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Africa Media Rights Watch on its way

Organisers of sub-Saharan Africa TV market, Discop Africa, which is taking place from 1 to 3 September 2010 at the Hilton Nairobi in Kenya, have announced that the Africa Media Rights Watch initiative, an anti-piracy body monitoring the region, will officially launch in 2011.

Hopeville: a journey of restoration

New South African film "Hopeville", due to hit the cinema circuit on 3 September 2010, spreads the message that even one person, when they have the courage to take action, can make a big difference in many lives.

Female Perspectives on filmmaking in Africa

The audiovisual industries on the African continent are undergoing dramatic changes. The digital revolution has led to the dawn of a new filmmaking era that opens up opportunities for filmmaking in Africa. Increased African audiences for films that are screened on a variety of platforms, mean more filmmakers, including women, will enter the industry in the coming years.

It's a 3D world

The technology for making and watching 3D film has come a long, long way since Sir Charles Wheatstone invented stereoscopy in 1838 and the first 3D movie was released in 1922. Andy Stead looks at some of the latest developments, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup 3D soccer experience and a camera with two lenses that's now being used in Gauteng.

A city divided, a State of Violence

Khalo Matabane's first dramatic feature "State of Violence", the opener at last month's Durban International Film Festival, is a fascinating insight into a Johannesburg divided by wealth and class, exploring issues of memory, denial, forgiveness and revenge. Andrew Worsdale looks at the film's treatment of the city's contradictions and its place in the development of Matabane's unique cinematic voice.

Another Hollywood blockbuster for Gauteng

Joining the likes of District 9, Catch a Fire and Hotel Rwanda, the new movie Machine Gun Preacher is yet another major Hollywood blockbuster to be shot in Gauteng. With the title role and executive producer's seat taken by Gerard Butler – the star of The Bounty Hunter, RocknRolla and 300 – the movie is currently in filming and set to be released to the US market in September 2011.

Tribute for Schuster

Ster-Kinekor Theatres have hosted a tribute to celebrate the extraordinary contribution to the local film industry made by Leon Schuster, attended by a number of the people from the local film industry who have worked with Leon on producing his magic over the years.

Avalon Theatre rises from the ashes

Seventy-one years of independent South African cinema will be celebrated this year when the Moosa family's Avalon Group, once almost destroyed by apartheid, opens a new luxury Cine Centre in the upmarket Killarney Mall in Johannesburg.

SA produced THE BANG BANG CLUB gets a Gala Showing at 35th Annual Toronto IFF

The 35th Annual Toronto International Film Festival announced the Gala Event & Special Presentation Films for the 2010 festival yesterday featuring the SA/Canadian helmed THE BANG BANG CLUB. The film shot in SA last year features home-grown talent like Frank Rautenbach (Ken Oosterbroek) and Neels van Jaarsveld (Joao Silva) as well as Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman & Taylor Kitsch. THE BANG BANG CLUB is one of only 15 Gala presentations at this year's festival.

First look at 'Winnie'

THR have posted the first image from Winnie, a film based on the life Winnie Madikizela-Mandela currently shooting in South Africa.

Global accolades for South African film

South African film Themba: A Boy Called Hope, directed by Pretoria-born Stefanie Sycholt, has scooped the Unicef Child Rights Award at the 2010 Zanzibar International Film Festival.

Film Friendly Gauteng

This campaign is yet another way in which the GFC strives to ensure 'Perfect Locations' across Gauteng year-round.

Pierre Merle Workshops

The aim of this session would be to: Give an understanding of the commissioning process in the European context

Images and colours of South Africa 2010

Given South Africa's long-time excellence in film making, the television coverage of SA2010 was very creative and brilliant in the live coverage of matches and the visual forays into the stands to catch the over three million spectators.

eKasi, Local Fevah!

The second season of ekasi - e.tv's top-ranking local drama series - debuts on Monday August 9 at 9PM.

Open Window Film Department going from strength to strength

2010 is proving to be a particularly busy year for the Open Window Film Department. The year got off to a busy start with a selection of Open Window student films being exhibited at the Design Indaba stand of the Gauteng Craft & Design Centre. The sophistication and sometimes sheer chutzpah of the works screened proved to be a hit with the uber sophisticated visitors. Following this accolade 17 student video art films were also selected for exhibition at the Joburg Art Fair.

Stereoscopic feast for DStv

Luma Animation and Ogilvy Johannesburg teamed up to create one of the first stereoscopic 3D cinema commercials in South Africa for the DStv brand.

Winnie brings the past to life

Church Square went back 50 years recently as the cast of the movie Winnie hit town as Hollywood actress and singer Jennifer Hudson walked down the stairs of the Palace of Justice in Pretoria, bystanders were transported back to South Africa's apartheid past, with white policemen guarding the court.

Curious Pictures receives two nominations at the Rose d'Or Competition

Curious Pictures received the note worthy accolades as the nominees for the 2010 Rose d'Or competition were announced and two of Curious Pictures' productions were among the coveted nominations.

Ogilvy brings home first Cannes film gold for South Africa in over a decade

Last month Ogilvy Johannesburg was awarded one of the highest honours at the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, winning a rare and coveted Cannes Gold Lion award in the Film category for its highly emotive campaign for HIV/Aids relief organisation The Topsy Foundation.

Celebrate the Beautiful Game through Film

Gauteng is abuzz with football frenzy. A number of film festivals and screenings are currently taking place in the Province celebrating the beautiful game through cinema.

Brazilian Film Festival: Express of Art

This coming weekend The Bioscope will host a special three-day Brazilian Film Festival. Titles to be screened are Filhos de Joao, Broder and Besouro. Special panel discussions with members of the cast and crew will take place after each screening. All screenings will take place at 20:00.

Brazilian Football & Human Rights Film Festival

The Secretariat for Human Rights of the Presidency of Brazil, in partnership with the Gauteng Tourism Authority, and The Wake Cup: Soulafrica 2010 brings to the Newtown Cultural Precinct the "Football and Human Rights Film Festival".

Africa on Screen and Soccer Film Festival

The 4th annual Africa on Screen Film Festival is currently taking place in Newtown at Museum Africa, the Sci Bono Discovery Centre, and Arts on Main in the CBD.

DIFF Announces opening film

The world premiere of the South African film, State Of Violence, directed by Khalo Matabane will open the Durban International Film Festival.

SA, Australia sign film production deal

South African and Australian film-makers now have an incentive to work together following the signing of a treaty between South Africa and Australia that will see co-productions being given "national treatment" by both countries.

Compass Insurance expands specialist services offerings into local market

Film & Entertainment Underwriters SA (Pty) Ltd, have become the latest agency to form part of Compass's specialist insurance offering to the market. With their focus on providing cover to the Film Industry in South Africa for the production of television and film commercials, they offer a variety of packages to cater for the often diverse and unique requirements of this sector.

DISCOP Africa 2010 to focus on content, co-production

Organisers of DISCOP Africa 2010 recently announced that around 120 buyers have registered for the event taking place in Nairobi, Kenya this September. Focus will be on providing African producers access to both the domestic and international marketplace, as organisers report a marked growth in demand from broadcasters looking for quality content from African producers.

Script Writing Course 2010

Submit a 1-3 page short story / idea for selection to be developed into a short film script at Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking.

M-Net announces new local content channel

South Africa's local production industry received a boost last week (27 May 2010), with M-Net's announcement of a new local content channel, Mzansi Magic, which will showcase on screens on the 12th of July, 2010.