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Press Releases16 June 2009Press Release for Immediate ReleaseEncounters International Documentary Festival has become a pivotal event in the South African film calendar. The 2009 programme of over 40 films combines the work of a host of top international and local filmmakers. A record 14 South African films, made by the best and the brightest local filmmaking talent, make their World débuts, and another two have their South African Premières at Encounters. For the past 11 years Encounters was the first platform to showcase major feature documentary films .Since its inception Encounters has screened over 1,241 films - 270 International titles and 130 South African titles - and has commissioned 44 films, with record attendance figures to date of 98,612. This year there is an array of international work from Afghanistan, UK, USA, Canada, Cuba, Senegal, France, Egypt, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Cameroon and Belgium. The award-winning films include Oscar nominated and Golden Globe Award Winner 2009 - Best Foreign Language film Waltz with Bashir the animated documentary about the dreams that plague Israeli Army Conscripts, and a film by legendary director Werner Herzog, which captures the beauty of Antarctica in Encounters at the End of the World, was also a recipient of a 2009 Oscar nomination. Three winners of Sundance 2009 are Afghan Star which looks at the return of pop culture in Afghanistan and the risks for those involved. The film won the Audience and Directing Awards. The Grand Jury World Cinema Documentary Award winner Rough Aunties is about a group of brave compassionate Durbanites who fight for the rights of abused children, and the winner of IDFA's Joris Ivens award and Sundance's Best World Cinema Documentary Editing as well as the 2009 Berlinale Human Rights Award is Burma VJ – Reporting from a Closed Country which shows the perils of reporting form a closed and repressed country. Who Killed Maggie? charts the last two weeks of Margaret Thatcher’s Political life; The Queen and I is a portrait of the glamorous Queen of Persia in exile in Paris; and Tyson is a mesmerising study of the bad boy of boxing. Films with an African focus are Sacred Places which looks at St Leon which is a community in the city of Ouagadougou that lives and breathes film; Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love is a cinematic journey about one man’s voice to inspire change; and Yande Codou, Griot of Senghor takes us into the world of one of Africa’s famed griots, an accomplished practitioner of polyphonic praise singing. The short films include Bronx Princess - Rocky Otto a teenager from the Bronx is also a Ghanaian Princess; Slaves a powerful animated documentary about Abuk enslaved at 5 by the Sudanese government sponsored militia and looks at other children in difficult situations; Freddy Ilanga: Che’s Swahili Translator is a World Première and tells of a 15 year old who in 1965 was ordered to work as Che’s Swahili translator during a secret Congo mission to train anti-Mobuto rebels. In The Age of Stupid Franny Armstrong sets her film in 2055 where a lone archivist compiles footage of the warning signs that we collectively chose to ignore and Four Wings and a Prayer is Nick de Pencier’s study of the Monarch butterfly. The Champagne Spy concerns the complicated web of deceit and the high-life of a Mossad spy posing as a German in Egypt in the 60s directed by Nadav Schirman, and Israeli Yoav Shamir’s Defamation has the chutzpah to unpack anti-Semitism. Shamir is a guest of the Festival. Fierce Light: when spirit meets action Velcrow Ripper’s highly personal film which questions his life as a social activist and asks can spirituality and action converge? Ripper is a guest of the Festival. Music from the Inside Out is a portrait of the world famous Philadelphia Orchestra through the personal tales of some of the musicians and RIP –A Remix Manifesto examines copyright and promotes a ‘fair use’ in the reworking of art and music to create new works. Over the past decade Encounters has been in the forefront of the renaissance of the South African documentary tradition, the Festival is immensely proud to host over 14 new SA works. The Festival opens with Rewind - Director Liza Key‘s film about the making of Philip Miller’s TRC inspired Rewind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony. Other World premieres include The Invincibles Mark Kaplan’s rugby film which centres on the 1974 SA tour by the British and Irish Lions who broke the boycott and trounced the Boks. For Which I am Prepared to Die the story of Hermanus born Roger Bushell the mastermind behind many escapes from WWII POW camps, including the Great Escape celebrated in a film of the same name. The film is made by Bushell’s niece, Lindy Wilson. In Tribes and Clans is