Johnny Masilela
Eight short films by emergent and not-so- emergent black film-makers will be showcased next month at an all-powerful film festival in Italy.
The Emergent Black Film-makers of South Africa is a three-hour package to be presented at the 51st International Short Film Festival of Montecatini in Italy from July 1 to 8. The eight-film programme was conceived by the Cape Town International Film Festival.
Cape Town International Film Festival director Trevor Steele Taylor said the programme was the result of a growing demand on the international film festival circuit for South Africa’s black talent. He said he had personally been under pressure from foreign film festival organisers, asking him the all-familiar question: “Where are the black directors?”
Heading for the 51st International Short Film Festival of Montecatini is celebrated Teboho Mahlatsi, known for the excellent TV series Yizo Yizo, which he co-created with Angus Gibson and Mtutuzeli Matshoba.
Mahlatsi goes to the Italian festival with Portrait of a Young Man Drowning, which last year received a Silver Lion at the 1999 Venice Film Festival for best short film. The film was produced by Primedia Pictures.
Rising industry player Dumisani Phakathi jets to the Montecatini festival with two short films: An Old Wife’s Tale, a product of the M-Net New Directions series and winner of five Avanti awards, and another New Directions initiative, Christmas with Granny.
Khalo Matabane will showcase Chikin Biznis, another New Directions winner, the success of which resulted in the feature- length remake Chikin Biznis: The Whole Story, which was directed by Ntshavheni wa Luruli.
Also heading to Montecatini is Palesa Letlaka Nkosi, with her magical shortie Mamlambo, also produced by Primedia Pictures. Akin Omotoso joins the entourage with his feature film promo God is African, and the five-minute shortie Nightwalkers, which is a music video of the rap ensemble Fashionable.
The Emergent Black Film-makers of South Africa programme will be rounded off by film student Norman Maake, with Home Sweet Home.
The festival programme includes, among other activities, daily brainstorm sessions between directors and industry players.
The eight South African films are eligible for 13 official awards, namely the plate of the Italian Republic’s President Prize, the Golden Heron for best work, the Silver Heron for Jury Special Prize, the Anfora Memoria d’Acqua for best actor and best actress, the Giovanni Leardi for best first work, the Giampaolo Prize for best documentary, the Adriano Asti Prize for best experimental work, the Pinocchio Prize for best animation work, the Hans Zullig Prize for best videoclip, and two Federazione Italiana Cineclub plates to be awarded at the jury’s discretion.
The awards are most certainly not going to be smooth sailing for the South African films. Last year 158 works from 52 countries were showcased at the festival and the number is expected to increase significantly this year.
The festival is also a potential marketing coup for South African film. Last year, 35 Italian and foreign journalists covered the festival, publishing 135 articles in 35 newspapers worldwide.
South African cinema-goers have the opportunity to catch Portrait of a Young Man Drowning, Christmas with Granny, Clean Hands and Husk at the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown from June 30 to July 8