{"id":7643,"date":"2018-09-24T14:21:22","date_gmt":"2018-09-24T12:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=7643"},"modified":"2018-09-24T14:21:22","modified_gmt":"2018-09-24T12:21:22","slug":"sisters-of-wilderness-launches-outreach-and-audience-engagement-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2018\/09\/24\/sisters-of-wilderness-launches-outreach-and-audience-engagement-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Sisters Of Wilderness’ Launches Outreach And Audience Engagement Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Sisters of the Wilderness\u2019 Launches Outreach and Audience Engagement Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, 22 September, in Celebration of World Rhino Day & South Africa\u2019s Heritage Month<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sisters of the Wilderness, the social impact feature-length documentary, which recently won best South African Feature Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival and qualifies for an Oscar consideration, is the foundation for an outreach and audience engagement programme that will use multiple communication platforms to raise awareness, inspire, communicate and engage audiences worldwide.<\/p>\n

The outreach programme launches on World Rhino Day (22 September) at Nondumiso and Shiyikosi Schools near the Northern part of Hluhluwe where the film is set, with another screenings in Somkhele at the Isolesizwe Film Festival, organised by well-known conservationist Sheila Berry, schedule for Heritage Day on 24 September. These screenings are followed by screenings in the midlands communities that are home to the main characters in the film, with the first being shown at the Midlands Community College on 25 September.<\/p>\n

The film, which follows the healing and transformation journey of five young Zulu women in the wilderness, is set in South Africa\u2019s iconic and highly important natural and cultural heritage gem, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, in KwaZulu-Natal. It highlights the threat to this valuable wilderness and its wildlife – the rhino, elephant and other species.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe chose to launch our impact programme on South Africa\u2019s Heritage Month and World Rhino Day because these two occasions are closely related to the themes in the film and to the project social impact goals,\u201d says project Creator and Producer, Ronit Shapiro of One Nature Films.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very important for us to start the programme in the communities bordering the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi park since one of our key impact goals is to help in the efforts to save the iMfolozi Wilderness from the threat of illegal hunting and unsustainable mining,\u201d adds Ronit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that communities can play a major role in the efforts to protect South Africa\u2019s natural and cultural heritage, and we hope that through the film and a facilitated discussion after the screening, young people and community members will be empowered to get involved and find solution to issues affecting them and wild nature in their surroundings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each screening will be facilitated by local community members who have many years of experience in education, community engagement and are actively working in areas related to the themes in the film: women empowerment and wilderness conservation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked closely with these facilitators during the film production and provided them with specific materials for the facilitation sessions. They bring to the audience engagement a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from their day to day work as educationalists, wilderness \/ nature guides, and cultural advocates,\u201d explains Shapiro.<\/p>\n

The screenings will be followed up by an interactive discussion about the themes that the film highlights. The audience will also be asked to fill out feedback questionnaires to help with the impact evaluation.<\/p>\n

In addition to the screenings in KwaZulu-Natal, the film is also joining the \u2018Ignite Your Rights\u2019 outreach tour, organised by the non-for-profit Sunshine Cinema, which uses free solar-powered interactive impact screenings to stimulate young people\u2019s engagement. The tour starts in South Africa in October and then continues on to communities in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in conversations with several other organisations in South Africa that work with young people, and we are looking forward to enhance our outreach through collaborations with like-minded organisations. We are also actively looking for funding and sponsors to support our expanding programme. Anyone interested can contact us if they wish to get involved,\u201d says Shapiro.<\/p>\n

The film continues its film festival screenings in South Africa at the Cape Town International Film Market and Festival, the Jozi film festival and the Mzansi Women Film Festival.<\/p>\n

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Screening Dates \/ Times:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jozi Film Festival\u00a0 www.jozifilmfestival.com<\/a><\/strong>
\nSunday 30 September, 2pm, Olive Tree Theatre
\nSunday 30 September, 8pm, Bioscope Independent Cinema<\/span><\/p>\n

Cape Town International Film Market and Festival filmfestival.capetown<\/a><\/strong>
\nWednesday 10 October, 2pm, SK Nouveau 5
\nSaturday 13 October, 6pm, Nu Metro 4<\/span><\/p>\n

Mzansi Women Film Festival\u00a0\u00a0 October 26 \u2013 28\u00a0 screening times TBC<\/p>\n