an examination by radical thinkers of the colonial power’s socio-political constructs of Tribes and Clans.The director is Ntokozo Mahlalela. Soap Star Dawn Matthews and rap artist HHP (Hip Hop Pantsula) search of their ancestors in the series Who Do You Think You Are? They are directed respectively by Tim Greene and Ernie Vosloo. Two giants from the art world Kentridge and Dumas in conversation is directed by Catherine Meyburg. From the music world Fokofpolisiekar “forgive them for they know not what they do” Bryan Little’s film about the in your face punk rock band Bellville band and the short Jitsvinger: maak it aan! uncovers the world of poet guitarist and hip hopster Quinton Goliath. The Pioneer of Paraguay a short film about -a South African stranded in South America. The Last Voyage director Genadendal born, Riaan Hendricks makes a personal journey at the time of his father’s death. Craig and Damon Foster look at climate change from an African perspective in Nature of Life. Two short films under the banner of Healing Power of Nature are Liz Fish’s Deep Friends set in a chimpanzee Sanctuary in Zambia and River Of Ashes Emma Bestall’s film about the River Ganges, abused holy mother. Encounters has partnered with the prestigious Goodman Gallery in showcasing the best of films made by South African artists, this will include a special screening entitled Artslot and a screening of select shorts prior some of the feature films. Two South African Premieres are Sea Point Days Emmy Award winning director Francois Verster’s impressionistic look at life on the promenade and in the pools Zola Maseko explores the wealth of 900 years of African Intellectual output in a library in The Manuscripts of Timbuktu. Other South African films are Lunchbox Bullies which explores why bullies bully, and Daughter of Spirits Mother of Mine shows that the call of the ancestors is not always a gift and the short film Soul Train looks at the church coaches on the commuter trains from Soweto to Jozi. Guests of the Festival South African Guests : Dawn Matthews, Bryan Little (Fokofpolisiekar), Filipa Domingues (Fokofpolisiekar), Lindy Wilson (For which I’m Prepared to Die), Liz Fish (HPON – Deep Friends) and Emma Bestall (HPON –River of Ashes), HHP, Mark Kaplan(The Invicibles), Riaan Hendricks (The Last Voyage), Nhlanhla Mthethwa (Lunchbox Bullies), Zola Maseko (The Manuscripts of Timbuktu), Liza Key(Rewind), Philip Miller (Rewind) Francois Verster (Sea Point Days), Ntokozo Mahlalela(Tribes and Clans), Nadine Angel Cloete (Jitsvinger: maak it aan!) Quinton Goliath (Jitsvinger: maak it aan!) Lisa Swart (The Pioneer of Paraguay) and Thabo Bruno Makoena (Soul Train). International Guests: Yoav Shamir (Defamation), Velcrow Ripper (Fierce Light: when spirit meets action), Angele Diabang Brener (Yandou Codou), Katrin Hansing (Freddy Ilanga: Che's Swahili Translator) Master Classes Velcrow Ripper - creating soundscape; and Yoav Shamir - how to gain access to subjects when dealing with sensitive issues. Panel Discussions Defamation Q&A with Yoav Shamir (moderated Nathan Geffen, and Shelagh Gastrow) Waltz with Bashir and Slaves - Caught Up in the Machine With Prof Schabbir Ahmed Wadee, Prof Sebastian van As, Shirley Gunn, Haroon Gunn-Salie, Andries Botha. Daughter of Spirits Mother of Mine – Ubizo- Blessing or Curse with Tebogo Nkoana, Annelie Zanemvula De Wet and others. The Sponsors of the Encounters Film festival are: The National Film and Video Foundation, Cape Film Commission, Jan Vrijman Fund/IDFA, Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Vivien Cohen and the Human Elephant Foundation, the Africa Centre, French Embassy, British Council, High Commission of Canada, Business & Arts South Africa, Tempest Car Hire, Goodman Gallery, The Times, Exclusive Books, Nu Metro and Cape Town TV. For further information and booking details look at our website www.encounters.co.za For general queries contact: 4th June 2009 11th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival 2009The Encounters Documentary Festival will take place!! The Encounters team are pleased to announce that the Festival will go ahead as planned, despite the shortfall in funding, from 2 – 19 July at the Nu Metro cinemas, V&A Waterfront. The programme of 40 films includes 15 World Premières, 14 multiple international-award winning films, Q&A sessions with 21 guests and 3 Panel Discussions. In addition there will be two Master Classes. Encounters made a public plea for support when it was announced that the SABC would withdraw its support – and many individuals and organisations have since pledged both money and in-kind donations. The festival’s new financial supporters include Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Jan Vrijman Fund / IDFA, the Africa Centre and many individuals who have joined the ‘Friends of the Festival’ programme including Carrol