JOZI’S INAUGURAL FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES

JOZI’S INAUGURAL FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES

10-12 FEBRUARY 2012


PRESS RELEASE


Now the first festival on the yearly South African film festival calendar, Jozi Film Festival is a new annual event that showcases the latest films made by Johannesburg and Gauteng film-makers as well as provides a space for film-makers, local or international, to tell stories about Jozi and her inhabitants. 


This year, we are happy to announce that the South African premiere of Man On Ground, a film by Akin Omotoso, will be opening the festival at The Bioscope Independent Cinema at Main Street Life, Fox St on Friday, 10 February at 7:00pm. Films will also be shown in the unusual venue of the Kensington Club, Ivanhoe Street, Kensington which will also host the final film of the festival: Semi- Soet, the new Afrikaans romantic comedy on 12 February. That screening will take place at 4:00pm to be followed by the JFF Awards Ceremony, presented by John Vlismas and Nthati Moshesh.


So what makes JFF different from the rest is a drive to make the films accessible to a wide audience and to attract those who don’t traditionally attend film festivals; an attempt to engage and inspire the ordinary people who make Jo’burg tick. With no intention of becoming the Cannes of Southern Africa, Jozi Film Festival rather aims to reflect the energetic and creative vibe of the city and the continent and wants to encourage Jo’burgers to see their city as a fantastic place to meet new people, experience something uniquely “Jozi” and leave with a sense that we live in an incredible metropolis where there’s truly never a dull moment. In keeping with this idea, admission is a very low R20 and some screenings will be free. 


JFF hopes to grow the satellite festival in 2013 and reach many more Gautengers across the province as time goes on.


The festival will also provide opportunities for new-comers and industry professionals to network.

Jozi Film Festival also offers provocative Q&A sessions with the filmmakers in attendance as well as a number of workshops. 


Within the festival is also a Short Fiction Festival (The Bioscope, Saturday 11 February at 4:00pm) and a Student Festival (The Bioscope, Saturday 11 February at 8:30pm). 


Competition categories include: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Fiction Short, Best Animated Film, Best Student Film, and an Audience Choice Award. 

Winner of Best Feature Film will receive a one-year unlimited music license from Final Mix Online (cleared across all media, in perpetuity) while Best Documentary Film and Best Fiction Short will each receive an unlimited music license for a single production. Recipient of the Audience Choice Award will win the chance to kick back and enjoy an all-expenses paid dinner for 6 at Jo’burg’s trendy Darkie Café.


Wits School of Arts Film and TV Division is partnering with the festival - they will provide technical support, promote the festival to their students as well as students from other universities as well as host a series of seminars between screenings. Various sponsors have ensured that this event gets off to a strong start – all involved in the organization of the festival are voluntarily donating their time and expertise out of a passion to see JFF become a high point on South African film festival calendar.


Contact the organizers:
Brendon Burmester: brendon@jozifilmfestival.co.za 
Shareen Anderson: shareen@jozifilmfestival.co.za 
Lisa Henry: lisa@jozifilmfestival.co.za