Press Releases

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2012-05

65th Cannes International Film Festival opens

17 May 2012: The 65th Cannes International Film festival opened last night with the premiere of Wes Anderson’s coming-of-age love story ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. The festival is taking place in Cannes, France until 27th of May 2012.

South Africa to present its film projects at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival

11 May 2012: The National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) in association with the Department of Arts & Culture (DAC) will as from 16th until 27th of May 2012 lead a South African delegation to the 65th Cannes International Film Festival. Cannes International Film Festival is an annual prestigious event that allows global filmmakers and key decision makers in film to gather with the core aim of conducting film business.

NFVF offer Training Opportunities for Aspirant Script Editors

10 May 2012: The National Film & Video Foundation is offering FREE part-time training opportunities to individuals who wish to train as script editors in the film and television arena. The successful candidates will go through an intensive Sediba "Spark" Screenwriter's Training Programme where they will be required to team up with a writer in developing concepts which are engaging & have wide audience appeal.

DFA delegation returns from Hot Docs

10 May 2012: The Documentary Filmmakers Association (DFA) delegation to Hot Docs 2012 has just returned from Toronto and delegates have headed home to Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban. The 16-strong delegation was the biggest at Hot Docs, and stood out at the festival.

2012-04

South Africa wins nine awards at the AMA Awards 2012, Lagos Nigeria

23 April 2012: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) congratulates all South African winners at the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The awards took place last night, Sunday 22nd of April in Nigeria, Lagos.

South African Documentary Filmmakers at the 2012 Hot Docs International Documentary Festival

17 April 2012: Two South African documentaries, Sands of the Skei Queen by Ryley Grunenwald and Buddha of Africa by Nicole Schafer are set to shine at this year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival scheduled to take place from the 26th of April to the 6th of May 2012. Founded in 1993, Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference, and market held annually in Toronto, Canada. Each year South Africa’s documentaries are showcased and represented by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), and individual producers.

2012-03

Winners of the 6th Annual SAFTAs Fiction Awards announced

11 March 2012: Winners of the Fiction categories of the 6th annual South African Film and Television Awards were announced at a prestigious ceremony held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Saturday the 10th of March 2012.

Winners of the 6th Annual SAFTAs Non-fiction categories announced

09 March 2012: Winners of the Non-fiction categories of the 6th annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) were announced at a glittering ceremony held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Friday the 9th of March 2012.

Statement on ETV's withdrawal from the South African Film & Television Awards

05 March 2012: It is with great disappointment that the NFVF and SAFTAs committee learn of ETV’s withdrawal from the South African Film and Television Awards.

2012-02

NFVF Sparkler shortlisted for Kevin Spacey Jameson's First Short Film Competition

22 February 2012: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) congratulates Ross Van Leeve for being shortlisted in Kevin Spacey Jameson’s First Short Film Competition. Ross is an NFVF bursary recipient and has completed the Sediba Spark training programme. A film director and scriptwriter, he stands the once in a lifetime chance to have his script turned into a short film, starring the one and only Kevin Spacey.

6th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) Best Soapie voting line open

22 February 2012: The South African Film and Television Awards announce the opening of the Best Soapie Category voting line as of Wednesday 22 February 2012. The Best Soapie Voting line will close on Friday the 9th of March 2012 at 12h00.

6th annual South African Film & Television Awards nominees announced

16 February 2012: The nominees for the 6th annual South African Film & Television Awards were announced on Thursday 16th of February 2012 at a glittering event held at The Venue in Melrose Arch, North of Johannesburg. Isidingo's Jack Devnarain & Thuli Thabethe served as MC's for the night, while joint Chairpersons Jackie Motsepe & Feizel Mamdoo announced the nominees.

6th annual South African Film & Television Awards nominees announced

65th Cannes International Film Festival–Call for project submissions to the NFVF

30 January 2012: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will embark on a trip to the 65th Cannes International Film Festival being held from the 16th to the 27th of May 2012. The festival, which is internationally recognised as the premier film festival and marketing event, brings together filmmakers and key decision makers from across the globe to conduct the business of film.

2011-12

NFVF Slate Fund 2012

15 December 2011: The National Film and Video Foundation is happy to announce that at its meeting on the 7th of December 2011 the council of the NFVF approved the awarding of slate funds to three deserving production companies, each with unique propositions which attracted the highest scores from the evaluation panel convened to assess them.

