Showmax is adding 18 films, from 18 February, made by South African AFDA film school students in a wonderful new initiative to showcase local emerging South African film talent.
The roll-out on the video streaming service provides additional new content for Showmax subscribers while helping to showcase local talent in an entirely new way as part of a recent deal between Showmax and AFDA.
From 18 February, 18 of the best recent short films made by AFDA students from their Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth campuses will be made available on Showmax, spanning the genres of drama, documentary, fantasy, and animation, in films running from under 8 minutes to almost half-an-hour long.
"AFDA, is proud to kickstart this exciting and meaningful journey with Showmax and AFDA students, ensuring emerging young African filmmakers' voices are heard and given a platform," says Teresa Passchier, CEO of AFDA.
"It's ground-breaking to share young, local, culturally relevant content on the same platform as Hollywood blockbusters. I am certain that this unique initiative will serve to boost and develop the African film industry and the careers of many young South African and African students alike."
Included in the short films coming to Showmax are the award-winners Junior and O-Puncha.
Junior, directed by Bert Dijkstra, picked up the Audience Award in the Made in South Africa Competition at the shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival Awards 2017.
O-Puncha, directed by Adam Hansen, won two awards at the 5th annual Eldorado Film Festival: Best Student Made Short, and Best Editing - Alexander La Cock.
Another
celebrated film is Sicela Amanzi directed by Mlu Godola, which talks to
the subject of water shortage.
The film's heroine Zoleka is a mild-mannered
young woman forced to go to extreme lengths when a small community's only
source of water unexpectedly collapses.
Candice Fangueiro, Showmax's head of content, says "There's
immense depth of film-making talent in Africa and it's a privilege to be able to
give that talent a home and a platform".
"Showmax is becoming part of the fabric
of film and TV production in Africa, and importantly we're doing this as a
partner rather than just as a consumer. This is a key competitive advantage of
being local and something we aim to continue to work on."
The list of AFDA short films that will be available on Showmax is:
Film
title
|
Director
|
Genre
|
Lullaby
from the Crypt
|
Keenan
Lott & Raven Davids
|
Animation
|
Ko Ga
Cherenyane
|
Sibonokuhle
Myataza
|
Documentary
|
Izilwane
|
Kyllian
Roux
|
Drama
|
Mallemeule
|
Jaco
Van Bosch
|
Drama
|
Canal
Street
|
Brodie
Muirhead
|
Drama
|
On the
Fence
|
Warrick
Bews
|
Drama
|
The
Righteous Few
|
Lindo
Langa
|
Drama
|
Hlogoma
Peak
|
Luke
Ahrens
|
Drama
|
Frozen
Flame
|
Cameron
Heathman
|
Animation
|
Wolf
|
Brett
van Dort
|
Fantasy
|
The
Walk Home
|
Sisanda
Dyantyi
|
Drama
|
Bear
|
Wesley
Roodt
|
Drama
|
Junior
|
Bert
Dijkstra
|
Drama
|
O-Puncha
|
Adam
Hansen
|
Drama
|
Umngeno
|
Siphosethu
Ndunge
|
Drama
|
Doreen
|
Luvuyo
Equiano Nyawose
|
Drama
|
Forever
|
Lindo
Langa
|
Musical
|
Sicela
Amanzi
|
Mlu
Godola
|
Drama
|
