When the Oscar winning documentary My Octopus Teacher graced international screens, it sent ripples of change and awareness around the planet. One man, one octopus, and the story of their bond, inspired millions around the globe. For humans this story was special – the animal became the teacher. For renowned filmmaker Craig Foster, it was an opportunity to share his … [Read more...]
Seeking San wisdom in the Namib desert
Internationally renowned Corona Studios has launched in South Africa with the premier of its first locally produced film, Between San and Insanity, in an oasis-themed outdoor cinema and desert bar set on Nelson Mandela Square (on Thursday, March 10th), complete with five tons of sand and Khoi and San art. The release of Between San and Insanity announced the arrival of … [Read more...]
Documentary festival inspires urgent community action
As the world’s heads of state, climate experts and campaigners gather in Glascow for COP26 to discuss vital interventions, PPL°WX - People'sWeather is providing hope through its six-week Climate+ Festival that aims to inspire on-the-ground change to literally save the planet. “For too long, everyday citizens have been hearing about the climate crisis but many have felt … [Read more...]
Short film aims to ban animal testing in SA
Hollywood filmmakers and movie stars have joined forces with Humane Society International to produce a powerful stop-motion animated short film, #SaveRalph, to end cosmetic testing on animals around the world, including South Africa. Although banned in 40 countries, the practice is still legal in most of the world, and is even making a comeback in some regions, subjecting … [Read more...]
African conservation documentary wins at film festival
South African conservation documentary, The Edge of Existence, by Black Bean Productions, has scooped a top award at the 10th annual Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF), taking place from 1 October to 8 November 2020. Out of 150 documentaries at the festival, The Edge of Existence – which took three years to film, with the crew sometimes spending days or even weeks … [Read more...]
Community re-imagined in a social VR World
The annual Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Congress will take place in a real-time virtual world from 25 – 30 October. NEWF adapted to the reality of the times and have created a truly virtual congress. Delegates will represent themselves as Avatars, and literally interact, engage and network with other delegates and speakers at the … [Read more...]
One more month to comment on internet censorship bill
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, recently extended the period for comment on the Draft Film and Publications Amendment Regulations, which align with the Films and Publications Amendment Act. Anti-censorship groups have dubbed this the “internet censorship bill” for seeking to regulate what it deems “harmful content” and to corral … [Read more...]
Inspiring women who bring environmental stories to their crafts
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Greenpeace puts the spotlight on female visual storytellers from around the world and their work on nature and the environment. From documenting rivers to climate change and ruminations about sustainable landscapes, these women all share a common passion in bringing their voice to environmental stories that they care about. Ore Huiying, … [Read more...]
HBO documentary focuses on solutions to environmental crisis
Ice On Fire, a new HBO documentary focusing on solutions to our escalating environmental crisis, is now streaming first on Showmax in South Africa, just months after its world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The documentary has a 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and “should be essential viewing for anyone who plans to carry on living on the planet,” to quote … [Read more...]
SA filmmaker exposes the secret lives of sea creatures
This week on Inside Africa, CNN International explores the extraordinary kelp forest, rich in marine life and biodiversity, on the coast of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. With award winning filmmaker Craig Foster, the programme learns how The Sea Change Trust is fighting to protect South Africa’s diverse coastline. Foster has been diving through the kelp forest on the … [Read more...]
‘Normal Is Over’ premiere at Labia Theatre
I have seen so many movies about the decline on our planet. What more is there to learn? How to keep strong when you know so much? But there is a local film maker, Renée Scheltema (pictured, right) from the Netherlands originally, who has dedicated the past 5 years of her life – and mostly her own funds – to travel the world and construct a film to communicate this message … [Read more...]
Award-winning soil documentary to have gala screening at Labia
An exclusive gala screening of award-winning documentary Symphony of the Soil is being hosted by the Labia Theatre, Cape Town at 6.30 pm on Sunday 14 August to raise funds for Soil for Life. Join dedicated eco-warrior and MC Nik Rabinowitz for an entertaining ‘green’ evening and help change the world one garden at a time. US based film-maker Deborah Koons Garcia has … [Read more...]
SIMA celebrates best impact documentaries from around the world
The annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) celebrate the best impact documentaries from around the world that inspire activism, compassion and social transformation. SIMA has announced the finalists for the 2016 edition of their unique initiative. The selected finalists will compete in the two categories Documentaries (Features, Shorts) and Impact Videos (Innovations, … [Read more...]
