Top storytellers to boost skills at BCM’s first film fest

Award-winning Mdantsane-born Jahmil Qubeka will headline the workshops.
Award-winning Mdantsane-born Jahmil Qubeka will headline the workshops.
Image: FILE/ ALAN EASON

Top filmmakers in SA are set to bring in their expertise at the inaugural Buffalo City film festival, which will be hosted virtually from February 23 to 25.

According to festival director Unathi Gwija, the platform was intended to nurture storytellers with a focus on television and new media.

Gwija said the festival existed to "evolve and transcend" emerging black stories from the province and boost the culture of storytelling in the region.

She said the festival would showcase a spectrum of films and host free workshops for emerging and established filmmakers.

The workshops will be headlined by award-winning Mdantsane-born filmmaker Jahmil Qubeka. The director and storyteller is revered locally and abroad, Gwija said.

Former Isidingo executive producer Pumla Hopa from Port Elizabeth, and Mandisa Zitha, director of the Encounters South African international documentary festival, will run some of the workshops.

The SABC will be represented by Nirvana Singh. The national film and video foundation will be represented by Nombuso Magubane and an Eastern Cape Film Hub presentation will be delivered by Ayabulela Ndlovu.

“The seminal Buffalo City Film Festival is committed to increasing visibility and recognition for Eastern Cape filmmakers by directing their focus to churn out creative work for television and the new media,” said Gwija.

“The television component is designed to open up access. The Eastern Cape film sector is in its infancy and one way to spur growth is not to focus on big feature films but documentaries, television series and drama so that we can have a bigger share on television."

Gwija said the province contributed less than 3% of content across all broadcast platforms.

"We felt something favourable needs to be done.”

The festival is the brainchild of East London-based Vukile Pokwana, a creative writer, television producer and creative industries consultant. Pokwana said the event was sponsored by the national film and video foundation in association with Afree Media, the Joburg film festival and Koloni consulting enterprise, with Mpuma Kapa TV as their media partner.

“The workshops and screenings serve as simultaneous celebrations of accomplished filmmakers to inspire locals while also demonstrating examples and possibilities for budding filmmakers," he said.

"With the theme 'television no matter what' we felt that the theme is a call to action so that locals can unleash their passion and innovation by redirecting their energies to producing content for television.

"In order for us to have a fully-fledged film industry we need creative media practitioners who have polished their skills and gained confidence by doing work for television channels locally and abroad," Pokwana added.

He said through the festival, they would strive to construct stories about the rich cultural heritage of the province, local legends and folklore.

"There are so many inspiring stories about the Eastern Cape, and it’s about time we reclaim our rightful place. What we need is a television and film development strategy to help catapult the Eastern Cape to dizzying heights."

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