The City of George will be hosting the first Eden Independent Film Festival at the end of this month.
The Cape Film Commission says the three-day Festival is supported by the National Lotteries Commission and the City of George which has a signed an agreement with the Commission to assist in developing the film industry in the George and the Eden District.
CEO, Denis Lillie, says the Eden Independent Film Festival is designed to bring local and international films to the region.
Read the full media release below:
EDEN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
The Cape Film Commission is pleased to announce the first Eden Independent Film Festival which will take place in the City of George in the Western Cape on the 30th, 31st October and 1st November 2015.
The festival which has been organised by the Cape Film Commission is supported by the National Lotteries Commission, the principal funders and the City of George who has a signed Memorandum of Agreement with the Cape Film Commission to assist in developing the film industry in George and the Eden District.
The festival is designed to bring local and international films to the region and through a series of workshops, engage with the local film community on how to generate more filming for the region.
We are pleased to announce that the opening film is Die Ontwaking by local director Johnny Breedt. The film is a Crime Thriller in Afrikaans with English Subtitles. Starring: Gys de Villiers, Juanita de Villiers, Gerard Rudolf, Paul Eilers, Tertius Meintjies, Armand Aucamp, MorneVisser, Jaco Muller. Produced by: Vlokkie Gordon, Johnny Breedt and Greig Buckle. Written and Directed by: Johnny Breedt
The story is about Abel, owner of a small gallery specializing in African Masks and Art, is also currently curating a collection of tattoo's belonging to beautiful female victims, that will fit his Cosmic Journal theme.
Ella Nesser is the attractive, but inexperienced murder detective in charge of the case, her main task is to track down the serial killer who has been praying on the city's young women.
Abel is smart and the young detective struggles to make headway with the case.
For his upcoming fiftieth birthday, Abel has a special gift in mind for himself - a new face : that of a beautiful young woman, perhaps that of a young female detective.
The film is a collaboration between The Showroom Theatre, Advantage Entertainment and Enigma Pictures.
The Opening night will be complemented by a screening of the locally made short film In Light of Isdirectied by local resident Sabine Bittle and a screening of Hard to Get by South African director Zee Ntuli.
Hard to Get is a witty, action-comedy that tells the story of a handsome young womaniser from a small community who falls for a sexy, reckless young thief and ends up in the heart of Jo'burgs criminal world.
The closing film is the South African/USA/Ireland co-production of Badland:Road to Fury (aka Young Ones) directed by Jake Paltrow (brother of Gwyneth) and starring Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), Nicholas Holt (X-Men) and Elle Fanning (Malificent) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes).
Produced by local Producer Spier Films and Subotica and filmed in the Northern and Western Cape, this sci-fi film tells the story of a future when water is hard to find and a teenage boy sets out to protect his family and survive.
The film received it's world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Also being screened is the Afrikaans film Trouvoete by director Darrell Roodt. Produced by Phoenix Films.
The film tells the story of Louis van Est who is a professional when it comes to the anatomy of the human body, yet he knows nothing about the condition of the human heart. This GP is not your stereotypical clean cut, hotshot doctor, in fact he retreats home to his laptop where he escapes from his bland life to a world where a certain "Natgrassterrekyker" (Dewswardstargazer) inspires him to discover a part of his personality that he has always known to exist, yet never had the courage to explore. Ella Gouws, a straightforward, no holds barred speaking thirty year old, has been wounded by love one too many times. She has made a pact with herself to never allow anyone close enough to break her already broken heart, again.
Except for Ella's chat buddy with whom she shares her dreams, thoughts and philosophies.
Magriet Gouws, Ella's younger sister, is fervently planning the wedding of the year to take place during the silly season that is Christmas.
As Christmas draws closer and wedding arrangements contribute complications of their own, conversations between "Natgrassterrekyker" and her mystery man cover everything apart from personal details.
Ella starts to fall madly in love with the prince on the other side of the screen. Until he decides that they should meet.
Hesitant, Ella agrees.
However meeting someone you feel so familiar with, face to face can have unforeseen implications and complications. What happens when a doctor meets a broken-hearted star gazer?
Also featuring at the festival are several short films made locally including the Zombie film Outcast together with Scribblings and In Light of Is. There will be a special youth screening of the popular South African/International animated classic Khumba from local animation studio Triggerfish.
We have also partnered with the Shnit International Short Film Festival who will be highlighting the best of Shnit 2015 from South Africa. This will be complemented by a screening of the Best of The McLaren Awards from the Edinburgh International Film Festival, these will feature some of the finest British animated shorts provided by the British Council as part of the year of cultural exchange between South Africa and the UK.
The festival will feature workshops throughout Saturday and during Sunday morning. The workshops will cover topics such as animation, making international and local productions locally and acting and talent agencies.
The workshops will be facilitated by Natalie Delport from Sabido and will feature representatives from Triggerfish Animation, SAE Collegeand Sunrise productions, representatives from the local production companies responsible for Black Sails, Dominion, Of Kings and Prophets. Training sessions will be hosted by the SABC and The Official South African Casting Agency.
The Producer of District 9, Dredd and Nightmare on Elm Street 2 will also be present to talk to us about his experience of developing international productions locally. There will also be a session featuring local officials from Knysna and George municipalities and local filmmakers to talk about the benefits of filming in George and the Eden District.
And of course while this is all going on, local filmmakers from the Eden District will be competing in the 48Hr Film Project, trying to get their films completed and submitted in the 48Hrs from Friday evening to Sunday evening.
For further information on the festival, please visit www.eiff.co.za
Weekend passes are available on a first come first serve basis. The programme is attached. Anyone wanting to apply for a pass (one per person), please email info@capefilmcommission.co.zadetailing your ID number and please state whether you are interested in attending the Sunday morning workshops as seats for those are limited.
The festival venues are:
SterKinekor, Garden Route Mall
Oakhurst George Arts Theatre
Eden Gemeente
We would like to again thank the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) for their support for this festival. The NLDTF relies on funds from the proceeds of the National Lottery. The Lotteries Act and regulations guide the way in which NLDTF funding may be allocated. The NLDTF wants the grants to make a difference to the lives of all South Africans, especially more vulnerable, and to improve the sustainability of the beneficiary organisations. Available funds are distributed to registered and qualifying non-profit organisations in the fields of charities; arts, culture and national heritage; and sport and recreation. By placing its emphasis on areas of greatest need and potential, the NLDTF contributes to South Africa's development.
We would like to also thank the Office of the Mayor of George and the Executive Mayor himself for supporting this project together with the officials involved from George and Knysna.
