A group of Eastern Cape filmmakers are celebrating a major milestone after winning top honours at a prestigious filmmaking competition, but they are now appealing for help so they can represent SA on the international stage.
The Eastern Cape Independent Filmmakers (ECIF) recently scooped several awards at the 2025 48-Hour Film Challenge in Makhanda, taking home the Best Film, Best Writing and Best Director awards.
The winning team was led by producer Elona Mginqi and scriptwriter Muso Mzila, whose storytelling and creativity impressed judges during the fast-paced challenge, where filmmakers had to write, shoot and edit a film within just 48 hours.
Their victory saw their film selected to be screened at the Filmapalooza Festival in Lisbon, Portugal.
Filmapalooza is an international festival that showcases the best films from 48-hour filmmaking competitions held around the world.
The event brings together filmmakers, industry professionals and creatives, offering participants the chance to network, collaborate and showcase their work on a global platform.
However, attending the festival comes with considerable financial costs.
Mginqi and Mzila, on behalf of ECIF, are appealing to the community, businesses and supporters of the arts to help raise the funds needed for the trip.
The team needs to travel to Lisbon by March 24 to attend the festival and represent SA.
Mginqi said the ECIF group was created to bring creatives together and strengthen the local film industry.
“Many talented filmmakers in the province don’t always have access to industry networks or resources, so the mission is to support each other, share knowledge and create opportunities while telling authentic stories from our communities.
“We also started the group because we wanted to enter the 48-hour film challenge.”
Mginqi’s passion for filmmaking grew when she realised the power of storytelling.
“Film allows us to document our culture, share real experiences and inspire people. The more I read about African history, the more I realised that our history is not being authentically told, and that is what I want to do,” said Mginqi. The winning production was created by a team of 12 creatives, each playing a key role in bringing the film to life.
“Each person played a vital role, from writing and directing to acting and editing . . . everyone had to work very efficiently because time is limited.
“We had to write, shoot and edit the entire film within 48 hours.
“That means very little sleep and a lot of pressure. But those challenges also push creativity, teamwork and problem-solving, which is what makes the experience exciting.”
Mginqi said the authenticity of the story helped the film stand out with the judges.
“We focused on strong storytelling and emotional connection, and the team worked incredibly hard to make sure the message came through clearly.”
Scriptwriter Mzila said the writing process required quick thinking and collaboration.
“Writing under a 48-hour deadline was intense but also exciting,” Mzila said.
He said storytelling played an important role in representing local voices and experiences.
“As writers and filmmakers, we have the responsibility to tell stories that reflect our communities and our history. Winning Best Writing is encouraging because it shows that authentic stories can resonate with audiences.”
The team still needs R60,000 to cover travel costs for two representatives to attend the festival
Radio personality Keith Ngesi has been assisting by helping connect the team with potential donors.
Community members or businesses who would like to assist can contact Mginqi on 076-464-6520.
