South African Short Film Festival launched

M-Net New Direction series comprised the bulk of the short film package and includes the works of some of South Africa's most talented filmmakers such as Dumisani Phakathi, Zola Maseko, Teboho Mahlatsi etc.

FRU will utilize its ground-breaking audience development initiative called African Film Club (AFC), towards providing opportunities for youth, based at tertiary institution to view and discuss a wide range of short films from the continent.

The roving Short Film Festival will involve filmmakers, lecturers and student groups in a film screening and workshop activity. The national short film festival tour will commence on the 23rd April and will be hosted by Rand Afrikaanse University (RAU), Wits Tech and Wits University. This event will be co-ordinated by a national student body - The National Student Development (NASDEV) in close collaboration with Film Resource Unit.

Amongst the titles to be shown are: 'Raya' from Mama Africa short film series- a film directed by South African filmmaker Zulfah Otto Sallies which tells the story of three generations of women, their struggles, tribulations, and reconciliation.

A short film from the late Senegalese legendary filmmaker, Djibril Diop Mambety - 'The Little Girl Who Sold The Sun' will also be screened, 'Christmas with Granny' directed by enterprising South African filmmaker Dumisani Phakathi's will also be part of the programme bouquet. World acclaimed short - 'Portrait of a Young Man Drowning' of Teboho Mahlatsi will also be part of the Festival programme.

On the 24th April the festival-goers will be engaged on various film industry issues during the workshop sessions. Imparting information and knowledge is the primary aim of each film screening and workshop session. After every film screening, audience will have an opportunity to participate in the post-screening discussions. The discussions will facilitated by respective filmmakers, lecturers and FRU based educationist. Workshop topics to include: scriptwriting, film analysis, visual literacy and other pertinent issues regarding filmmaking.

* Mama Africa will be released in South Africa on 10 May 2002.