Call for Entries for Open Cities Doc Fest and for Durban International Film Festival - Watch EFC Free at Ster Kinekor

Open Cities Doc Fest

London's leading documentary film festival. The festival occurs annually in June and creates an open space in London to nurture and champion the art of creative documentary and non-fiction filmmakers. The festival is already global in scope, but this year they are keen to work even harder to showcase the best films made by filmmakers from the Global South, who only make it to London audiences in limited quantity. They are keen to provide a platform for inspiring filmmaking talent coming out of Africa. Submissions are currently open for their 2015 edition.   

Inclusion in the Open City Docs Fest programme is a great opportunity for any filmmaker. They offer filmmakers from around the globe the opportunity to have their work seen by diverse audiences and award-winning, expert judges - the 2014 jury included acclaimed filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski. 

They accept both short films and features, and submissions close 2 Feb 2015. 

To submit films, and to find out more go to: http://bit.ly/10BsHZc 

Find them on Twitter @OpenCityDocs

Durban International Film Festival calls for entries for 2015

Durban, South Africa: The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will celebrate its 36th edition from 16 to 26 July 2015. Presenting over 250 screenings of cutting-edge cinema from around the world, with a special focus on films from South Africa and Africa, the festival exhibits films in a diversity of venues around the city. DIFF is the premiere platform for the launch of African films and a key gateway to the African film industry. The festival also includes a local and international awards component.

Only films completed in 2014 and 2015 will be considered, and there is no charge for entry. Submissions will be accepted with either a DVD SCREENER or an ONLINE SCREENER. All submissions must be entered via the DIFF Visitor Page online at vp.eventival.eu/cca. In order to submit a film, an account needs to be created if this has not already been done in previous years. The deadline for all entries (short films, documentaries and feature fiction films), including delivery of screeners, is 20 March 2015.

The extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and international filmmakers and industry professionals will include the 8th Talents Durban programme (17 to 21 July), in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, and the 6th Durban FilmMart (17 to 20 July), in partnership with the Durban Film Office, as well as various other streams of programming.

Specific streams of programming for 2015 will include a focus on climate change, as well as films that explore our relationship to the earth’s changing ecology. “We are very excited about receiving a wealth of challenging and high quality films from around the world,” says festival manager Peter Machen. “We also welcome engagement with current and potential partners who support the development of cinema in Africa and beyond. Such collaboration is a major part of the festival and helps to provide filmmakers and the public with a programme of brilliant films and a solid development programme.”

For more information check out the festival Submission FAQs or visit: www.durbanfilmfest.co.za or email diff@ukzn.ac.za.

Watch EFC Free at Ster Kinekor

For the final EFC event of 2014, Ster-Kinekor and EFC have teamed up to say thank you to all the loyal fans for the fantastic year. EFC 36: Allen vs. Groth is happening live at the Coca-Cola Dome on Thursday 11 December. Ster-Kinekor and EFC are giving away free tickets to all fans attending any of the Ster-Kinekor cinemas which are screening EFC 36 live.

If you can’t be Hexagon-side for the live event at the Coca-Cola Dome, then booking your tickets for an exhilarating free EFC experience at Ster-Kinekor cinemas is easy. Simply call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437) to secure your seats. Don’t forget that the Ster-Kinekor broadcasts the full event of twelve live fights in full HD on the big screen.

The main Ster-Kinekor Prelim Bout for EFC 36 will showcase the much-anticipated bout between two of the EFC’s best. Fighting out of Edenvale, Johannesburg, comes Gareth Sawyer, with two wins and no losses to his name, taking on Bloemfontein-based grizzly, Warren Allison, who boasts a four win streak. This is the main event of the EFC 36 Ster-Kinekor Prelim Bouts. If you aren’t at the live event, the only other way you can catch this clash is at Ster-Kinekor cinemas. Watch this massive fight live, plus five more Ster-Kinekor Prelim Bouts, and all the action from the five main card bouts, on the big screen for an explosive MMA experience.

