ALL INDUSTRY EVENTS WILL
BE LIVE-STREAMED ON ENCOUNTERS FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE CHANNELS.
See the daily schedule below or online at https://encounters.co.za/industry-events/
Encounters Talks
Encounters Talks offer high quality industry discussions presented in partnership with Documentary Filmmakers Association, Wesgro, Swiss Films, DOK.fest Munich, Electric South, UCT Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of the Western Cape Centre for Humanities Research and FNB.
This year’s programme focuses on critical and urgent issues facing the documentary industry. From navigating the landscape during Covid19, online platforms, alternative distribution strategies, effecting social change through the genre and deep-diving conversations about the craft.
We introduce you to our expert speakers, leaders in the field, who will offer insights, including awards-winning producers, film influencers, VR artists, festival programmers, funders, government stakeholders and filmmakers.
We welcome; Mathieu Béjot, Director of Strategy & Development (Sunny Side of the Doc); Charlotte Cook, Co-Creator and Executive Producer (Field of Vision), Brian Newman, Founder (Sub-Genre), Thandi Davids, Executive Producer and Head of Development (StoryScope); Stéphane Riethauser, (MADAME), Sharon Ryba-Kahn (DISPLACED), Monica Rorvik, Head of Film and Media Promotion (Wesgro) and Caitlin Robinson, Creative Producer and Entertainment Strategist (Scatter & Electric South).
FRI 21 AUG
2pm – 4pm
VIRTUAL ENCOUNTERS: Why choose VR, what to expect and how to adapt as a non-fiction storyteller.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r2zTM0jJS1axC8TsSlIdKw
DYLAN VALLEY
Director and Lecturer of Film and Television Studies, University of Cape Town
NYASHA KADANDARA
Freelance Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker
JUMOKE SANWO
Storyteller, Cultural Producer, VR Film Director. Creative Director at Revolving Art Incubator
MODERATOR: CAITLIN ROBINSON
Creative Producer and Entertainment Strategist at Scatter &
Electric South.
MON 24 AUG
2pm – 4pm
KEY NOTE INDUSTRY EVENT:
View of documentary in a Covid and post-Covid-society.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WqiHQ9j4S5mwztLsxDpkhA
BRIAN NEWMAN
Founder at Sub-Genre
THANDI DAVIDS
Executive Producer & Head of Development at StoryScope
MATHIEU BÉJOT
Director of Strategy & Development at Sunny Side of the Doc, courtesy of IFAS
MODERATOR: MONICA RORVIK
Head of Film and Media Promotion Unit at Wesgro
TUE 25 AUG
10am – 11:30am
FNB EMERGING FILMMAKERS
AND “HOW TO FINANCE” WORKSHOP
Bank accounts and conduct
thereof, how to register a company, run a bank account ect. Within the
presentation FNB will speak about the tools on their banking app to assist
creatives with accounting/invoicing ect.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QNUPFsq5ScKsaqllZ0lNuA
THABANI GUMEDE
Business Manager at FNB
TUE 25 AUG
2pm – 4pm
IN CONVERSATION with SWISS
filmmaker Stéphane Riethauser, Director of MADAME
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h5gBOzBMQ02y3C1UhsXd
STÉPHANE RIETHAUSER
Director of MADAME
INTERVIEWER: PETER MACHEN
Writer, Artist and Film Curator
WED 26 AUG
11am – 12:30pm
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE
REPRESENTATION OF AFRICA
How can films exploring
human rights abuses within Africa challenge both stereotypical representations
of the continent as well as inherited models of justice, modernity and culture?
