Friday, September 26, 2014

Opportunity for local Filmmakers to submit a short film thanks to Cinema Nouveau



CINEMA NOUVEAU LAUNCHES EXCITING NEW INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO SUBMIT A SHORT FILM
Opportunity for young filmmakers to have their short film featured on the big screen



South Africa has a vibrant film industry that is growing in reputation and is competitive internationallyThe local film industry in South Africa has been identified by government as a sector with excellent potential for growth, with the opportunity to increase employment from various sectors of the economy. According to a 2013 report from the National Film and Video Foundation (NVFV), the country’s film and television industries contribute approximately R3.5-billion per annum to the country’s economy.
The important role that local productions are playing in telling South Africa’s stories and growing the industry cannot be ignored. Ster-Kinekor Theatres has witnessed a 44% increase in the number of locally-produced films releasing on its national circuit in the past two years alone. This trend has shown a steady increase year on year, with 16 local films enjoying a theatrical release in 2012, which increased to 20 films last year. To date this year, 10 local films have played on the Ster-Kinekor circuit, with the total line-up for 2014 expected to reach 23 films.
With the continued interest in and support of local productions, Ster-Kinekor’s art-house chain of cinemas, Cinema Nouveau, today (25 September) launched an exciting initiative to support and encourage local filmmakers to create and submit original content in the form of a short film, no longer than ten minutes in duration. The Short Film Project is being launched in partnership with Spectrum and ShortandSweet, and will roll-out over a six-month period.
The concept behind the project is to call for entries that will be judged by a panel of industry experts. The entries that make it through the initial selection process will be featured on the big screen as the ‘supporting act’ to the main feature at the Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.
Says Doug Place, Marketing Executive of Ster-Kinekor Theatres: “We are constantly amazed by the raw and undiscovered talent that abounds in the South African film industry. We are confident that this project will provide us with an opportunity to expose original content, in the form of the short film, to a wider cinema audience.
The Short Film Project will target filmmakers, both established and aspirant talent within the industry, to produce and enter a short film of ten minutes or less. We have partnered with ShortandSweet to curate the entries, with Spectrum providing valuable input on the post-production process. A panel of judges will then view and review the entries that make it through this process, and compile a short list of finalists that make it onto the big screen.”
Entries are now open and submissions must be received by 24 October 2014. Budding filmmakers need to complete an entry form (available at Cinema Nouveau theatres and via the website at www.cinemanouveau.co.za) and submit this, together with their short film via Dropbox to: shortfilmproject@sterkinekor.com.
Audiences will have the chance to view all the curated entries – not only those that make it through to the short-list – from 14 November to 14 December this year. Thereafter, the entries will be submitted to the judging panel whose final selection will be announced on 02 February 2015. These short films will have the honour of being featured on the big screen during “Oscar” weekend, which always attracts large cinema audiences.
“The project culminates with the overall winners of The Short Film Project being announced at a special function at Cinema Nouveau Rosebank on 05 March 2015. For all the filmmakers whose work is selected for screening, it is the ultimate kudos for them to view their finished product on the big screen inside a cinema,” says Place.
The overall winning director of The Short Film Project will receive the following prize: Sony camera equipment to the value of R20 000and a screening of the winning short film at the 2015 Durban International Film Festival.  The director of the film that receives the most number of votes during the ‘Audience Choice Award’ voting process wins a screening of his or her film at 2015 Durban International Film Festival.
The Spectrum team will spend an hour with each finalist to assist them with the post-production process, and will also transfer their material to into a digital format, to play on the recently upgraded digital projection systems within the cinemas.
Ronald Henry, the MD of Spectrum.tv, comments: “Spectrum is very excited to work with our partners, Ster-Kinekor and Cinema Nouveau, on this new and exciting initiative.  We have been working with local filmmakers and distributors for more than ten years, and we are committed to helping develop and showcase emerging talent.”
Responsible for curating all the entries for the final judging process, Short & Sweet has an established reputation in curating short film festivals, and creates unique screening platforms to enhance and redefine the public’s experience of cinema.
Says Julia Stephenson, the founder and curator of ShortandSweet: “We are dedicated to the exhibition of film as a critical art form in its own right.  As such, we are delighted to be involved in this exciting new initiative with Cinema Nouveau and look forward to unearthing some real gems in the short film genre.”
Entries are now open for The Short Film Project and aspirant filmmakers have until 24 October 2014 to submit their original short film. All the project details and further information can be found on the Cinema Nouveau website -www.cinemanouveau.co.za.

