|
Few months ago, Encounters made a public appeal for help after it found out that the SABC was withdrawing its support. As part of the Friends of the Festival initiative, many individuals and organisations showed their sympathy and pledged both money and in-kind donations, so the 11th Encounters International Film Festival will take place from 2- 19 July 2009 at Nu Metro, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
“With the loss of funding from the SABC, it has been very challenging,” says festival director Mandisa Zitha. “A significant portion of our festival budget came from them. The funding crisis delayed our festival organisation and left us unclear as to whether the festival would be able to go ahead this year or not. There were fifty individual donations and three funders that came forward to rescue us.”
The festival will open with Liza Key’s Rewind, which explores the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by looking at Rewind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony, composer Philip Miller’s 10th anniversary tribute.
Rewind will screen with Soul Train, a short film by Bruno Mokoena, which looks at the phenomenon of church coaches on the trains between Soweto and Jozi. Speeches will be given from some of the festival funders, while the screenings will be followed by drinks; however the annual cocktail party has been scaled down.
Over the past decade Encounters has been in the forefront of the rebirth of the South African documentary tradition. This year, a record 15 South African films will make their world débuts, while another two will have their South African premières at Encounters. The 2009 programme will have over 40 films. Master classes will be held on 11 July 2009 at the Victoria Junction Hotel in Greenpoint. Velcrow Ripper will discuss the unique aspect of multi-layered sound in documentary, while Yoav Shamir will share information on how to gain access to subject when dealing with sensitive issues. According to Mandisa, there will be no film workshops this year due to lack of funding.
As usual, all 21 local filmmakers and three panels have been invited by the Encounters to participate in Q&A discussions of their films. They have also invited the subjects of some films, like soapie star Dawn Matthews and Hip Hop Pantsula, who are both featured in the two episodes of Who do You Think You Are?
“We are grateful for the support shown by the industry, funders and the press. It has added relevance to what we do. Faced with the loss of substantial funding, we have been humbled by the support we have received from funders, film organisations, and friends, among them Vivien Cohen and the Human Elephant Foundation, the Africa Centre, Isla Haddow-Flood, and the Carrol Boyes Group, to mention but a few who came to our rescue,” said Mandisa.
The festival’s funders include Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Jan Vrijman Fund / IDFA, the Africa Centre and individuals who have joined the ‘Friends of the Festival’ programme, including Carrol Boyes, Mfundi Vundla, and William Kentridge, among many others. Other sponsors are the Times, Nu Metro, Tempest, French Embassy, High Commission of Canada, British Council, Business Arts South Africa, Exclusive Books, Goodman Gallery and Cape Town TV.
Pshasha Seakamela |
