Film festival promotes artists

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: From left, Keisy Rams, Bonganjalo Marala, Mandisa Zitha and
Nceba Mqolomba at the fifth annual Eastern Cape Film Festival at Miriam Makeba Centre of
Performing Arts last week Picture:SIVENATHI GOSA

The fifth annual Eastern Cape Film Festival, held at the Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts last week, not only did a great deal to celebrate the work of South
African film makers but hosted workshops that equipped local producers with the necessary
skills needed to progress in the industry.

The four-day festival, which started last week Thursday, focused on national policy,framework, local government laws that support the arts and on marketing using public broadcasting platforms.

The festival partnered with the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (Ecpacc) to
promote the province as an ideal filming destination. Ecpacc film development manager Bonganjalo Marala said their aim is to build audiences and networks in the province, and to also facilitate co-production deals.

“Ecpacc has identified a need to collaborate with the Eastern Cape Film Festival to officially launch it as a signature film event in the province and elevate it to meet national standards, thereby attracting international investors and film scouts to identify local talent
and collaborate with film makers in the province,” said Marala .

Marala said this year’s festival hosted role players such as the SABC, Bay TV and Knuckle City director Jamil Qhubeka. Ecpacc CEO Phumeza Skoti said government should not focus only on the film industry when funding, but should understand that the creative industry includes other art domains that are all critical to the growth of the industry.

“When I arrived at Ecpacc in August 2017, we realised that the entity does not have enough resources to support the work they were doing.

“We had to mobilise resources so it was important for us to go out there and speak to
people and establish partnerships so we can be able to find money and investments
for the creatives in the province ,” she said.

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