AFDA Cape Town 2017 undergraduate film, "Junior", directed by Bert Dijkstra, picked up the Audience Award in the Made in South Africa Competition at the shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival awards evening held in Cape Town at the Zeitz MOCCA Museum of Contemporary Art Africa on Saturday 27 October.
Congratulations and kudos to the cast and crew - it is very rare for a student film to win awards against films produced and directed by seasoned film industry professionals.
shnit Cape Town 2018 is an exceptional annual event with a unique transnational concept- a shortfilm festival that takes place simultaneously in multiple cities on five continents over ten days
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Founded in Bern, Switzerland in 2003 and now in its ninth year in the Mother City, shnit provides a platform for talented South African filmmakers to share their stories, reach international audiences, interact with leading industry professionals and compete in both the Made in South Africa and International competitions.
This year there were four South African films in the latter - Good Mourning by AFDA alumnus Ian Morgan, Noodles by Greg Rom, First Kiss by Ali Ashman and Vlees van my Vlees by Matthys Boshoff
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The same four also competed in the Made in South Africa contest alongside Ihlazo by Akuol de Mabior, Versnel by Dian Weys, Mma Moeketsi by Reabetswe Moeti, Junior by Bert Djikstra and Measure of a Woman by Sara Blecher.
The films were judged by a local panel consisting of Jill Levenberg (award winning actress of the critically acclaimed Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story), AFDA alumna Nosipho Dumisa (award winning director of Nommer 37) and Jafta Mamabolo (star of films such as Jerusalema, Otelo Burning and the upcoming Freedom).
Internationally renowned film director and actor Akin Omotoso was the 2018 Made in South Africa Jury President for shnit Cape Town
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Globally and in SA, the shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival has become a leading multicultural event in its genre. This year Cape Town showcased 135 films in a wide variety of themes and styles. A total of 35 films were made by South African filmmakers, 100 were international and all ranged from between under one minute to 40 minutes in duration.
This year the Zeitz MOCAA joined the list of venues hosting shnit Cape Town 2018. Other locations included The Labia Theatre in Gardens, the traditional home of shnit, as well as the Alexander Bar & Theatre on Strand Street, the Raptor Room in Roeland Street, and Bertha House in Khayelitsha.
