Three AFDA films selected to compete for CILECT Prize 2019

AFDA is proud to announce the selection of three AFDA 2018 graduation films to compete for the prestigious CILECT Prize 2019, the first-ever award bestowed to a student film based on review from the whole community of CILECT Full Member Schools. This includes 160 institutions from 60 countries, of which AFDA is a full member. Each CILECT Member School is permitted to submit one film in each category.

The CILECT Prize, founded in 2005 at the proposal of the (then) Vice-President Conferences and Festivals Prof. Dr Stanislav Semerdjiev, Rector of the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA), Sofia, Bulgaria. It appeared as a result of his long-term research on world student festival activities and after a thorough survey between all CILECT Full Member Schools on the eventual importance of such a competition.

The formal ceremony of presenting the award is usually held at the annual Conferences of CILECT. The first such ceremony took place at ECAM, Madrid, SPAIN on 21 November 2006.

CILECT, The International Association of Film and Television Schools (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision), was founded in Cannes, France, in 1954 and is most strongly committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of audio-visual educational in its member schools by establishing and organizing global and regional forums for the exchange of managerial, pedagogical, methodological and research best practices.

CILECT also strives to contribute to the world cultural and communication processes by stimulating a multitude of networking and sharing collaborations among its members (workshops, conferences, symposia, festivals, co-productions, joint degrees, etc.).

AFDA has submitted films in three categories. AFDA Port Elizabeth's genesis group of postgraduate students' film, Isikhalo (The Outcry), directed by Loren Buchner and Sisanda Dyantyi representing AFDA in the fiction film category. The animation category slot is taken by third-year AFDA Johannesburg film, Escape from Planet Zoid, directed by Bailey Spencer and Tanyaradzwa Musasiwa and AFDA Johannesburg postgraduate film, Zomile Inyembezi, directed by Vutlhari Wisdom Mhangwane, is selected in the documentary category.

"Our goal with Isikhalo: The Outcry was to challenge rape culture in South Africa. Now with the potential development of a full feature our goal can finally be realised. However, with the unexpected CILECT Prize selection my heart is overwhelmed with joy that Isikhalo: The Outcry has the opportunity to challenge the worldwide rape culture and hopefully touch the hearts of young girls, women, and men and inspire change amongst our connected international society," says Loren Buchner (Screenwriter, Co-Director, & Co-Producer).