The aim of the festival is to celebrate the practical work of the second-year Diploma and third-year BA Degree Film and Television students, who created the films as part of their year-end practical assignment. Their films will be screened to a paying audience including industry professionals.
Out of all the films that will be screened, five of the best films have already been chosen by CityVarsity Braamfontein’s film department. The films will be showcased at CityVarsity Cape Town’s annual film festival in November, a prestigious event for CityVarsity Cape Town. The criteria for selection was mainly based on the story and technical techniques.
CityVarsity, a premier school of media and creative arts in South Africa, is known for its progressive learning techniques in the creative space. The Film and Television HOD of CityVarsity Braamfontein, Leslie Lendis, excited about their very first film festival, said, “The public can expect to see some creative original work that is going to make you laugh, cry and at some scenes go ‘Wow, did students do that?!’. You will also see some beautiful authentic performances from some of our acting students and in some cases acting from film students.”
The film festival is new for students and it is something CityVarsity hopes will grow each year. According to Leslie, it is an important exercise for the students to see the reaction of an independent audience.
Zenzele Zungu, General Manager of CityVarsity Braamfontein, said, “It is a great opportunity for industry professionals to come and see what our students are capable of. This could lead to future employment or even acquisition of student’s films to be developed into feature films.”
Lerato Ncwadi, third-year Editing student and Editor of ‘TrapHouse’, one of the films that was selected to go to Cape Town’s festival, said, “It’s wonderful that our films have been chosen to be shown to a bigger Cape Town audience. Finally, all the blood, sweat and tears has paid off.”
‘TrapHouse’ is a thriller drama based on a young working student who wakes up in a strange house where things just don’t add up and someone is watching. Someone is always watching. To view Lerato’s film and many other short films at CityVarsity Braamfontein’s first film festival, get your tickets now.
Tickets are on sale now at CityVarsity Braamfontein on the 6th floor (125 Simmonds Street, Braamfontein) and everyday including on the day of the festival. The cost will be R40 per ticket and will include three short films.
For more information on CityVarsity Braamfontein, call: 011-242 6360 or visit: www.cityvarsity.co.za.
Over the years, CityVarsity’s dominance at national awards ceremonies has demonstrated the distinctive edge that its students possess. The academic staff are encouraged to freelance within their disciplines, bringing student’s professional awareness of the trends, needs and challenges within each sector of the industry.
