Encounters celebrates 10 Years of Democracy
Documentaries are a reflection of a society. As part of the Festival’s celebration of a Decade of Democracy we have selected a number of films that reflect where we are as a society, where we have come from and where we are going.
Our National Archives are our collective memory.
In partnership with the National Film, Video and Sound Archives we will present titles that reflect how film has been used as a propaganda tool by pro- and anti-apartheid filmmakers. Encounters will screen a selection of early Archive films – African Mirror, South African Mirror and Speel International, focussing on key historical events – ahead of the main features. They are a reflection on how far we have come, and will give you a taste of what you would have experienced sitting in a South African cinema from the 1920s to the 70s.
We will also feature the film Kuxa Kanema – The Birth of Cinema which takes an important look at the role of film and Mozambique’s National institute of Cinema in the struggle for freedom.
Project 10
Real Stories from a Free South Africa
This series was an initiative to deliver strong, personal, narrative driven films, to develop a new generation of South African filmmakers, brave enough to take risks and able to recognize the power of their voices in a free society.Developed and commissioned by SABC1, supported by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the Binger, this series has been directed by innovative, young talent with rare access to the intimate life of the country. Encounters is screening 8 of the 13 filmmakers and we are proud welcome the filmmakers to the festival.
History Uncut
The Afravision Video Collective played a central role in covering the political struggles of the 80s and 90s. They produced numerous groundbreaking documentaries and supplied images to news agencies throughout the world. Their 8000-hour archive is housed at the Mayibuye Centre. Encounters features two of their pieces from the recent series History Uncut – ‘moments’ of key events. We have chosen to focus on the funeral of Samora Machel in 1986 and Mannenberg during the 1989 Defiance Campaign.
