KAREN RUTTER
If the preview of the some of the films in the latest shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival programme are anything to go by, this year’s fest is going to be brilliant. The short film format lends itself to very creative use of time to tell a story – as opposed to the average 90 minutes of a feature film, or in the case of TV series, up to 120 hours per season as in Game of Thrones). By comparison, the films in the shnit line-up can be as short as three minutes, and they use this to the max. Taken that production costs are lower, as is commercial pressure, and the space to play with non-mainstream themes, alternative styles and edgy technical elements becomes an attractive playground for both beginners and professional filmmakers. And the scope is sooo broad.
Films like 427 Types of Wieners offer a feisty, offbeat take on sausages, men and women, while Fihla offers a sobering look at a border crossing, Cold Storage moves into an unexpected dance duet, and Sea Bones is creepily, madly funny. So much to see …
South African jury panel
shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival, now in its 8th year in South Africa, has announced its three member jury panel for the 2017 competition.
Jerry Mofokeng is a South African stage and screen actor who has an extensive portfolio of work in Theatre, Radio and TV and several critically acclaimed films, including Cry The Beloved Country; Lord of War and the 2005 Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi. He holds an Honours degree in Dramatic Arts from Wits University and an MFA degree from Columbia University in New York as a Fulbright scholar. He brings a wealth of experience and integrity to the process of adjudication over films and in 2013, received the prestigious honor of being awarded the SAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award for his service in film and television.
Thabang Moleya is a South African director, filmmaker, presenter and actor who first rose to fame as a presenter on the M-Net kids programming block K-T.V. He has directed award winning television shows, including the International Emmy nominated Sokhulu and Partners and has smashed box office records with his most recent film, Happiness is a Four Letter Word.
Sara Blecher is an award winning filmmaker and co-‐founder of Cinga Productions, a South African based production company which has made a number of innovative television programs and drama series including the International Emmy nominated Zero Tolerance. Sara Blecher completed her second and third feature films in 2015, AYANDA and DIS EK ANNA , with AYANDA being the opening night film at The Durban International Film Festival that year. Sara’s debut feature Otelo Burning won over 17 international awards and was named by CNN as one of the top ten African films of the decade.
One of biggest shortfilm festivals
Founded in Bern, Switzerland in 2003, shnit has become one of the world’s biggest shortfilm festivals, taking place simultaneously in eight cities, on five continents, over one weekend, from 18 to 22 October 2017. shnit Worldwide Shorfilmfestival presents an innovative experience like no other in the genre. With its reputation for the finest short film fare, shnit has made its mark and established itself as a force to be reckoned with on the global short film scene.
This year there are 13 South African film-makers competing for the Jury Prize in the Made in South Africa Competition, the winners of which will be announced on the final night, 22 October at the Awards Night at iKhaya Lodge in Dunkley Square. Aside from the latter, 102 films will compete in the global shnit International Competition for the prestigious Flaming Faun Award that will be handed over in New York City on 29 October. Kaapse Bobotie is the staple South African out-of-competition showcase, where 19 local films will be shown and audiences can also see documentaries in shnit Documents, animation in shnit Animates, short films of the adult variety in Peeping shnit, Feelgood shnit, Heavy shnit, and more. Basically, there’s something for everyone. In total, 156 films are on offer this year, ranging from 1 to 40 minutes in duration.
The opening night of shnit Cape Town will be hosted at the newly renovated Labia Theatre, the heart of independent film in Cape Town. Other shnit venues are the Alexander Bar and there’ll be free screenings at Bertha Movie House at Isivivana in Khayelitsha and at Pulp Cinema at the Neelsie in Stellenbosch.
What: shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival
Where and when: Labia Cinema, Alexander Bar, Bertha Movie House at Isivivana in Khayelitsha and at Pulp Cinema at the Neelsie in Stellenbosch from 18 to 22 October 2017
Info: Events, master classes, films and film makers, venues and bookings: http://shnit.org/intro-cape-town
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