Yolande Botha's Renascence launches online

This is a worldwide competition that encourages filmmakers to write, film, edit and complete a short film over a weekend. It takes place in 130 cities, including Cape Town. Filmmakers are given a line of dialogue/writing, a character and a prop and then pick a genre out of a hat. With these elements and their crew and cast, the teams need to deliver a completed film 48 hours later.

Renascence also won awards for Best Actress (for Bianca Simone Mannie) and Best Production Design (for Simon Mcloughlin). It was nominated for 10 other awards:

• Best Cinematography (Frances Kroon)
  
• Best Sound Design and Score (Morné Marais)
  
• Best Editing (Carol Groenewald)
  
• Best Costume (Catharina van Wyk)
  
• Best Make-Up (Lyndal Fitzgerald)
  
• Best Director (Yolande Botha)
  
• Best Producer (Yolande Botha/Rifka Carr)
  
• Best VFX (Matthew Desmond-Smith)
  
• Best Use of Line

Since then, it has only been available via a password-protected link so that it could be sent to international festivals. Although it will continue to be sent to local short film festivals, it is now available online. It follows the strange journey of a young woman who receives an anonymous invitation. What first seems like an ordinary elevator becomes a portal to people and experiences from her past and even a brush with divinity.

Bianca Simone Mannie gives a powerful, authentic performance and is supported by veteran actor André Jacobs and Gary Green. Shot on a Red Epic, DOP Frances Kroon is responsible for the dramatic look of the film.

Renascence was penned and directed by Yolande Botha, who recently also launched the 20-minute dark comedy, Lina and Leo. Founded in early 2015, The Brave Cartel collaborates with various production partners, brands and ad agencies to conceptualise and produce film and branded content.

Watch Renascence here.