The exclusive Ster-Kinekor Prelim Bouts feature the following fights:  Sawyer vs. Allison, Vermeulen vs. Grobbelaar, Visser vs. Hurter, Buthelezi vs. Mulumba, Lakobioze vs Calvert, Illunga vs Seabi and Coxen vs. Pritchard. The full fight card also features the main card bouts of: Allen vs Groth, Begattin vs Roodman, I. Kabesa vs Nienaber, Zulu vs F. Groenewald and Sebeko vs Cutendana.

Cinema audiences are treated to all 12 of the scheduled fights as they take place, broadcast live in state-of-the-art digital projection, on the big screen. The following Ster-Kinekor cinemas will be going live from 16:45:

• Ster-Kinekor Fourways (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor East Rand Mall (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor The Zone@Rosebank (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor Greenstone (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor Cradlestone (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor Maponya (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor Brooklyn (Pretoria)

• Ster-Kinekor Gateway (Durban)

• Ster-Kinekor Cavendish (Cape Town)

• Ster-Kinekor Cape Gate (Cape Town)

• Ster-Kinekor Tyger Valley (Cape Town)

• Ster-Kinekor Mimosa (Bloemfontein)

Cinema-goers receive a complimentary EFC event guide and live commentary throughout the event. EFC 36, is presented by BetXchange.com.

To find out more about EFC events and to reserve your free tickets for EFC 36 at your nearest Ster-Kinekor cinema, callTicketline on 0861-Movies (668 437). Download the SK App on any smart phone for updates, information and to make bookings. For information on other exciting promotions Ster-Kinekor has on offer, follow @sterkinekor on Twitter orFacebook at Ster-Kinekor Theatres, visit www.sterkinekor.com or sterkinekor.mobi.

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

M-Net is looking for new local content

Opportunity For Filmmakers 

M-Net is looking for fresh, new local content and inviting production companies and format creators to pitch their ideas for an original unscripted show that will provide blockbuster television entertainment in 2015.

The pitching process, which is open to the entire industry, will commence in October 2014 and will consist of a 10 minute face-to-face pitch with M-Net’s commissioning team in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. While M-Net is definitely looking for compelling new reality shows, other unscripted genres will also be accepted.

“Since changing the landscape of South African television in 2001 with Big Brother South Africa, the country's first local version of an international reality show format, M-Net has continued to raise the bar with highly-acclaimed, first, exclusive local entertainment in HD,” says M-Net director, Victor Eckard, “but now it's game on to find ‘the next big thing’. We can't wait to see where this open pitch will take us.”

As this new show will take its place alongside the superb local and international programmes on M-Net, it should have high production values, speaking to the needs of DStv Premium viewers who want to be entertained by slick, sophisticated, unpredictable and unique content for the entire family.

"What we definitely don't want is anything that is dated, old-fashioned or anything we've seen before. It's M-Net, after all," adds Eckard.

Producers and format creators who would like to book a time for their pitch can find the full brief here.

https://dstvo.wufoo.com/forms/10-minute-pitching-sessions-brief-2014/

Please note that it is compulsory for producers to submit their show concept via this M-Net web portal too. No hard copies will be accepted.

Once the online submission is completed, producers will be contacted by the M-Net commissioning team to confirm a time slot for their pitch.

https://dstvo.wufoo.com/forms/10-minute-pitching-sessions-brief-2014/

Film Review - The Great Beauty

The Great Beauty         (142 minutes)            Italian with English Sub-Titles

From the very beginning “La Grande Bellezza,” in English “The Great Beauty” entices with its audacious scenes of Rome.

Perhaps all of this is a dream. The film may seem as Baroque as in its sensibilities like Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” we are in the presence of great theatre, the stage is the city, Rome. If life is a dream, we are easily seduced by Sorrentino’s lush canvas.

From the high vistas of Rome, we travel through the facile world of la dolce vita, although these darkened corners are less the world of Fellini; yet showing a wistful but jaded detachment from all, namely a world drenched in facades.

