Everything you need to know – Jozi Film Festival 2015
The Jozi Film Festival will be happening between 19-22 February 2015. Here’s all the information you need to know.
JOZI FILM FESTIVAL 2015
The fourth annual Jozi Film Festival takes place from 19-22 February at The Bioscope Independent Cinema in Maboneng Precinct and at Rosebank’s Cinema Nouveau. For the first time, the festival will run for four days instead of three due to the high number of worthy submissions received from South Africa and around the world.
The opening night film is LOVE THE ONE YOU LOVE, directed by Jenna Cato Bass. This will be the Johannesburg premiere of the film which first screened at DIFF last year and won Best South African Feature Film, Best Direction in a South African Feature Film and Best Actress (Chi Mhende). LOVE THE ONE YOU LOVE marks the directorial debut of Bass.
Despite the film having already screened at DIFF, we at JFF believe that this is an important South African film and one that Jozi audiences haven’t yet had the chance to see, hence its selection. The film is unique in its style and narrative and lead actress Chi Mhende is compelling to watch as Terri, a sexline operator in a relationship with Sandile (Andile Nebulane). The two seem to have it all but we watch as things disintegrate between them. Born out of a desire to pioneer a new kind of South African independent film, LOVE THE ONE YOU LOVE proves that nano-budgets and big ideas can co-exist in a country still looking for its cinematic voice. It’s this kind of film we at JFF are thrilled to support.
The opening night film will show at The Bioscope on Thursday 19 February and LOVE THE ONE YOU LOVE will have a second screening at Rosebank ‘s Cinema Nouveau on Saturday 21 February. The director and cast will be in attendance for both screenings.
Jozi Film Festival is also thrilled to announce the South African premiere of the winning award Canadian film, MOMMY. The film stars Anne Dorval as Diane Després, a widowed mother who is overwhelmed by the difficulty of raising her troubled, sometimes violent son Steve (Antoine Olivier Pilon) as a single parent. Després then begins to receive assistance and support from her mysterious new neighbour, Kyla (Suzanne Clément). Directed by Xavier Dolan, the film has won multiple awards worldwide. The festival extends their thanks to Videovision for allowing us to screen the film. MOMMY screens at Cinema Nouveau on the evening of 21 February and will enjoy a cinematic release later in the year.
The closing night film is a feature length documentary from the UK called GARNET’S GOLD. Directed by Ed Perkins, the film tells the moving story of Garnet Frost as we journey into the mind of a man searching for meaning. A search with which we can all empathise. This is a film about dreams, inspiration and the resonating power of hope.
All other films screening at the festival can be found on the Jozi Film Festival website: www.jozifilmfestival.co.za. A multi-genre slate of films will be on offer from South Africa, USA, Namibia, Cyprus, India and Spain, to name a few. Please visit the website for info on venues and screening times.
Jozi Film Festival is also offering a weekend of masterclasses at the Goethe-Institut on Jan Smuts Avenue – running 10-4 on Saturday 21 February and 10-12:30 on Sunday 22 February. Director Zola Maseko will present one of the masterclasses alongside other directors like Jenna Cato Bass, Ernest Nkosi and Mark Middlewick. Other film disciplines like editing, cinematography, script development and set design will also be covered.
Tickets for all screenings will open on February 3 and can be booked via The Bioscope’s website or on the Cinema Nouveau website: www.cinemanouveau.co.za or via their contact centre which is 0861 MOVIES. Tickets for the masterclasses can be bought at the door on the day. Visit JFF website for further info on the masterclasses and links to the booking sites.
Jozi Film Festival extends their gratitude to our main sponsor, Hollard Broker Markets, and to Cinema Nouveau, The Bioscope, the Goethe-Institut, Left Hand Films, Fort Greene Filmworks, The Alpha Beta Film & Creative Company, Mushroom Media, Owl Design, New York Film Academy, George Xafis for our artwork, Taku Kaskela for organsing our masterclasses as well as the jury panel for their hours of dedication.