Apollo film festival judges announced

Headed up by City Varsity Film & Television & Multimedia School lecturer and researcher Dr Martin Botha, the panel also includes Ster-Kinekor's marketing manager for local content Helen Kuun, independent filmmaker Seipate Bulane-Hopa, commissioning editor for documentaries at SABC 1 Pat Van Heerden, and Glenn Masokoane, an independent filmmaker and consultant.

The festival plays a vital role in highlighting new local content arising from the revival in the local film industry. "There is a great need for aggressive marketing of South African films, and for the generation of local media enthusiasm around the promotion and support of local product," says Botha. "An initiative like Apollo is crucial in generating high-level awareness about the increasing need for distribution, promotion and exhibition initiatives that should form part of the development strategies of all provincial film commissions.

Unanimous in their support for the festival, which they view as an important platform for film in a democratic South Africa, the panel will be judging the feature, documentary and short-film entries on the basis of technical execution, presentation and content. One key factor mentioned by most of the panel is authenticity. "I'd like to see real characters captured, real relationships represented," says Van Heerden. "We'll be looking at how the films force us to think differently about their subjects. This is echoed by Kuun who adds originality and storytelling skill to the list of criteria. "I have great faith in the burgeoning local film industry," she says. "Our focus is on assisting local filmmakers to produce content that has real audience appeal. Apollo highlights quality local content in its various formats, and makes it possible for us to view the ongoing evolution of local film talent."

Now in its fourth year, Apollo has already played a major role in raising the profile of locally made films and has contributed to an emerging national film culture. "In the process, we have celebrated the best of the new industry, as well as screening retrospectives focused on the best of the past," notes Botha

Filmmaker and consultant Glenn Masokoane, whose interests lie in the area of economic research and analysis, and development of strategy for the creation of content in all South African languages, says transformation of the industry to make it more globally competitive is critical. "South Africa has to develop local talent across all audio-visual fields. Equally important is the need for us to develop our own film style the way that countries like New Zealand and Nigeria have done.

"Apollo promotes South African film and gives local filmmakers the recognition and exposure required to drive ongoing development. Filmmakers and actors need to be more visible in this country, and our films need to be endorsed by South Africans before we can take them overseas. The definitive South African movie cannot continue to be an elusive thing." The notion of local stories for a local audience - whether in feature, short film or documentary format - resonates with this year's adjudicators. "The more we focus on our own communities, the more ability we will have to find our own 'Whale Riders' in fiction and non-fiction," adds Van Heerden.