The main character, Jeb Gambardella, a latter-day Proust without the cork-lined rooms; appears satiated by his life as the dilettante. His character although constantly flitting from party to party represents an older world, where sensory beauty, and art is everything.

Gambardella is surrounded by the opposite side of the coin: the nouveau riche. The contrast between the writer, his interior motives and his destiny are uneasily juxtaposed to the new era. The shallow swans, swains and chimeras of this Rome, an Italy of empty poseurs, indulge their media fantasies, endless Bellusconi-like parties, reprises a large segment of the film. The depths of the dark shades are really a beautiful meditation on loss, life, death, memory, art which encourages a dance, an evocation most satisfying, because it is a life involved in art. The visionary element of this film charts the vagaries of modern Rome. Subtly played by all, especially Toni Servillo as Gambardella; but we are drawn to the furies of the city, both good and bad. This universe brings both creation, but also death. Fame, as some have come to regard it, may be the disease of the age, while some find it difficult to part from its allure. Gambardella seems ambivalent, although he is intoxicated by the beauty of this truncated world, and the nature of Rome.

Rome resplendent is very fine indeed. In the hands of this director we share in a very human fable. The body and life of man: his sadness, his pride and his destiny unfold with the poignancy of the most fervent dreams. “La Grande Bellezza” is full of life with many dazzling scenes. We might have a vainglorious tale; the story of a modern Icarus, but my, how brightly he, Gambardella burns. This is an old-fashioned film, but it is a truly Great one in the European tradition.   

Review by Timothy Sparks

Freelance Writer - Poet - Film Reviewer

Email: tphwsparks@gmail.com 

You can contribute to the School Eye Health Project with Ster-Kinekor

The South African School Eye Health Project aims to screen 50 000 school children

in three years!

Project will provide support to Government’s Integrated School Health Programme

(At the launch of the School Eye Health Project today, World Sight Day, held at Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban, are (from left to right):

Fiaz Mahomed, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theatres; Prof Kovin Naidoo, Global Programme Director of the Brien Holden Vision Institute; Dr Nina Kriel, President of SAOA (South African Optometric Assn); Jayshree Naidoo, representing the KwaZulu-Natal Dept of Health; with some of the learners who attended the event this morning.)

Ster-Kinekor, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Durban - 09 October 2014:  A young child sits in school, struggling to follow his lesson. The teacher’s notes on the blackboard are a blur, and the child, unable to see past his arm, soon gives up his attempts to concentrate. It seems his poor eyesight will cause him to fail yet another subject – or perhaps, like others in his position, he will drop out of school altogether.

Although a simple eye examination and a pair of spectacles would correct his vision, the lack of access to proper eye care and spectacles has placed him at a severe disadvantage. His avoidable blindness has impeded his learning, which will affect him for the rest of his life. And he is not alone.

It is estimated that six out of every 10 children in South Africa with reduced vision can be corrected with glasses, yet only 20 percent of those children needing glasses, have them. Considering that up to 80% of what children learn is assimilated through their eyes (an estimate), any form of vision impairment can adversely affect a child’s educational growth. 

In an effort to address this urgent need, Ster-Kinekor Theatres’ CSI initiative, Vision Mission, has partnered with the Brien Holden Vision Institute, the Provincial Departments of Health and Education and the South African Optometric Association (SAOA), to launch the South African School Eye Health Project.

Launched on World Sight Day today (09 October), the School Eye Health Project aims to support the implementation of eye health services within the government’s national Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP). The project will provide eye care to thousands of disadvantaged learners in five provinces - KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

Says Geraldine Engelman, CSI and projects manager of Ster-Kinekor Theatres: “During the three-year project, we plan to screen approximately 50 000 children, and provide free pairs of spectacles to at least 2 500 of those suffering from refractive error and low vision. We will also be launching various other initiatives including health promotions and educational messages to reach an even wider group of children and adults in the targeted provinces.”

