Jade Fernley
5min
Ever wanted to see the world through someone else’s eyes? Their motivations, inspirations and decisions based on their way of looking at the world? What if you had to look at the world without sight?
Watch below to see life from Richard’s point of view.
Watch to open your eyes.
Azwihangwisi Mufamadi
5min
Ever thought of meeting a bouncer who is also persuing an academic career?This a profile of a final year masters student who is also a bouncer in the Grahamstown pubs. Bekezela Phakathi told me about how he manages his social life, his work as a bouncer and his academic career. Watch his typical day.
Fathima Simjee
5min
Not everything in life is cut and dry, or black and white, but what happens when you as a person fall into this ‘grey area’? Shades of Grey is the story of a young woman who was adopted by her mother’s employers and as a result is a “black” girl who was brought up in a “white” home. This is a touching story told a by a woman who feels both privileged and disadvantaged by the fact that she defies racial labels and forces one to reconsider their views on race, class and gender and its impact on who we are.
Jolanta Slomkowski
5min
Not only is Pamela stronger than Popeye, she’s also just as courageous as a Soldier.
Pamela Maguga, a mom who has taken on the role of heading her household like only a super woman can. Watch as she demonstrates how to be a mom and dad and the interaction that takes place between Xolani and his mom/mom-dad.
This mother and son team is truly inspiring as they welcome me into their home with kindness and tell me their story. A must watch.
Michelle Solomon
5min
It has been 25 years since the inception of the Young Artist Awards in South Africa, but what have any of the past winners done since their placing in this hall of fame? Whilst some names on this epic list are renowned for giving back not only to the arts, but to our South African communities, others seem to fade into the past. Will this year’s Young Artists suffer similar fates? A panel discussion with some of the winners has them talking about how they hope to uplift, inspire and encourage a South Africa in need of some talent.
Matthew Von Abo
5min
Fire, smoke, hunted to extinction this is the life chimpanzees are facing around the globe. Their habitats are being ripped apart by human influence and are subject to fetish in the media or as pets. They are our closest living relatives but still remain wild, untamed and uninhibited. We look at how similar and how different chimps are and how Chimp Eden in Nelspruit is fighting the wave of cruelty by rescuing abused chimps from across the continent.
Crabapple Productions
Investigative Documentary 10 min
Leila Dougan, Daniel Epstein, Azwihangwisi Mufamadi & Matthew Von Abo
Prostitution might be legal in South Africa by the time tourists arrive for the 2010 World Cup. Currently, prostitutes have no rights under our constitution and the abuse and exploitation of women in the industry is commonplace. Proponents of legalization say that we simply don’t have the time or the resources to lock up all the prostitutes who who will want to take advantage of the huge work opportunities tourists will provide. But will prostitutes really benefit from the legalization of their trade? Some say it merely opens the door to further forms of exploitation and abuse. This documentary is only a first step towards stimulating dialogue and awareness about a social and judicial issue in dire need of informed debate.
MASS Productions
Investigative Documentary 10 min
Alna Dall, Matthew Edwards, Jade Fernley
The situation seemed black and white. White people have homes in Hogsback and black people are not allowed to own land. But is there more to the situation than meets the eye? Watch this investigative documentary to find out the many reasons why, despite their constitutional right to have a home, black landless residents in Hogsback still wait for homes more than 15 years down the line.
stu.d.jo productions
Investigative Documentary 10min
Danielle Brock, Stuart Buchanan & Jolanta Slomkowski
The state of health care in the Eastern Cape is in a critical condition. Emergency workers are attending to cases without crucial equipment, unable to perform basic triage and often having to leave victims suffering without oxygen. The money is there, so surely the provincial department of health should be doing something about this? No, because everything you will see, according to the EC DOH Media Liaison, is apparently just ‘in your imagination…’ Take a look.
Under Construction Productions
Investigative Documentary 10 min
Lubabalo Dada, Fathima Simjee & Michelle Solomon
Over 1000 South Africans succumb to HIV/Aids related illnesses every day. As such, there are many desperate and dying people in this country, who are vulnerable to exploitation by various agents who practice under the guise of “traditional healers”. These people make traditional healing a money-making scheme when it should be about uBuntu. After speaking to genuine traditional healers and medical practitioners, we went in undercover to investigate the claims of “treating HIV/AIDS” made by one of these con-men.
Decent Exposure – Tijana Huysamen, Freddy Legodi & James Loudon
The film was made for the one-term intensive class – 5 mins
The story of the community of Glenmore in the Eastern Cape told through the activism of Ben Mafani, a community leader. Glenmore was a dumping ground of forced removals during apartheid and not much has happened since. Mafani continues to fight for acknowledgment of the injustices against his community
The big red carpet and champers are rolled out for the 3rd Documentary Film Festival showcasing our final work on the 14th of October (Tuesday) at the Roxbury cinemas – yes all three..
The night will be filled with our output of insightful and provocative documentaries, with topics ranging from rhino poaching in Zimbabwe, rastas in Knysna, backstreet abortions, alternative religious practice, urban divisons and families in Grahamstown. Tickets cost R20 and include canapes, champagne, a chance to win some prizes and of course good entertainment. We are even dressing up for the do!
A letter to Mandela
16×9 Productions 24min
Anthony Andrews, Joni Els, Rulleska Singh, Lindsey Thorpe
Common Ground revolves around Oatlands Preparatory School in Grahamstown, a place where people from all colours and collars meet. The documentary traces how far the country has come in terms of racial integration since 1994 by profiling four very different families at the school, those being the Ranchhod family, the Agnew family, the Griffiths family and the Ngcete family. Through these families and their children, viewers will get a glimpse of the diversity of the country, as well as the hopes, the unity and colour-blindness of the children.
common-hi common-lo
SMGS Productions 24min
Dan ‘Joe’ Edmeades, Xoli Matomela, Hayley Mueller
Come on this journey with us; crossing through old divides, some virtual, some real. Charl and Johan take us through their lives, skating on the edges of society, slightly Vladimir and Estragon type characters, Fear and Loathing in Grahamstown. We journey with people who live lives that defy notions of boundaries, rules and borders.
fences-hi fences-lo
LIT UP Productions 24min
Dan Calderwood, Pippa Erlich, Jade Menenzies, Tasmin Vosloo
Judah Square in Knysna is one of South Africa’s largest formal Rastafari settlements. There is very little real understanding about the Rastafari movement. From an outsider’s point of view, Rastas are often seen as ganga smoking layabouts. This prejudice falls far short of reality. The spiritual values and ideals embodied in Rastafari should not be overlooked by modern society. At the same time, like any faith, it has complex problematic elements.
i & i looks into the lives of four characters living in Judah Square. Leah, Jackie, Shakashi and Maxi. They are four very diverse people with very different backgrounds. They are united however, in their shared identity as Rastafari. This documentary features different aspects of their lives as they live out their faith as individuals and culminates with the bi-monthly church ceremony or Binghi.
i&i-hi i&i-lo
Everyday people with alternative beliefs
FAB Productions 24mins
Ashleigh Nash, Demelza Bush & Gabrielle Gray
Matters of Faith is a 24 minute documentary that examines the beliefs, rituals and practices of “alternative” religions and the occult. Through five subjects, the audience is given a basic overview of each belief structure. The religions explored are paganism, wiccan, discordianism, satanism and the beliefs of Aleister Crowley. The film is not necessarily dark but hinges on a narrative thread of good versus evil and the serious effects of black magic.
faith-hi faith-lo