[21 Icons Season 3] Jolynn Minnaar

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Minnaar has been selected for 21 ICONS South Africa Season III for 'Unearthed' that was written, directed and shot by her alone and received critical acclaim at the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival, winning the coveted Green Award for her work.

She has also been chosen for her work in the fracking arena where she works with several community coalitions from the Karoo and throughout Africa as well as her associations with international grassroots organisations to undercover the darker side of the fracking industry. Through the establishment of the 'Voices of the Karoo' campaign, she seeks to readdress this imbalance and ensure that the voices of citizens in the poor, rural area are heard.

In 2011, after graduating with distinction from the University of Cape Town with a triple major BA degree in Film, Media and Media Production, Minnaar specialised in cinematography and editing at AFDA, the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance.

She works as a director, photographer and cinematographer as well as communications strategist in the local film and media industry.

When news first surfaced that multinational companies were interested in a potential shale gas reserve beneath the Karoo, she discovered that the local communities have been largely sidelined or secluded from the debate. The motion picture investigates fracking and its harmful effects in North America in order to understand what this new method of gas extraction could mean for the semi-arid Karoo and other countries, which are considering its implementation.

In an intimate conversation with Van Wyk she says, "The Karoo is a very rural area with low literacy levels, and fracking is such a complex issue. I made the commitment to 'Unearthed' to ensure that I could empower people with information."

About the portrait

For the portrait 'Consider This', Van Wyk describes the visual elements, "Surrounded by multiple beds of fire, Minnaar is photographed in a quarry in Durbanville, standing defiantly amongst the flames. A reference to one of the harmful side-effects of fracking - where flammable methane gas infiltrates public water systems - Minnaar is imagined as the tireless protector of the land she inhabits, and a documentary filmmaker who will walk through the fire to uncover the truth."

View the video

About 21 Icons Season 3

The short film-series documents the conversations between Gary Van Wyk as the photographer and filmmaker and the icons. Each short film provides insight into both the subject and photographer's creative approach to the portrait.

Behind each portrait lies a carefully planned concept that captures not only the essence of each icon visually, but also in spirit and in terms of their unique legacy.

Season three of 21 ICONS South Africa is proudly sponsored by Mercedes-Benz South Africa.

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