Launched in 1999, Encounters has grown by 500% in 6 years, with audiences reaching the 13 500 mark. The festival screens selected documentaries and filmmakers on hand to engage in debate with audiences.
Encounters 2005 presents a total of 56 outstanding titles from South Africa, Germany, Cameroon, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Switzerland, USA, Bulgaria, Holland, Colombia, China, Iran, Israel, France, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Czech Republic, out of a choice of 350 documentaries.
This year the festival will focus on the celebration of women and will be screening a selection of films, both directed and produced by women including A Family Affair directed by Bev Ditsie and Morris Fynn Goes Native directed by Ngaire Blankenberg. Sisters in Law is directed by Kim Longinotto and Florence Ayisi. Other films by South African women include, Toni Strasburg's World Premiere of In Search of my Family, Isa-Lee Jacobson's Daddy's Girl, Odette Geldenhuys' Grietjie van Garies, Jemima Spring's iHoliday eTranskei, Omelga Mthiyane's iKhaya Malawi, and Beverley Mitchell's A Small Matter of Mules.
The Close Encounters Film Laboratory has been responsible for securing commissions for documentary films from e.tv and SABC and now will consolidate that initiative with the Content Hub Genre Factual Briefs, valued at around R7-million, due to be released at Encounters.
SABC is partnering Encounters in presenting a series of Master Classes by guest filmmakers, including Kim Longinotto (UK), Francois Kohler (Switzerland), Leonard Retel Helmrich (Netherlands), Ditsi Carolino (Philippines) and Jeppe Ronde (Denmark).
For the 5th year running Jameson will be sponsoring the Audience Awards - for the Best International Documentary and the Best South African Documentary.
The dates and venues are: Friday 15 - Sunday 31 July: Cinema Nouveau screened by Jameson V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Friday 5 - Sunday 14 August: Cinema Nouveau screened by Jameson Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg
For more information on the Festival visit www.encounters.co.za or call 021 465 4686
