September 9, 2003
By Bongani Majola
STORIES of courage and endurance, against a backdrop of human hardship, are skilfully told in the documentaries to be screened during the 3 Continents International Film Festival, on at the Cinema Nouveau in Rosebank from 12 September.
The festival features an impressive array of cutting-edge films from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Showcasing over 40 films with a general emphasis on human rights, the screenings will "highlight a variety of contemporary issues from political corruption to personal tales of human endurance with humour, poignancy, skill and insight", according to the organisers.
In 2002 a group of Latin American documentary filmmakers first organised the 3 Continents Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to provide a forum for documentary films on human rights related themes.
The festival will alternate between the three continents, with next year's event being held in India.
For 10 days, South African cinema audiences will be able to see 22 films from the African continent, 12 from Asia and 14 from Latin America. Looking for individual and community stories that addressed issues within the developing world, the organisers considered more than 160 films documenting key moments in the political and human rights struggles around the world.
The festival kicks off with a documentary of one of the world's most infamous dictators, Augostino Pinochet. The Pinochet Case documents the Chilean people's eventual overthrow of the autocrat's brutal 25-year regime. The political theme continues with Chavez: The Inside Story, a documentary directed by Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Brian about an attempted coup in Venezuela.
The festival also features 12 South African documentaries, including two different insights into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as fascinating features on kwaito, HIV/Aids, dating, sexuality and the country's transformation process.
"The festival also aims to encourage audience participation and discussion on the economic challenges of producing a film in the developing world," said filmmaker, teacher and executive director of the festival, Miguel Mirra.
"A number of international and African filmmakers will be present, including directors Anand Patwardhan, Licinio Azevedo and Danielle Smith, and producer Sai George," said Mirra.
The Gauteng Film Office, which sponsored the event, said a great deal of organisation had gone into the film festival since it started last year and partnerships had been forged, with Cinema Nouveau putting up R400 000 to market the festival, and the Gauteng Film Office forking out R50 000. Another R50 000 came from the purse of the Gauteng Tourism Authority, as part of its Tourism Month campaign.
Gauteng Film Office CEO Themba Sibeko said his office had, through the festival, identified strategic global partners, "while at the same time creating windows of opportunity for South African filmmakers to expand".
The 3 Continents Film Festival is on at Cinema Nouveau in Rosebank from 12 September to 21 September. All tickets can be booked through Ster Kinekor at 082 16789 or the Johannesburg Festival Office at 011 403 0651 or 011 403 9368. For a complete programme, visit www.3continentsfestival.co.za.
