New format for the 2020 kykNET Silwerskerm Film Festival
The kykNET Silwerskerm Festival will have a different format this year. It will be transformed into an informative webinar with a focus on production, short film development and other exciting and relevant industry issues.
“The impact of the pandemic has delayed the production of all new films that were to be screened at the festival”, says Karen Meiring, Director of M-Net: kykNET Channels. “As a result, we had to reconsider all our projects and our approach to this year’s festival. With these challenges we also saw some opportunities, and we are excited about the international partners that we have secured to collaborate, inspire and share valuable industry knowledge with our South African filmmakers.”
The webinar will take place from 2-4 September 2020 and include guest speakers and facilitators from around the globe. The webinar will focus on international partnerships, funding and new ways of working in the film and television industry. Speakers will include representatives from SXSW, Berlinale, The Sydney Film Festival, The British Film Council and Fremantle Media, Australia.
The full programme will be available on Thursday 13 August 2020. Registration for the three- day webinar will cost R150 and include access to all the international sessions, exclusive viewings of work by South African filmmakers, breakout rooms for intimate question and answer sessions and a workshop about funding facilitated by WESGRO. The DStv film platform BoxOffice will also host two exclusive premieres of local films.
The 10th annual Silwerskerm Film Festival was originally scheduled to take place in Camps Bay during August. Due to the new approach, the short film competition has been extended with a new focus on script development. Other festival initiatives will also continue with later submission dates.
One of these projects is the Draaiboeksoek competition that was launched at the 2019 kykNET Silwerskerm Film Festival – an initiative that focusses on the development of new scripts.
The closing date for Draaiboeksoek competition entries has been extended to 29 January 2021. Thus, allowing more time for prospective writers and creators to develop and edit their script ideas. Read more about Draaiboeksoek here.
Filmmakers with existing films that they would like to have on the 2021 festival programme, also have until 29 January 2021 to submit their films. Read more about Existing Works here.
The 2021 kykNET Silwerskerm Film Festival is planned for August next year.
The kykNET Silwerskerm festival was launched in 2010 as an initiative to support the local film industry. In the past decade, it has grown into one of our country’s most respected film festivals. The first Silwerskerm festival, hosted in Prins Albert, featured only one film. During the past decade, more than 160 short and feature films have debuted at the festival. The festival and the financial support it provides show the commitment of kykNET and M-Net towards the development of local talent.
“Our focus and determination will always be to give local filmmakers a platform to tell their stories,” said Meiring.
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