At the recent launch of the Joburg Film Festival, taking place from 31 January – 5 February 2023, several exciting announcements were made. The festival’s new and dynamic visual identity was revealed alongside the confirmation of some of the event’s key festival team as well as the start of the Youth and Audience Development programme.
For the 2023 edition, the JFF once again boasts a well-known and globally respected team that includes Award winning film producer Bongi Selane, who will return as the 2023 Film Festival Director.
The Festival curation team is made up of Zimbabwean born international renowned Festival Curator Keith Shiri. Shiri has been programme advisor to the London Film Festival and also served in that position for the Venice Film Festival. He was a member of the Berlinale World Cinema Fund from 2004-2007. Joining him as the Film Festival Programmer is the equally established and known industry expert Jack Chiang.
At the launch, The Joburg Film Festival, in partnership with Multichoice and the Gauteng Film Commission also shared the details of the 4th annual JFF Youth and Audience Development programme, a key pillar of the festival programming that will see workshops taking place across Gauteng from October 2022 through January 2023.
In line with prioritizing growth and development for young upcoming Africanfilmmakers, the JFF Youth and Audience Programme will conduct t a series of skills development and empowerment workshops for these creatives. The programme creates strong links between young people and the film, TV and new digital media and content industries and allows participants to discover the powerful impact of collaborative filmmaking and the various business and career opportunities in the film and tv content value chain whilst providing capacity building opportunities and creating new jobs for youth in and from our communities.
Furthermore, it provides access to meaningful training, mentorship and internship opportunities that will not only focus on the creative side of film and content production, but also on the business of how to monetize their ideas and content.
Aimed at youth between the ages of 18 and 35 who are students or young and aspirant film makers from previously disadvantaged communities, the programme workshops cover a myriad of topics including directing, performance, story & conceptualization, production, editing and animation just to name a few.
Registration is now open for the programme that will commence with a 2-day filmmaking workshop, as well as a 2 day acting workshop on 8 & 9 October in Sedibeng, followed by the West Rand on 22 & 23 October, Ekurhuleni on 5 & 6 November, and Tshwane on 26 & 27 November, with the Johannesburg regional session taking place in January 2023.
All registered young filmmakers can also participate in the exciting new Young Voices Short Film Competition themed, “What Inspires You About Your Township?” Three winners will be selected from across the five regions and will receive a range of prizes with one selected filmmaker receiving a scholarship and other valuable prizes.
The Youth and Audience Programme is as follows:
DAY 1
- Acting Workshop
- Story and Conceptualization Workshop
- Pitching and Proposals Workshop
DAY 2
- Acting Workshop II
- Director’s Master Class
- Content Creators Master Class
- Cinematographer
- Art Director
- Music Scoring
- Animation
- Producers
For the latest updates about the Joburg Film Festival 2023, visit: joburgfilmfestival.co.za
