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‘Edutaining' using film as a mediumThe fifth North West Film Festival (NWFF), which takes place 14 – 23 September 2007 across the North West Province, will ‘edutain' using film as a medium. The theme is Ke Ya Rona (Setswana for “It is ours”) and its primary objective is to encourage people to take ownership of the industry either as active audiences or film makers. Says Joan Legalamitwa, curator of the NWFF, “We have a great line up of good quality films which will appeal to people across the board. So…get your bum on that seat! Ke Ya Rona!” Occurring within National Heritage month, the festival will showcase films with a Proudly South African focus to celebrate the country's heritage. These films include: Karen Slater's From Nkoko with Love, Vincent Moloi's A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle, Jioty Mystry's I Mike what I Like, Rudi Steyn's Baas van die Plaas, Khulile Nxumalo's The House of Credo Mutwa and Teboho Mahlatsi's Sekalli sa Meokgo. Aspirant filmmakersEight young aspirant filmmakers from around the North West Province have been undergoing rigorous training and development as part of the Festival's seven-week filmmaking workshop. Here they developed and produced four ‘Proudly North West' short films which will be showcased this year. In addition, over 60 South African and international films comprising documentaries, shorts and feature films will be screened in Mafikeng, the capital of the North West Province. Other screenings will spread to the rest of Ngaka Modiri Molema, Bojanala, Bophirima and the Southern districts as part of the festival's community outreach project. GenresThe programme offers an exciting range of films which fall under the following genres:
Apart from the film screenings, the festival anticipates a hive of film-related activities and other events. The SABC, Women of the Sun and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will hold a number of presentations with the aim to give the public insight into the film industry. On 20 September, festival goers are invited to attend a Steven Biko Memorial Lecture which will be presented by Mafikeng born Kgafela oa Magogodi, poet and academic, of I Mike what I Like, the world's first spoken word film, which is also showing on the festival. This festival is supported by its funders and partners: North West Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, National Film and Video Foundation, SABC, Mmabana Arts Foundation, Invest North West, Mafikeng Scene Scout Centre, Radio Broadcast Facilities North West, Out In Africa gay and lesbian film festival, Women of the Sun, INPUT, North West Department of Education. For more information, go to www.nwff.co.za. |