Working in association with various departments within each province, including the Departments of Health, Basic Education and Women, Children and People Living with Disabilities, the objectives of the partnership will be to:

• Contribute resources and skills for refractive and low vision services within the district health system;
• Improve child eye health services through screening, examination and management of vision problems within the ISHP;
• Improve the integration of child eye health into the government’s broader development and disability agenda; and
• Improve the eye health seeking behaviour through appropriate health promotion messages and education.

According to Professor Kovin Naidoo, the Global Programme Director for the Brien Holden Vision Institute, the School Eye Health Project addresses a desperate need. “Our country faces many social and economic challenges. In such a context of competing needs, it is critical that civil society, business and government work together to address children’s needs, since they are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society especially in a climate of limited resources.

“The Brien Holden Vision Institute applauds the concern and caring that Ster-Kinekor and SAOA have shown in supporting government’s Integrated School Health Programme. This Public Private Partnership is a quality investment in the future of our children,” concluded the Professor.

Dr Nina Kriel, President of the SAOA, comments: “It is our wish to contribute to the elimination of avoidable vision impairment and blindness due to refractive error and low vision. Working with our partners in this initiative, it is our aim to render these much-needed services in public schools as a pilot programme initially, in partnership with the various provincial departments. Such an undertaking would not be possible without the valuable input from the private sector, and we are extremely grateful for their enthusiasm and contribution to the project.”

For Ster-Kinekor, sight is integral to appreciating the wonderful and magical world of cinema that is projected onto its big screens. “We are excited to be extending our Vision Mission programme into another area of eye health – the ISHP – and, with the assistance and commitment from our dedicated partners, to launch the South African School Eye Health Project. For us, it is a privilege to be in a position to raise awareness about the importance of eye health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness, and to give back to the communities in which we operate,” says Engelman.

The aims of Vision Mission are to contribute to the elimination of avoidable blindness in communities across South Africa, and to increase awareness of low vision as a major public health issue. The programme is also aligned to the World Health Organisation’s Universal Eye Health Global Action Plan 2014-2019.

“Being able to walk into a darkened cinema and watch in wonder as a fantastical story unfolds before your eyes, in a larger-than-life format, is a wonderful experience. All our customers who enjoy watching films at our cinemas can also make a difference, simply by making a contribution to the Vision Mission project when purchasing their tickets,” states Engelman.

Customers can contribute to the School Eye Health Project either when booking online (www.sterkinekor.com) or at one of the self-service terminals in the cinema foyer. The public can opt in to make a donation, from as little as R2.50, to Vision Mission when prompted during the booking process. One click is all it takes to give someone with sight impairment the hope for a clearer vision of their future – and every donation will make a difference.

Free Japanese Film Festival For South Africa

CINEMA NOUVEAU HOSTS RETURN OF POPULAR JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL

Opportunity to view some gems from the Far East… and it’s free to the public

Continuing in its efforts to bring the best of international ‘art house’ cinema to South African audiences, Cinema Nouveau is excited to announced that it is once again hosting the increasingly popular Japanese Film Festival in South Africa. Now in its 21^th year, the festival is co-organised by the Embassy of Japan in South Africa and the Japan Foundation.

The festival content is free to the public, and will be screened over weekends during October at the following cinemas: Brooklyn Nouveau in Brooklyn Mall Pretoria (03 – 05 October), V&A Nouveau at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town (10 – 12 October) and Rosebank Nouveau in the Rosebank Mall in Johannesburg (17 – 19 October).

The Annual Japanese Film Festival is aimed at promoting understanding of Japanese culture among South Africans. This year’s festival aims to celebrate the journey Japan has taken with South Africa, which is significant as it marks the 20 year anniversary of South Africa’s Democracy.

All the films are in Japanese with English subtitles. Free tickets will be available at the box office one hour before screening.  This year’s selection include the following six films:

‘Rent-A-Cat’

Sayoko rents out cats to help lonely people fill the emptiness in their hearts. She walks along the banks of the river with a megaphone promoting her service and her animals in a handcart. It turns out that Sayoko is lonely too, ever since the death of her grandmother. All she has left is her cats. However, one day a young man shows up from Sayoko's past. He follows her home and suddenly Sayoko's life seems to completely fall apart.

