SA’s biggest film festival to kick off in Hatfield
A festival celebrating short films from around the globe will kick off in Hatfield tomorrow.
The Independent Mzansi Short Film Festival (IMSFF) will kick off in Hatfield on Wednesday and will screen over 100 short films and up to 60 hours of entertainment from some of the most up-and-coming and prominent directors and producers around the globe.
This year the festival will be held at the MAXI-Cineplex in the Hatfield Plaza until Sunday where 6 documentaries, 14 animated short films, 17 student short films, 37 international short films, 50 South African narrative short films and one feature film premiere will be exhibited.
The official selection includes SAFTA winners and nominees, Silverskermfees Shorts, the best Afrinolly Shorts from all over Africa, Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner selections, The Top 10 Short Films of 2013 and the Oscar® winner for best animated short. The festival will finally conclude with a short film by Shane Valdés starring Matthew McConaughey.
The festival also boasts 16 award categories – or better known as the Mzansi’s. Here nominees and winners will be chosen by a distinguished panel of juror’s, compiled by industry professionals like Leon van Nierop, Rehad Desai, Tom Marais and multiple SAFTA winners. The festival will conclude with the gala awards ceremony on Sunday.
A cash prize of R 50 000 are also up for grabs and one short film will get the opportunity to develop its story into a full feature film with Mzansi Bioskop where it will premiere.
“There are many reasons that a short film festival is important,” said Guy Sclanders, creative producer at Global Access. “A succinct short is in many ways far more challenging to create than a feature length film. A short film is a brief glimpse into the psyche of the film-maker. For just a few minutes we get to see the world through someone else’s eyes; sometimes bringing us joy, sometimes sadness – but always giving us something to think about. IMSFF is run by exceptional people who have compiled an amazing collection of shorts. This is a festival like no other, and promises us an awesome experience,” he added.
IMSFF’s mission is to present quality short films as well as support, recognise and honour filmmakers creating a films under ±25 minutes.
Tickets per film session is available at the venue for only R25. A day pass will cost R70.
For detail regarding the short film festival, programme information and how you can be a part of it, visit the IMFF website at www.imsff.co.za.
