameson First Shot comes with an incredible prize where one winner from each country will have their script made into a short film by Trigger Street Productions, starring Kevin Spacey. The winners will be announced by the 29^th of February 2012.

Issued by Naomi Mokhele