Festival showcases short films
Hidden film-making talent took centre stage this weekend when local film-makers had the opportunity to showcase their short films in Mbombela.
MBOMBELA – Hidden film-making talent took centre stage this weekend when local film-makers had the opportunity to showcase their short films here. They said they were grateful for the opportunity the Mpumalanga Short Film Festival offered them.
The festival, which culminated in an awards ceremony today, kicked off in the auditorium at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency on Thursday and saw foreign film-makers join their colleagues from the province. Sifiso Nobela, the organiser, said they aimed to not only educate up-and-coming storytellers, but also put them in touch with investors for funding.
Two film-makers who spoke to Lowvelder, Jimmy Matshiga and Aubrey Mabona of Power 3 Productions near Kwaggafontein have day jobs and make movies for fun. “It has always been a passion,” explained Mabona. He is the director of photography and editor, while Matshiga writes the scripts and directs the actors. “I am always on the lookout for new ideas to achieve new camera angles,” Mabona said.
The pair’s offering, Aliboni – love is blind, is their sixth short film and won thee awards at the festival. Since they don’t have national distributors on board (yet, hopefully) they release the films on DVD. To help them fund their art, they use a commercial method whereby an advertisement-insert of a company giving them money is included on the DVD.
Mabona says the festival offers them a valuable networking opportunity. “The exposure is wonderful. Now we are funding the films out of our own pockets.”
Nobela said the National Film and Video Foundation had advised filmmakers to also tap into the funding they make available. “As a festival we have seen a change and we are proud to announce that the festival will be showcasing films from Mpumalanga in Canada in September.”
