THE vibrant city of Johannesburg is gearing up to welcome film lovers to the Jo’burg Film Festival, set to take place from Tuesday, February 27th, to Sunday, March 3rd.
One of Africa’s most popular film screening events, this much-anticipated annual celebration of cinema brings together a diverse community of filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinema enthusiasts for a week-long extravaganza dedicated to the art of storytelling through film.
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the Youth and Audience Development Programme, which has just unveiled its schedule and venues.
As part of the festival’s commitment to nurturing young South African talent, the programme will offer a series of skills development and empowerment workshops for aspiring film creatives and content creators in the province.
The workshops, set to kick off at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein on the 27th–28th January and continue at the Gauteng Archives Centre in Kagiso, Mogale City, on the 10th–11th February, cover a range of crucial topics.
These include scriptwriting, acting, story conceptualization, content creation on social media, and master classes in cinematography and directing.
The programme aims to provide valuable insights while offering attendees the opportunity to network with industry leaders. The sessions will culminate in a free screening of the film “Four Walls” at the end of the second day.
Simultaneously, the Joburg Film Festival Young Voices Competition is set to captivate audiences. Open to young aspiring African filmmakers aged 18 to 35 in South Africa, the competition challenges participants to create a 5-minute short film under the theme ‘The South Africa You Want to See—30 Years On.’
Submissions for the competition are now open, with three entries shortlisted by a panel of expert judges. The ultimate winner will be revealed at the festival’s awards gala night on Saturday, March 2, receiving a scholarship and various sponsored prizes.
For those eager to participate, workshop registration and Young Voices Competition submissions can be done through the festival’s official website.
The festival’s commitment to empowering young filmmakers and fostering dialogue within the industry positions it as a pivotal event in Africa’s cinematic calendar.
For further details, visit www.joburgfilmfestival.co.za, and for competition inquiries, contact [email protected]. Submissions close at midnight on February 19, 2024.
