LAND PRESSURE ON KING /17

ENCOUNTERS Film Festival is celebrating milestones this year with films centred on Nelson Mandela’s centenary, the celebration of women in film on the back of the #Metoo movement and the festival’s own 20-year mark.

Festival director Reginald Khanzi stepped into the role this year after successfully running the annual Apollo Film Festival in Victoria West, Northern Cape.

“We’re so excited to break the male dominance and we have such great films that centre on women who are relevant in the country at this moment,” he says.

“We also have wonderful films documenting the Mandela experience, which has become topical again. Life is Wonderful focuses on the Rivonia trial, but from the point of view of the lawyers for Mandela and his co-accused,” says Khanzi.

Director and former UK high court judge Nick Stadlen directed the film and says he had long revered Nelson Mandela but, like many the world over, was keen to learn about the other struggle activists and did not know much about the others involved in the fight for freedom.

“These were such inspiring stories, and I was humbled and lost in admiration that they were willing to act out of tremendous courage. Their lives were of secondary importance,” says Stadlen.

This film was his first attempt at making a documentary, and he will take it to the University of the Free State, Fort Hare University, and Nelson Mandela University next week with the aim of educating younger generations.

“For me, as a first-time filmmaker, this was a great privilege to get to know and meet them (activists) and tell this story, which I hope more of the youth will see and take interest in,” says Stadlen.

Accused number three in the Rivonia Trial, Denis Goldberg,