2011-11

The NFVF welcomes statement of commitment towards the film industry by Minister Paul Mashatile

The National Film and Video Foundation welcomes the unequivocal statement of commitment to supporting the development and growth of the film industry by the new Minister of Arts and Culture Mr. Paul Mashatile.

Bojanala community benefits from the inaugural film festival

07 November 2011: Last week the people of Bojanala district showed their eagerness to pursue careers in filmmaking and that they are passionate about the film industry. This was evident during the Bojanala Film Week that took place between the 26th and 29th of October 2011 at the Bafokeng Plaza in Rustenburg.

2011-10

The inaugural Bojanala Film Week declared open with Retribution as the opening film

27 October 2011: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is proud to announce that Mukunda Michael Dewil’s riveting thriller Retribution was the opening film of the Bojanala Film Week.

SA signs co-production agreement with New Zealand

27 October 2011: South Africa and New Zealand governments have signed a co-production agreement which will benefit the creative industries in both countries.

The NFVF takes film to the people of Bojanala, Rustenburg

24 October 2011: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), will be participating in the upcoming Bojanala Film Week the brainchild of the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality.

The 2nd Trimester Box Office Report

13 October 2011: The National Film and Video Foundation have published its 2nd Trimester Box Office report for the review period from 29th of April until 31st of August 2011.

The 6th annual SAFTAs Judging process begins

13 October 2011: The judging process for the 6th annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) began on a positive note with the pre judging session held at the NFVF offices on the 12th of October 2011.

2010-11

South Africa and French Republic/ France update

Call for applications for approval of co-production status in terms of SA and French Republic/ France concerning co-productions of films.

2010-10

The Department of Arts and Culture calls for NFVF Council nominations

The Department of Arts and Culture has formally advertised for the nomination of members to serve on the Council of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF). The announcement appeared on weekend newspapers, the Sunday Times and City Press on 03 October 2010. The term of the current Council will end on the 31 January 2011.

2010-09

LIFE, ABOVE ALL selected for consideration at the Oscars 2011

The South African Academy Award Selection Committee and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) announce the selection of Life, Above All for consideration as South Africa’s official entry into the Best Foreign Film category for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards (Oscars). If approved by the Oscars Academy Award Selection Committee, it will represent South Africa as the nominee for Oscars 2011.

Urgent NFVF Production Funding Announcement

At a meeting held on 2nd September 2010 on the occasion of the 3rd cycle meeting of the NFVF Council, NFVF management recommended funding across the usual range of programmes and projects the institution supports.

2010-08

South African Film and Television Awards now on DVD

The National Film and Video Foundation announces the availability of the 4th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) ceremonies on dual DVD.

Rehad Desai's The Battle for Johannesburg to screen at The Bioscope

Moviegoers are in for a treat as Encounters Documentary Festival’s Johannesburg leg commences tomorrow at The Bioscope. One documentary not to be missed is Rehad Desai's The Battle for Johannesburg. The film will be screened on Friday 20th of August at 20:30, followed by a Q & A.

NFVF Short Film Contest Winners now on DVD

In 2007, the National Film and Video Foundation sent out a call to up and coming young filmmakers to submit short film scripts in any genre but with two stipulations - the films had either to be in an indigenous language and or be written and directed by women.

Audience Development Research report

In February 2010, the NFVF embarked on an audience development research based on SKIN – the first film to be distributed by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF).

2010-07

The 5th SAFTAS submission deadline extended - closing date 13 August 2010

15 July 2010: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) committee have announced that the period to submit projects for the SAFTAS 2011 has been extended. The new closing date for submission is Friday 13th of August 2010 at 16h00.

National Film and Video Foundation supports 31st DIFF

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) announces its continued support for the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), taking place in Durban from 22 July until 02 August 2010. This year marks NFVF's eleventh year as the festival funder.

2010-06

5th SAFTAS submission reminder - closing date 16 July 2010

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), would like to remind South African productions to submit their entries for SAFTAS 2011. The closing date for submission is Friday the 16th of July 2010 at 16h00. The Feature Film and Life Time Achievement category entries will close on the 31st of December 2010.

