CAPE WINELANDS FILM FESTIVAL MOVES TO NOVEMBER

Dear Filmmaker,

First of all I want to thank those filmmakers that sent in their films for the 6th Cape Winelands Film Festival. We have received a record number of entries for the 2013 CWFF and sitting with the selection panels at times I was amazed at the quality of short films, documentaries and the feature films we have received.

Regrettably due to several reasons I regret to inform you that the 6^th Cape Winelands Film Festival 2013 has been postponed until November 2013.  The new date for the CWFF will be 1^st - 10^th November 2013 and will run annually in this time slot.

The first reason for this postponement is the delay with regard to the finalisation of the funding and sponsorship agreements by some of the key sponsors of the Cape Winelands Film Festival (CWFF).

The CWFF was also requested by sponsors to move to a new time-slot in November each year (the old Sithengi dates) and will now run annually in November under the same theme of Reconciliation and Acceptance.

Ideally the CWFF will during the November festival now also present the Cape Town International Film-Market with pitching sessions, more training, Masterclasses and more Workshops.

I trust that you will understand our predicament and that in order to do justice to the work of so many talented directors from all over the world, it is necessary for us to postpone the CWFF and present a Window on World Cinema in its full glory in November rather than a financially compromised event in March.

We have had several requests for more late entries, which unfortunately cannot be accepted.  Please do understand that this will not be fair to filmmakers that have already entered their work in competition.

Kindest Regards

Festival Director

CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW CLOSED !!

The Cape Winelands Film Festival (CWFF), has announced their official Call for Entries for the 6th Cape Winelands Film Festival is now CLOSED !

The CWFF is a competitive festival that accepts features, documentaries and short films.  The festival highlights both the emerging and professional filmmaker, and serves as a catalyst for bringing writers & filmmakers together to collaborate on future productions. The 6th CWFF will take place in Stellenbosch and Cape Town from 13 to 23 March 2013, where it will be host to national and international filmmakers for film screenings of the Official Selection films competing for the top awards, industry panels and networking events, Q & A discussions with filmmakers, arts & entertainment mixers at local venues throughout the 10 days.

2012 AWARDS AT CWFF

Films from Azerbaijan, Serbia, Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, Mexico, Slovakia and South Africa were among the winners of the 5^th edition of the Cape Winelands Film Festival (CWFF), which had its last screenings on 24 March 2012 in Stellenbosch and Cape Town. The programme included award winning features, documentaries and shorts from more than 48 countries.

Ilgar Najaf from Azerbaijan won the Grand Prix Award for Buta, a story about a lonely 7 year old boy (named Buta), who lives in a mountain village with his grandmother. He is befriended by an old man, a liquid soap merchant who once loved (and lost) Buta’s grandmother. The old man’s friendship and wise advice helps Buta to overcome his difficulties in life. Buta’s grandmother, in the meantime, is weaving a special carpet in memory of Buta’s mother. The carpet features a ‘buta’ pattern, which represents love. The boy is inspired by grandmother’s work, and decides to make his own “buta” made of rocks and stones, high on the top of the mountain…

The Award for Best Director went to Serbian director Miloš Radivojević. How I Was Stolen by the Germans tells the story of director and writer Radivojević’s childhood and how his life was influenced by the people he grew up with. As a child he felt neglected by his communist family and was taken care of by a German officer, who occupied his home during the Second World War and was the only person who offered him any love and warmth during his child-hood.

The First Feature Award went to Flemish film-maker Bavo Defurne for his sensitive film about first love, North Sea Texas.

A Special Mention Award from the feature jury was made for The Giants (Belgium).

Full list of Feature Film Awards

Grand Prix Award: Buta (Iilgar Najaf )

Special Mention: The Giants (Bouli Lanners)

Best Director: Milos Radivojevic (How I was Stolen by the Germans)

Best New Director: Bavo Defurne (North Sea Texas)

Best Actor: Zacharie Chasseriaud (The Giants)

Best Actress: Zoe Heran (Tomboy)

Best Script: Ruggero  Dipaola  (Apartment in Athens)

Best Cinematography: Gerardo Barosso (The Last Christeros)

Best Editing: Maros Slapeta (Visible World)

Best South African Feature Film : Otelo Burning ( Sara Blecher)

Special Mention Award : Lucky (Avie Luthra)