Akko Chan: The Movie (PG)

Atsuko Kagami - known as “Akko Chan”- is a 10 year old girl in elementary school . One day, a magical spirit appears to her and gives her a magical compact. Akko uses it to become a 22 years old, and has a blast wearing makeup that she adores and many fashionable outfits. And if that wasn’t enough, she even meets the man of her dreams! Her crush is Naoto Hayase, an elite manager at a famous cosmetics company. But his company faces a corporate buyout and is about to be taken over. As he strives to turn his company around by developing an innovative new product, Akko comes up with totally unexpected ideas to take on the crisis. Will she be able to save the man she loves? And what will happen to their relationship?

Tug of War! (PG)

Inspired by a true story, Tug of War! is the “heart-warming tale” of how eight ordinary women band together to try and revitalise their local community.  Chiaki Nishikawa (Mao Inoue) works at the public relations department for the city of Oita. In the past, the city had won the tug-of-war world championship three times and Chiaki is also an enthusiast for the tug-of-war game. To promote the city of Oita, the mayor instructs Chiaki to form a female tug-of-war team. Full of laughter and tears, this heart-warming human drama depicts the everyday challenges of women, as they face the world head-on as daughters, wives and mothers and how just tugging on a rope brings them together!

Fly, Dakota, Fly (PG)

January 1946 - a British military transport plane departs from Shanghai on its way to Tokyo, Japan. During the flight the airplane makes an emergency landing on Sado Island (located in the Chubu region of Niigata Prefecture, Japan). The residents on the island have heard about stereotypes of the British soldiers and have mixed feelings about their new "guests." Nevertheless, for the next 40 days the islanders take care of the crew members until the plane can take off once again. This includes Chiyoko Morimoto (Manami Higa) who is the daughter of the inn owner where some of the British crew members stay.  Based on a true story and filmed on location on Sado Island with support from the local community, including some who witnessed the event back in 1946.

Tokyo Oasis (PG)

Touko seems to have lost her grip on reality.   Along her journey soul searching, she becomes acquainted with people who carry similar issues as she does. A midnight truck driver, NAGANO, who happens to give Touko a ride, is grappling with the discovery of his soul and is unable to move forward. His escape from reality is to continually move from place to place. A movie theater manager KIKUCHI is uncertain of her life. She has moved to new surroundings but feels more lost than ever. A young job seeker at the zoo YASUKO has no faith in her future. She thinks that her luck is slipping away from her. During the extraordinary time they spend together Touko and the 3 characters start to feel a new awareness growing and discover a new found sense of freedom, an oasis within. Together they feel change taking place. Finally, Touko begins to walk again with lightened steps toward a new beginning of everyday life in Tokyo.

Leaving on the 15th Spring (PG13)

On Minamidaito Island there isn't a high school, consequently teenagers who turn 15-years-old leave the island to attend high schools. Yuna Nakazato (Ayaka Miyoshi) lives on Minamidaito Island with her father. She is the youngest child and has two older siblings. Yuna has one year left before she must leave the island to attend high school. Her father grows sugar cane on the island. Yuna’s mother lives in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa, originally to watch over her older sister Mina while she attended high school there. Yuna’s older brother also works in Naha. Every family on Minamidaito Island has a similar situation where the family lives separately. Yuna misses her mom, but she worries about her father, who will be left alone next year. Yuna is curious about the world and also feels unease over her future.

(Source - Ster-Kinekor) 

Opportunity for Durban Filmmakers - Micro Budget Film Programme

Durban Film Office announce first grantees of its Development Fund and Micro Budget Film Programme.

