SA films on the red carpet

The range of feature films in competition this year reflects much of the broad international spectrum and the high standards and quality of the more than 110 films in the CTWCF.

These include amongst others, Gavin Hood's Tsotsi, Darko Mitrevski's Bal-Can-Can, Minh Nguyen-Vo's Buffalo Boy, Fernando Eimbcke's Duck Season and Richard E Grant's semi-autobiographic Wah Wah.

The flavour of the selection appears to promote compelling psychological drama and inventive as well as socially-insightful story telling, all within the oeuvre of art cinema. Several of these films have already garnered international critical acclaim and received prestigious international awards.

CTWCF's Gala Awards Jury includes the Toronto International Film Festival's Cameron Bailey who also reviews film for Now magazine and CBC Radio One; Mahen Bonetti from Sierra Leone and founder and Executive Director of the African Film Festival Inc.; Prolific Mozambiquan producer Pedro Pimenta who currently sits on the Award Committee of the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development (The Netherlands); Pre-eminent South African poet, Head of the ANC's Department of Arts and Culture and currently Director of the Freedom Park Heritage Project, Mongane Wally Serote; and foremost producer and filmmaker from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mweze Ngangura.

Awards will be presented at the Artscape Main Theatre on Saturday 19 November, an invitation-only event that will also feature the screening of the film All the Invisible Children by various directors.

Competition films will be recognized and awarded in the following categories: The SIGNIS Jury Prize; Jameson Short Film Award; Human Rights Network Jury; NLDTF Newcomers Award; Most Promising Filmmaker (Lional Ngakane Award); Best Actress; Best Actor; Best Director; Best African Feature Film, Critics Jury Award for Best South African Feature Film and Best Feature Film.