Call to enter work for fifth Eastern CapeFilm Festival

Event in March will help guide filmmakers

BOOSTING FILMMAKERS: Eastern Cape Film Festival founder and organiser Nceba Mqolomba. Picture: FACEBOOK

The call is out for local filmmakers, as entries open for the fifth annual Eastern Cape Film Festival (ECFF) taking place in East London from March 12 to 15.

Submissions must be on DVD, external device, USB or memory card.

Festival founder and organiser Necba Mqolomba said they had seen positive changes in production value from local artists, but found that lack of resources still posed a challenge.

“We will have a critique session at the festival so we can guide the filmmakers to the next level,” he said.

Speaking on the quality of work, he admitted that some regions might be lacking, but this would be addressed.

“Our two metros in the province undoubtedly get more opportunities than other
regions. The whole province needs to be exposed to filmmaking, especially schools.”

In his hometown of Uitenhage, Mqolomba often visits schools so that they can see filmmaking as a viable career option.

Under the theme “If content is king, platforms are queen”, filmmakers are encouraged to include a synopsis, trailer, profiles and pictures of the director and producer when submitting their work.

Accepted genres include short films, student films, documentaries, full-length, animation and music videos.

“The festival is in conjunction with anchor partner Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (Ecpacc) and the National Film and Video Foundation,” Mqolomba said.

Some major films that have been screened include the award-winning Of Good Report, Emmy award-winner Miners Shot Down and local comedy Mantolwana.

ECFF’s humble beginnings were in 2014, back when it was called the Ginsberg Film Festival and took place at the Steve Biko Centre. It later changed to its current name and changed venue to the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC).

Entries can be submitted by email to submissions@ecfilmfestival.co.za, dropped off at any department of sport, recreation, arts and culture office in the eight regions or posed/couriered to the Ecpacc offices at 16 Commissioner Street, P O Box 18372, East London, 5211

“Entries must be addressed to the Eastern Cape Film Festival Selection Committee. The entries close midnight on March 1 ,” Mqolomba said.

For more information visit info@ecfilmfestival.co.za or radioyabantu@gmail.com

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