(Source - Ster-Kinekor) 

Monday, September 22, 2014

The Equalizer Hits IMAX at Gateway and The Grove courtesy of Ster-Kinekor


STER-KINEKOR RELEASES THE EQUALIZER IN IMAX® THEATRES AT GATEWAY AND THE GROVE



IMAX® fans will be excited to know that the next film to receive the full-on IMAX treatment, The Equalizer, releases worldwide on Friday, 26 September in the IMAX® theatres – including here in South Africa, in the IMAX® theatres at Ster-Kinekor’s cinema complexes at Gateway in Durban and The Grove in Pretoria East.
The IMAX® release of The Equalizer has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® using proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to rescue a young girl, Teri (ChloĆ« Grace Moretz), he finds himself face-to-face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters.
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and also stars Bill Pullman, David Harbour, Marton Csokas and Melissa Leo. 
Book your tickets today to ensure you don’t miss out on any of this action-packed film.
For more information on Ster-Kinekor and IMAX®, visit www.sterkinekor.com. Avoid the queues by booking online, by calling Ticketline on 0861-MOVIES (668 437) or you can book at the box office.  You can also download the Ster-Kinekor App on your Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry phone for updates and to book from your mobile.  To find out what other exciting promotions Ster-Kinekor has on offer, follow @sterkinekor on Twitter or Facebook at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

This edition by +Fred Felton 

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Oh Ladies Ster-Kinekor Has Another 'Girlfriends Getaway' For You


STER-KINEKOR’S ‘GIRLFRIENDS’ GETAWAY’ EVENT IN SEPTEMBER IS A BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY LOVE STORY, BEGIN AGAIN



To celebrate the arrival of spring – and new beginnings, Ster-Kinekor’s movie choice for the next ‘Girlfriends’ Getaway’ event is a beautiful, romantic comedy. Begin Again is the story of random hearts brought together by their passion for music.
Enjoy the special pre-screening of this humorous love story with your favourite girlfriends, as you are pampered and entertained on Wednesday, 10 September, from 19:00, at select Ster-Kinekor cinemas.
Begin Again sees song-writing duo Gretta (Keira Knightley) and Dave (Adam Levine), who have been dating since college, decide to seek their fortunes in New York City. When Dave is signed by a major label, temptation proves too powerful for him to resist and the couple call it quits.
Crestfallen, Gretta fights to get back on her feet until one night, while performing in the East Village, she catches the attention of Dan (Mark Ruffalo). He is a once-respected music executive who has fallen on hard times. Enchanted by Gretta's powerful voice and skillful songwriting, Dan convinces her to join him in a collaboration that will transform both their lives during the course of one unforgettable summer.
For a fun night out with the girls, don’t miss the next ‘Girlfriends’ Getaway’ event. It takes place at the following select Ster-Kinekor cinemas on Wednesday, 10 September, from 19:00, and bookings are now open:
Cape Gate | Cavendish | Blue Route | Tyger Valley| Somerset

EASTERN CAPE:
The Bridge – Port Elizabeth

GAUTENG:
The Zone | Sandton | Cresta | Northgate | Cradlestone | Greenstone | Eastgate | Irene | Brooklyn | The Grove

KWAZULU-NATAL:
Gateway

To make your evening out with the girls on 10 September even more special, there will be lucky draws, hampers and goodie bags to pamper all our ‘girlfriends’. 
Remember, with ‘Girlfriends’ Getaway’, no guys are allowed!
Begin Again releases to the public at Ster-Kinekor theatres countrywide on Friday, 12 September.
Official trailer for Begin Again:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTRCxOE7Xzc

To find out more about this month’s ‘Girlfriends’ Getaway’ event and to book your tickets, visit www.sterkinekor.com. Avoid the queues by booking online, by calling Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437) or you can book at the box office.  You can also secure your seats by downloading the Ster-Kinekor App on your Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone and Blackberry smart phone, to book from your mobile. To find out what other exciting promotions Ster-Kinekor has on offer, follow @sterkinekor on Twitter or Facebook at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.