Father Christmas Doesn’t Come Here selected for the Palm Spring International Shortfest

Father Christmas Doesn’t Come Here selected for the Palm Spring International Shortfest.
Father Christmas Doesn’t Come Here, a short film directed by Bhekumuzi Sibiya, has been selected for the 2010 Palm Spring International Short Festival. Produced by Jeremy Nathan and Michelle Wheatley of DV8, the film was one of the Indigenous Language short film contest winners funded by the National Film and Video Foundation. The film will be screened between 22 and 28 June 2010, at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs, CA.

2010-05

5th South African Film and Television Awards call for entry

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), official organizers of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) calls for South African productions to submit their entries for SAFTAS 2011. The 2011 entries open on Monday the 17th of May 2010 and will close on Friday the 16th of July 2010 at 16h00. The Feature Film and Life Time Achievement category entries will close on the 31st of December 2010.

2010-04

Father Christmas does not come here

The National Film and Video Foundation is proud to announce that Bhekumuzi Sibiya's FATHER CHRISTMAS DOESN'T COME HERE has scooped the Best Narrative Short Film at the Tribeca Film Festival.

SKIN soundtrack nominated for Best Original Film Score

The National Film and Video Foundation is proud to announce that SKIN continues to dazzle the world with its unique, inspirational South African story.

SKIN the movie now available on DVD

The internationally acclaimed film SKIN is now available on DVD through Next Entertainment and can be purchased from the following stores; CNA, Look & Listen, Makro or Musica. Copies can be rented from nationwide rental stores.

Sediba international financing programme for producers 2010

In 2009, the NFVF launched the Sediba Advanced International Financing Programme aimed at experienced producers in television drama & feature film products.

Sediba international financing programme for producers new deadline

The National Film & Video Foundation sent a call to the industry a few weeks ago inviting all Producers to apply for the Sediba International Financing Programme, aimed at experienced and emerging Producers.

2010-03

Winners of SKIN contest announced

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) takes pleasure in announcing winners of the essay writing competition that took place on February 11 2010, when different schools were treated with a trip to the cinema to view SKIN.

2010-02

South African Film and Television Awards winners announced

20 February 2010: Winners of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) were announced tonight at a glittering award ceremony that took place at the State Theatre in Pretoria. The crème de la crème of South African Film and Television industry gathered at the State Theatre to witness as the best in the country received honour for their creative excellence. The show was broadcast live on SABC 2 from 20:00.

NFVF takes 412 grade 12 learners to view SKIN

The National Film and Video Foundation took four hundred and twelve (412) grade 12 learners to view SKIN on Thursday 11 February 2010, as part its ‘taking cinema to the people’ initiative. Disadvantaged schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape were treated to an all expense paid trip to the cinema, where the NFVF staff members were at hand to welcome the learners and interact with them.

NFVF takes the film Skin to underprivileged schools

The National Film and Video Foundation will this week promote the movie "Skin" among grade 12 pupils from disadvantaged areas in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape, as part of its audience development programme. The campaign is a pilot programme that will be extended to other regions in the future.

2010-01

Skin wins South African audiences at the box office

Skin, a true-life story about South Africa's Sandra Laing, accumulated R194.151 at the box office during it’s first weekend of release (22 – 24 January) making it the number one film on he Cinema Nouveau circuit. The figure was recorded after the film was released only in selected cinemas (eleven prints) around the country. As of 28th January,Thursday night, Skin had registered R288,000.

Skin nominated for Best Foreign Film at the NAACP Awards

Skin, a true-life story about South Africa’s Sandra Laing has been nominated for Best Foreign Film award at the NAACP Image Awards, while Sophie Okonedo, who plays the role of Sandra Laing in the film, has been nominated for the Outstanding Actress award.

2009-11

SAFTA 2010 Nominees Announced

The nominees for the South African Film and Television Awards were announced today at an event held at Johannesburg’s Atlas Studios. Both members of the industry and the local media attended the event.

National Film School Study

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has completed a feasibility study for the establishment of a National Film School. This was in response to Section 4 (2) e of the NFVF act, which calls for the investigation into the establishment of film school in collaboration with the Department of Education, and of Trade and Industry.

2009-10

Film Indaba 2009 announced

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will host the 3rd Film Indaba on 26 and 27 November 2009. Indaba 2009 presents an opportunity for the NFVF to present to the industry, the NFVF Vision 2022, which was developed by the NFVF Council and Executive Management.