Boyes, Mfundi Vundla, William Kentridge and others. “We are grateful for the support shown by the industry, funders and the press. It has added relevance to what we do”, said Festival Director, Mandisa Zitha. Encounters is making a last appeal for members of the public to join the Friends of the Festival club. To join Encounters requests a donation of R 1000 or more by 18 June 2009. In return Encounters will offer Friends Opening Night tickets to the screening of Rewind, directed by Liza Key. The film is about the creation of Philip Miller’s acclaimed cantata - Rewind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony. Both Key and Miller will attend the screening. In addition Encounters will issue Friends 10 complimentary tickets for Festival screenings. Friends will be acknowledged on the Encounters website, unless they wish to remain anonymous. In November 2008 Encounters registered a non-profit Section 21 Company - the Encounters Training and Development Institute 2008/026397/08. It is governed by a Board of Directors, who are: In line with the requirements for a Section 21, the Encounters Training and Development Institute is subject to an annual audit. The bank account details for all donations is: So that we may track donations, Friends are requested to send proof of deposit by email or fax to: Encounters will require an email address and telephone number in order to send Friends their Opening Night invitations and complimentary tickets. Thank you in advance for your support. For any queries contact Irmgard Schreiber on project@encounters.co.za. The Festival is sponsored and supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, Cape Film Commission, Jan Vrijman Fund/ IDFA, Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Africa Centre, The Times, Nu Metro, Tempest, French Embassy, High Commission of Canada, British Council, Business Arts South Africa, Exclusive Books, Goodman Gallery and Cape Town TV. 11th Encounters South African International Documentary
2-19 July 25 May 2009 Re: “Save the Festival” Initiative for 2009 Encounters South African International Documentary Festival Dear Friends of Encounters Of course we would like to make the festival happen as originally planned - without a Johannesburg leg unfortunately, but running for longer in Cape Town from 2 to 19 July 2009 - and we believe that we can with your help. We would like to encourage you as a friend of the festival to contribute R1000 or more towards the festival budget. Your donation will contribute to cover costs for the South African film screenings at Encounters 2009. To show our gratitude, we will invite you to the Opening Night on 2 July and in addition issue you 10 complimentary tickets for the festival screenings. Your name and contribution will be listed as one of the “Friends of the Festival” on our website. We believe that this information may ‘challenge’ others to contribute. If, however, you would like to remain anonymous, please let us know. In line with the requirements for a Section 21, the Encounters Training and Development Institute is subject to an annual audit. Kind regards Press Release - 20 May 2009 Encounters Documentary Festival in crisisThe future of South Africa’s premier documentary festival, Encounters, hangs in the balance since its principal sponsor, the SABC, yesterday withdrew their financial support for the 2009 edition of the festival. This is due to the SABC's new austerity measures. Encounters is now faced with the task of raising sufficient funds in the coming week if it is to take place as planned. The dates of the 2009 edition are 2 - 19 July in Cape Town. Unfortunately, Encounters already has had to withdraw from Johannesburg this year since the Gauteng Film Commission also withdrew its financial support. "We are appealing to individuals, government and the corporate sector to come forward to help save the festival. We now have one week to solve our funding crisis", says Festival Director Mandisa Zitha. The festival, now in its 11th year, showcases South African and International talent and promotes the growth of the documentary industry. Encounters has screened hundreds of documentaries to an audience of over 80,000 people. It has commissioned over 40 documentaries and runs access programmes, out reach programmes, schools programmes, workshops, masterclasses and seminars. Encounters is an important event on the annual film and festival calendar. "We hope that we can still receive sufficient support to ensure a successful festival this year. We believe, if we can get through this current crisis we will be able to produce an even stronger 2010 edition" Zitha says. Anyone who is able to provide financial support to the Festival is urged to contact: Steven Markovitz Email: steven@bigworld.co.za Telephone: 021 4654686 Mobile: 083 2611044
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