(Philani Sithebe and Bonie Sithebe – Durban Motion Pictures, Ethekwini Deputy Mayor,  Cllr Nomvuzo Shabalala

Junaid Ahmed – Junaid Ahmed Productions, Sizwe Mkhaliphi – Zamolade Constructing and Resources) 

The very first grantees of the Micro Budget Film and the Development Funding Programmes were awarded at a special Durban Film Office event, which took place at SmartXchange, on the 1 October at 12pm – 1pm. This Film Development Fund event not only marked the start of an exciting new chapter for the filmmaking grantees and the Durban Film Office, it also publicized the official call out details for the next new submissions.

The Durban Film Office, the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development arm, kick-started the submissions for the Micro Budget Film Programme and the Development Fund Programme at the beginning of 2014 with imperative goals to help provide Durban filmmakers with invaluable support, assistance and funding. Enthralled with the standard of submissions, the Durban Film Office, along with the Deputy Mayor Cllr Nomvuzo Shabalala, were thrilled and proud to award the first grantees for these programmes.

“I want to congratulate all the beneficiaries of our development programme in terms of the film industry. I’m so glad to see how much the Durban Film Office has achieved, in terms of making sure our dream of including the development component in the film industry, especially with developing our own people from Durban and from South Africa. The biggest thing is to make sure that we encourage them to do exchange programmes whereby the up-and-coming artists will be able to learn from those who have been a part of the industry for a longer time. I know once these programmes are known by the public sector there will be people who will come on board and also sponsor some of the film productions. So with that, we will be able to succeed, and will be able to tell of these success stories in a few years to come,” says Deputy Mayor Cllr Nomvuzo Shabalala.

Commemorating the beginning of this new chapter, the Micro Budget Film Programme was awarded to Sizwe Mkhaliphi from Zamolade Constructing and Resources for the project Mhlola, Andile Buwa from Buwa Films for Family Matters, Akhona Matyila from Mulatto Films for A History of Memory, and Similo Gobingca from Burning Coast Films for Ports of Saints. This exciting new programme is set to arm these emerging filmmakers each with a R100 000 grant to produce their film and provide insight into industry know-hows on sourcing additional funding through the micro-budget model, and in depth training focusing on marketing, sales, support, advertising, product placement and sponsorship deals.   

“When I found out I was a grantee for the Micro Budget Film Programme I was so excited and grateful for the opportunity. It is a great platform and a little intimidating at times when I think about what a really cool opportunity it is! I hope to achieve a beautiful film and gain better experience as a filmmaker. I know if I put a lot of hard work and take in good advice this film could bring about other opportunities,” says Micro Budget Film Programme grantee Similo Gobingca.

The Development Fund Programme was awarded to Bonie Sithebe from Durban Motion Pictures and Junaid Ahmed from Junaid Ahmed Productions CC. These two filmmakers have been granted R250 000 funding to assist the production of their projects, which have been deemed to be commercially viable and locally and globally competitive.

“When I first received the email to say that I am a grantee for this fund, I read it three more times to make sure it was real. When I realised it was, I was so happy I called everyone involved to let them know. I hope to achieve a well-developed script that would be of international standard. My first plan of action is to involve all relevant creatives to assist in getting the project off the ground,” says Development Funding Programme grantee Bonie Sithebe.

“The Durban Film Office is proud of the first grantees awarded the Micro Budget Film Programme and the Development Fund Programme; we are confident in our choice and eager to see these programmes in action. We are certain these programmes are going to give our Durban filmmakers the leading edge in the competitive film industry. More importantly we know it will equip them with sound knowledge, support and put them on the map locally and even internationally,” says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty.   

The Durban Film Office has announced the second phase for these innovative programmes and encourages local filmmakers to take advantage of this exciting opportunity and submit their projects for the chance to be the next grantees. For more information about the programmes, and how to submit projects, contact Project Manager, Fezile Peko via email fezile.peko@durban.gov.za at the Durban Film Office or go to www.durbanfilmoffice.com

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 internationally. The 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) 

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 (Chloë 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.

Trailer:  https://www.imax.com/movies/m/the-equalizer-the-imax-experience/

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 

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:

WESTERN CAPE:

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.