‘Edutaining' using film as a medium

Says Joan Legalamitwa, curator of the NWFF, “We have a great line up of good quality films which will appeal to people across the board. So…get your bum on that seat! Ke Ya Rona!”

Occurring within National Heritage month, the festival will showcase films with a Proudly South African focus to celebrate the country's heritage. These films include: Karen Slater's From Nkoko with Love, Vincent Moloi's A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle, Jioty Mystry's I Mike what I Like, Rudi Steyn's Baas van die Plaas, Khulile Nxumalo's The House of Credo Mutwa and Teboho Mahlatsi's Sekalli sa Meokgo.

Aspirant filmmakers

Eight young aspirant filmmakers from around the North West Province have been undergoing rigorous training and development as part of the Festival's seven-week filmmaking workshop. Here they developed and produced four ‘Proudly North West' short films which will be showcased this year.

In addition, over 60 South African and international films comprising documentaries, shorts and feature films will be screened in Mafikeng, the capital of the North West Province. Other screenings will spread to the rest of Ngaka Modiri Molema, Bojanala, Bophirima and the Southern districts as part of the festival's community outreach project.

Genres

The programme offers an exciting range of films which fall under the following genres:

• Films from the African continent. This package features films from the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, as well as a taste of the best of Fespaco (Pan African Film Festival of Ougadougou) – Africa's biggest festival. The festival will also pay homage to the father of African cinema Ousemane Sembene, who passed away earlier this year, by screening his award-winning film, Moolade. Well-known Nigerian director Chico Ejiro, known as Mr Prolific in Nollywood, will show a film entitled 100 Days in the Jungle. The festival will also hold an open discussion on the Nigerian film industry.

• The second focus lends itself to films that celebrate young South African directors. These include Karabo Lediga (Black Sunday) and Lindiwe Nkutha (Joburg Rising),Khalo Matabane (Conversations on a Sunday Afternon), John Barker (Bunny Chow), Robin Kleindsmidt (Ongeriewe), Norman Maake (Soldiers of the Rock), Omelga Mthiyane (Different Pigment)

• With 2010 around the corner, the festival has prepared a football package to whet the appetites of soccer enthusiasts. Brass Boys is a story about Ajax Cape Town's supporters brass band which portrays the importance of support for local teams. Zuma the Puma is a story that gives us insight into Sibusiso Zuma's experience as a South African playing in Europe. Meanwhile, Soccer on Sundays: SOS journeys into the world of refugee soccer players living in South Africa.

• Zanele Muholi, a gender activist and renowned photographer will show a film called Enraged by a Picture. This film speaks about gender and sexuality in a way that presents the platform for society to talk about such matters. This film, together with eight others, form part of the Out in Africa gay and lesbian focus.

Apart from the film screenings, the festival anticipates a hive of film-related activities and other events. The SABC, Women of the Sun and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will hold a number of presentations with the aim to give the public insight into the film industry.

On 20 September, festival goers are invited to attend a Steven Biko Memorial Lecture which will be presented by Mafikeng born Kgafela oa Magogodi, poet and academic, of I Mike what I Like, the world's first spoken word film, which is also showing on the festival.

This festival is supported by its funders and partners: North West Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, National Film and Video Foundation, SABC, Mmabana Arts Foundation, Invest North West, Mafikeng Scene Scout Centre, Radio Broadcast Facilities North West, Out In Africa gay and lesbian film festival, Women of the Sun, INPUT, North West Department of Education.

For more information, go to www.nwff.co.za.