Ugu film fest returns
The film festival which runs from September 14 to 16, will feature an opening night at Ster-Kinekor Shelly Centre.
The Ugu Film Festival is back with its 11th edition which will include workshops, exhibitions and screenings with Dezzi’s Raceway as the primary venue, alongside Nyandezulu Community Hall, Margate Museum, and the Gcilima Community Hall.
The film festival which runs from September 14 to 16, will feature an opening night at Ster-Kinekor Shelly Centre.
There will also be a viewing of The Lake, a film directed by Lee Thongkham and produced by Hollywood Thailand and Thongkham Productions.
Senzo Zindela, founding director of the Ugu International Film Festival said Thongkam will also give a workshop on the art of gigantic monster creation as part of the many informative workshops and discussions led by industry experts across a range of topics.
“This year, guests can also look forward to the art of action directing by Vietnamese-American filmmaker, actor, and martial artist, Peter Pham whose work has been released on Netflix, in theatres and various other platforms. Benedicta Johnson, a businesswoman with long experience in finance, media, tourism, and animation will talk on film business and funding opportunities; Eliya Ndou from the Department of Trade Industry and Competition will unpack the Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive with Xolani Dlamini discussing special programmes and local content production,” said Zindela.
He added that film industry moguls such as Dr John Kani, and Vuyo Dabula will be in attendance.
Zindela said the Ugu Film Festival is a community upliftment programme that was initiated as a division of Zindela Pictures back in 2013.
He said they always do community outreach in deep rural areas where they take their guests so that they can experience the lifestyle first-hand.
“Nyandezulu and Gcilima are two identified areas that will be visited on September 15 and 16 respectively. The festival has run full circles in achieving its main goals using film as a catalyst. This year’s event boasts a series of workshops, discussions, business breakfasts and film screenings done by local and international experts from the USA, Thailand, South Africa, and Austria. These sessions will be conducted by award-winning industry moguls like Peter Pham known for The Foggy Mountain, Lee Thongkham and Aysha Abbas known for Treasure Fellowship,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), Phelisa Mangcu said they are honoured to, once again, host the Ugu International Film Festival.
“This provides us with an opportunity to showcase exactly why the South Coast is a top-class film destination. From our world-class dive sites and Blue Flag Beaches to our epic hinterland landscape. This is the ideal setting for the domestic and international film market,” said Mangcu.
For more information on the festival, contact 064 071 1005.
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