A discussion on Maia Lekow and Chris King’s THE LETTER.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tzslpCu2T8eoVaAu5NfamQ
STEVE AKOTH
Scholar and Activist, Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape
VALMONT LAYNE
Next Generation Scholar, Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape
CHRISTIE VAN ZYL
Deputy Secretary, Ubombam’ Luvuyo Traditional Healers’ Forum
MAIA LEKOW
Co-Director, THE LETTER
CHRISTOPHER KING
Co-Director, THE LETTER
MODERATOR: FRANCOIS VERSTER
Director, Producer
WED 26 AUG
2pm – 4pm
WOMEN IN DOCUMENTARY:
Exploring barriers, opportunities and representation.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qiVPziQiSrKdGBAkpcXHrg
ASHLEIGH DA SILVA
Director, BLEND
YOLANDA KEABETSWE MOGATUSI
Director, RUMBA IN THE JUNGLE – THE RETURN
MAMAPONYA MOTSAI
Director, ENNIE
YOLANDA NCOKOTWANA
Production & Development Manager – Non -Fiction, NFVF
MODERATOR: XOLISWA SITHOLE
Documentary Director & Producer, Nayanaya Pictures and Yanaya
Gender and Dialogue Film Festival
THU 27 AUG
11am – 12:30pm
VIRTUAL ENCOUNTERS : Whose
Immersive Media? A closer look at IM in Africa – its reach and why documentary
filmmakers should pay attention to its impact.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7BD0iyJ6TRuuFOxk_t-YQA
GARETH STEELE
Art Director, Eden Labs
JUDITH OKONKWO
Founder, Imisi3D
BRIAN AFANDE
Co-founder and Managing Director, BlackRhino VR
MODERATOR: INGRID KOPP
Co-founder and Co-Director of Electric South, renowned expert on VR,
interactive and immersive storytelling. Former lead for the Tribeca Film
Institute’s digital and interactive programmes. Member of Immersive Africa.
THU 27 AUG
2pm – 4pm
THE DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS
ASSOCIATION STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT: Funding in uncertain times – what’s
available and how to fund it.
Funding a documentary film has never been an easy task, but Covid-19 has made this an even greater challenge.
We invite representatives
of the NFVF, the GFC, the KZNFC and SASFED to address how filmmakers can access
funds, Covid-19 relief funds and the screen sector relief fund.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t02vsf8HRIuTjQ7ncdTwJw
DESMOND MTHEMBU
Senior Manager ISD, Gauteng Film Commission (GFC)
JACQUELINE MOTSEPE
Chief Operating Officer, KwaZulu Natal Film Commission (KZNFC)
UNATHI MALUNGA
Executive Officer & Lobbyist , South African Screen Federation (SASFED)
YOLANDA NCOKOTWANA
Production & Development Manager – Non -Fiction, NFVF
MODERATOR: MILLY MULAUDZI
SASFED Co-chair and Documentary Filmmakers’ Association (DFA) board
member
FRI 28 AUG
2pm – 4pm
IN CONVERSATION:
DISTRIBUTION NOW
“Creative flexibility in pandemic
times” with the Marketing, Distribution and Impact Producers behind the Oscar
nominated film FOR SAMA.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9YJoJYJuS7SnvCPU1eZksg
FOR SAMA, a love letter from a young mother to her daughter, tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her.
Since lockdown, distributors and impact producers have had to re-imagine access to audiences. On the commercial distribution side challenges include compensating for loss of income due to cinema closure, navigating prestigious awards entries with no cinematic release and deciding which online platforms to use. On the impact side the biggest challenges have been how to arrange synchronous viewing experiences and have meaningful conversations with audiences. Whatever, one thing is clear, how audiences interact with film has shifted and creative teams must find new ways to reach them.
The FOR SAMA team harnessed equally ambitious commercial distribution and impact strategies. All will be revealed.
SARAH MOSSES
Founder & CEO, Together Films
RACHAEL CHADWICK
Campaign Co-Director, Action For Sama
ZAK BRILLIANT
Distribution Executive, Republic Distribution
CHRISTELLE RANDALL
Film Publicity Consultant
MODERATOR/CO-ORGANISER: LIANI MAASDORP
Senior Lecturer: Film and TV Studies, University of Cape Town
FACILITATOR/CO-ORGANISER: MIKI REDELINGHUYS
Filmmaker, Impact Producer, Co-Chair, DFA
PRE-RECORDED
AVAILABLE 24/7
SHORT FILMS: GLOBAL
PERSPECTIVE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHOOSING A PLATFORM
TBC
CHARLOTTE COOK
Co-Creator & Executive Producer, Field of Vision
INTERVIEWER: SIMON WOOD
