NFVF celebrates women s mon in style

The NFVF celebrates the work of women filmmakers in the South African industry every year and this year women were celebrated by showcasing the films from the NFVF's Female Filmmaker Project.

Bubu Mazibuko, the MC for the day outlined the importance of the event and encouraged women to support each other as we play a very important role in building the nation through the stories we tell .

During her keynote speech Ms. Mmabatho Ramagoshi, Chairperson of the NFVF Council said the NFVF Female Filmmaker project was born three years ago following the previous NFVF council's appointment. We highlighted a greater need to address past imbalances. Together with executive management the Council identified key gaps in the industry that were hindering the growth of our sector. Women's development was one of the key programmes identified.

Ms Ramagoshi further elaborated that We created a slate with the objective of providing female filmmakers with opportunities to make a film in collaboration with other women. These women were taken into an intensive training progamme, with guidance in the development and production of their stories. Quizzical Productions and Born Free Media were selected as suitable production companies to assist in the production of the films.

From this initiative sixteen (16) female filmmakers were taken through a development process to give added insight as writers, producers and directors. Out of this process, ten (10) short films were selected for production..

Ms. Zama Mkosi, NFVF's CEO stated that The response received demonstrated that indeed, women are hungry to tell their stories. We therefore encourage those who could not participate in the previous rollout to take advantage of upcoming Female Filmmaker opportunities that are in the pipeline.

Ms. Mkosi further congratulated the women filmmakers whose films were showcased during the event - Lungelwa and The State. She also announced that other films would be screened for FREE to the public from the 15th until the 17th of August. The 16 ladies and their films are as follows:

Lara Cunha and Phuthi Nakene for Dear Betty

Lwazi Mvusi for The State

Lindiwe Mkhonza, Nolitha Tshinavha and Beather Baker for The Manuscript

Genevieve Akal for Bougainvillea

Anneke Villet for Last Doorman Standing

Zndizile Tisani for Heroes

Jayan Moodley and Bonita Sithebe for The Dance

Rafeeqah Galant and Nthabiseng Mokoena for Lungelwa

Rene van Rooyen for The Forgotten Country

Nomusa Nkabinde and Xolile Tshabalala for Through her Eyes

Speaking on behalf of the production companies and the young filmmakers Ms Kamscilla Naidoo said there's a range of voices we haven't heard, and those voices come from women .

In conclusion Ms. Mkosi said, I'd like to highlight that our industry CAN compete with the best in the world. Let us continue to empower ourselves, and take our stories to the rest of world as they are waiting to hear our South African stories, stories of love, stories of happiness, and stories of triumph.

The screenings scheduled for the 15th until the 17th will take place at the Avalon Cine Centre at Killarney Mall from 17:00.

LINK:	http://www.filmcontact.com/africa/south-africa/nfvf-celebrates-women%E...
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