The Afda Graduation Festival 2021 - showcasing young African talent

The festival is a multi-faceted and multi-medium event, which will take on a hybrid format – hosted online as well as traditionally in cinemas, theatres and studio venues in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth from 19 November to 1 December 2021.

The festival will showcase over 120 productions and projects from the respective Afda campuses. These include live action short films, animation films, documentary films, telenovela pilots, theatre plays, live music performance shows (EP releases) and business innovation projects.

"The annual Afda Graduation Festival is an important platform for our final year undergraduate and postgraduate students to showcase the final practical outcome of their qualification. This outcome is the culmination of their learning journey at Afda and finding their voice as young creatives. The content the Afda graduates create is culturally relevant and engaging content for their chosen target markets. Many meaningful industry collaborations and connections have resulted from our graduation festival in previous years, creating opportunities for Afda students as well as industry and media stakeholders alike," says Afda CEO, Teresa Passchier.

Previous Afda graduation productions have been hugely successful both locally and abroad on the film festival circuit. These include the film Elalini which won the Best Foreign Student Film Oscar in 2006, Kanye Kanye which won over 20 best short film awards worldwide, and was a finalist for the Oscars and Cannes in 2012. Additionally Die Windpomp and Hollywood in my Huis were Afda student films which were later developed into feature films. Afda student films have also won eight Saftas in the Best Student Film category.

Congratulations to all the students and staff, who have not let the difficulties of 2021 hinder their goal to create culturally relevant content for a worldwide audience. They have embraced innovative ideas and technology, showed true grit and determination and most importantly, kept their passion and dreams as creatives alive.

Afda Cape Town Graduation Festival 2021: 19–30 November

• BCom Exhibition & Panel Discussion, 19 November, Zoom Meeting
  
• Music Performance: 19–20 November, Music MegaDome on campus
  
• Stage Performance: 21–24 November, Afda Theatre on Lower Main
  
• Film and Television Online Festival: 24–26 November http://festival.afda.co.za/
  
• Film and Television Festival at the Drive-In: 29–30 November, Atlantic Studios

Afda Johannesburg Graduation Festival 2021: 20–28 November

• BCom Exhibition and Panel Discussion, 20 November, on campus
  
• Music Performance: 22–28 November, Afda Red Roof Theatre
  
• Stage Performance: 22–28 November, Afda Red Roof Theatre
  
• Film and Television Online Festival: 24–26 November http://festival.afda.co.za/
  
• Television Festival: 26–27 November, L1 on campus
  
• Film Festival: 27–28 November, Ster Kinekor, Newtown Junction

Afda Durban Graduation Festival 2021: 27 November–1 December

• Film and Television Online Festival: 22–26 November http://festival.afda.co.za/
  
• Stage Performance: 29 November–1 December, Wushini Pan African Centre/Theatre
  
• Film Festival: 27 November, Gateway Cineplex

Afda Gqeberha Graduation Festival 2021

• Stage Performance: 23–25 November, Blaq Box Theatre on campus
  
• Film and Television Online Festival: 24–26 November http://festival.afda.co.za/
  
• Film Festival: 27 November, Ster Kinekor at Baywest