Students’ films to premiere at festival

EIGHTEEN black student film-makers from Cape Town are to see the world premieres of their films at the Encounters SA International Documentary Film Festival this month.

The students have produced three short films that bring into sharp focus critical human rights issues in townships around Cape Town, and are looking forward to the festival, which will take place virtually from June 10 to 20.

Mona-Lisa Msime, the director of Toilets To Let, said when she started filming she knew she wanted to tell stories about injustice and dehumanisation in the townships, but what she did not expect was how it would lead her to appreciate the smallest things in life, like walking to the bathroom under the same roof of her house and the privilege of flushing a toilet after using it.

“Shooting Toilets To Let was really emotional, because the documentary participants let me into their lives and told me about stuff that was not comfortable to speak about,” said Msime.

Sivenathi Ntshwanti, the director of Street Dogs, said with their film they wanted to raise the profile of waste reclaimers. "People have this preconception that waste reclaimers are drug addicts … but the waste reclaimer in our film is a normal guy. He goes to school, he is part of a church,” he said.

US producer Michael Murphey, known for global blockbuster District 9, joined local film-maker Malcolm Kohll to co-found DOCi in 2017 with the aim of providing practical, employable skills to black film-makers.

Murphey said that when he started making films in South Africa, he was struck by how many film-makers came from privileged backgrounds. He said he hoped these new young film-makers would find a place in the industry.