Experience the magic of cinema at the 12th Ugu International Film Festiva, featuring a stunning selection of films, workshops and masterclasses.
KwaZulu Natal: 13 September 2024-The countdown to the 12th edition of the Ugu International Film Festival (UGUIFF) has begun as the film festival returns on the 17th of October 2024 bigger and bolder to shine the spotlight on the thriving KZN film industry, which in recent years has grown in leaps and bounds.
Festival founder and CEO of Zindela Pictures, Senzo Zindela is rearing to get going as this year’s instalment of the internationally-recognised film festival which boasts a string of local and international film screenings, exhibitions, workshops and impactful masterclasses facilitated by leading panellists and film practitioners promises to leave film enthusiasts yearning for more. Established filmmakers, practitioners as well as emerging and aspiring filmmakers are in for an amazing time when the festival kicks off on the South Coast on Thursday 17th to Sunday the 19th of October 2024.
Over the years since the first edition of the festival 12 years ago, the well-travelled festival founder has had an opportunity to study the best practices in the global film industry. Zindela further had an opportunity to study and learn from some of the renowned destinations of the international film industry following his stint at the Chicago State University, where he studied entrepreneurship and business management.
Among those earmarked for the workshops and masterclasses on subjects such as art action, performance is talented actor Pallance Dladla, Sthembiso Mtshali who will facilitate the masterclass on music scoring and composition, while celebrated TV and news anchor, Masechaba Ndlovu will be on hand to host the Film Business and Funding Opportunities discussion. Modern Day motion picture director Siya Sityana will take care of script writing and directing workshops while Portia Ncwane, a philanthropist and producer, director, will anchor the International Film Growth Opportunities talk.
Award-winning actor, Luthuli Dlamini will facilitate the Acting for Big Screen workshop, while Peter Pham who will be in attendance will take on the Art of Action Directing workshops, among many others.
Zindela, who has made it his mission to establish UGUIFF to be the leader in KZN-inspired filmmaking, says there are several factors that have made him commit to unearthing, exposing and investing in making local and regional film markets a global phenomenon. “I have made it my life’s mission to establish and initiate businesses and endeavours that capacitate local communities while having a global breakthrough impact. There are several factors which motivated me to embark on this selfless mission, some of them are negative while some are positive factors and perceptions, written in most foreign books where they state that Africans are followers, programmed to be employees, and are not strategic thinkers,” he says.
As a thriving film platform, UGUIFF has been a noticeable film festival in South Africa that goes beyond artistic film as it accommodates all kinds of film genres including but not limited to action, sci-fi and user-generated films by students and emerging filmmakers. Zindela says this is what makes UGUIFF more than just a film festival, but an authentic platform where emerging filmmakers have a chance to interact and network with some of their mentors, role models and peers. “At UGUIFF, we believe that emerging and experienced filmmakers deserve equal rights and opportunities to showcase their talents. Therefore, this film festival is initiated as a platform to give young filmmakers from KZN and other parts of the country and continent opportunities to showcase their films to a global audience, while promoting their works to established and well-travelled filmmakers and markets,” says Zindela.
This year’s opening film, The Foggy Mountain, starring Vietnamese actor Peter Pham gets the festival on the road on the first night of the festival. The action-packed Indy film tells the story of Phi- a retired martial artist, longing for a peaceful life with a beautiful wife, who after she is attacked, vows to revenge the attack and hunts the perpetrator across Vietnam-right into the heart of the brutal criminal enterprise that has single-handedly terrorised the entire region for years.
Other films to look out for during the course of the three-day festival include, Indida Yothando, My Father’s Shadow, Safe Bet, Colourful Crime and many others.
Those who cannot be part of the festival in person, have a chance to be part of all the fun and entertainment, and enjoy the full spectrum of the three-day festival through an online screening. Ugu International Film Festival has partnered with an international platform to make sure that film lovers from across the globe get in on the action through the Entertainment Oxygen streaming platform.
UGUIFF 2024 will be a crucial platform for building relationships and forging connections between the film industry and the broader business community. The festival will further host a film and business exhibition, businesses and suppliers are invited to showcase their products by filling in an application form on the following links:(https://forms.gle/VPQ3njqhFPhLsaMt9) and (https://forms.gle/1teyPypG6M8K18pN9).
Issued by Sebabatso Media on behalf of Zindela Pictures.
For more information follow the festival activities on:
Instagram: @uguinternational, Facebook: UguFilmFestival
For more information and interview arrangements contact:
Naomi Mokhele on:
naomim@sebabatsomedia.africa