Bay Hotel hosts Silwerskerm Festival

The festival displays the best in Afrikaans film with special full-length film premieres, short films, discussion panels and an award ceremony. This year, the festival adds a new category for documentary films and includes 15 new short films, produced by kykNET in collaboration with Cape Town's World Design Capital 2014 initiative.

Debut short films

The debut short films are a highlight on the programme each year. A younger generation of filmmakers are given the opportunity to develop their skills under the guidance and mentorship of established people in the South African film industry. The entries for this category tripled this year and, due to the quality of applications, it was decided that 15 short films instead of the usual 13 short films would be produced. The Silwerskerm festival mentors for 2014 are Mitzi Booysen, Herman Binge, André Stoltz and Deon Opperman. kykNET is funding the short films.

According to Silwerskerm mentor, Deon Opperman, "Just like 'depth' is created in sport by offering high-standard training opportunities for the emerging talent of the next generation, this creates an opportunity for emerging talent in the film industry - producers, writers, directors and production teams - to hone their skills in preparation for larger, professional projects thereafter. It gives me great pleasure as writing mentor to be involved with the festival. It is my belief that in the years to come, this project will have a significant impact on the standard of South African film."

Talent to watch

The short films for 2014 consist of two theatre productions Trippie by Nicola Hanekom and Agterplaas by Charles Fourie. Another acclaimed playwright responsible for one of the short films is Tertius Kapp (Iemand Anders). Renowned actors in the industry generously support the young filmmakers. This year the short films include well-known actors such as Tinarie van Wyk Loots (Juweeldiewe), Susanne Beyers, Peter Beyers (Onder die Tafel), Elsabé Daneel, Marion Holm, Helene Truter and Antoinette Louw (Totsiens, Pa) André Odendal, Harald Richter (Die Laaste Ure), Nataniël and Elzette Maarschalk (Almon, Henry), Shamilla Miller and Irshaad Ally (Nommer 37), Neels van Jaarsveld and Arno Jordaan (Ben se Begrafnis), Quentin Krog and Cindy Swanepoel (Eenrigting).

The young talent behind many of the short films and names to watch out for are; Marisa Drummond, Jennis Williamson and JC Snooke (Stom), Eddie de Jager and Solomon Cupido ('n Liefdeslobotomie) Bouwer Bosch and Bennie Fourie (Vuil Wasgoed), Jenna Dunster and Tessa Denton, Ashleigh Harvey (Neem my saam).

World Design Capital 2014 initiative

The festival, in conjunction with AFDA and Guga S'thebe Arts and Culture Centre in Langa, will be making a number of short 1-2 minute films. These films aim to create a visual story through the landscape and language of the community aiming to creating a unique South African narrative. The project was also duplicated in Hillbrow, Johannesburg and these films will also be screened at the festival.

The existing film category boasts 25 films that were locally produced. A new category for documentaries has been added to the festival program. These names will be made public at a later stage. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/silwerskermfees.