Rough Cut Lab Africa Docs | Encounters SA International Doc Film Festival

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In 2017, SAGE, in partnership with the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival and hosted by The Refinery Cape Town, called for submissions of long-form documentary projects already in post-production with those selected to take part in a three-day Rough Cut Lab (RCL), the first of its kind in Africa. The first two labs took on a physical in-person programme and were only open to 6 projects from South Africa. The 2020 pandemic forced the lab to convene in a virtual space and opened up the possibility of hosting films from all over the continent. In 2021 and 2022, the third and fourth iterations of the lab were hosted virtually – now known as the Rough Cut Lab Africa (RCLA). It has grown to be in conversation with 28 projects, 55 filmmakers, 20 consultants, and many more supporters, partners, and followers.

Rough Cut Lab Africa (RCLA) is a pan-African intervention supporting independent documentary films in the rough cut stage, with a specific focus on nurturing story editors on the continent. The director and editor are matched with expert African storytellers for consultation and comradeship. African films, African feedback!

Rough Cut Lab Africa (RCLA) 2024 is supported by the South African Guild of Editors, Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, Goethe-Institut of South Africa, anima, Pressure Cooker Studios, The Refinery, and Al Jazeera Documentary.

We are delighted to present four RCLA alumni and one RCLA consultant’s work at the 26th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival:

Black People Don’t Get Depressed

Feature African

As the title of this engaging documentary suggests, depression is often unacknowledged in indigenous Southern African cultures and is instead written off as something that is ‘for white people’. But, as the film makes abundantly clear, the impact of mental health is a fundamentally human experience that transcends all boundaries, racial or otherwise. In Black People Don’t Get Depressed, a filmmaker despairing for her mental peace embarks on the journey of facing her depression and speaks to other African people about their experiences of mental illness. This is a timely and vital film for South Africa, where issues around mental health cut across all layers of society.

Diary of an Elephant Orphan

Feature African

Diary of an Elephant Orphan follows Khanyisa, a baby elephant newly orphaned, on her journey in becoming strong enough to join a herd of her own. This is easier said than done, however, as Khanyisa’s health is unpredictable, leading to her rescuers battling to keep her alive.

Rollaball

Feature African

Meet skate soccer teammates: ambitious and volatile Smallee and talented but troubled Dungu. The friendship that has kept them afloat is now at risk as their paths take very different directions.

Samar… Before the Final Picture

Feature African

Set between Cairo and Dubai, Samar…Before the Final Picture explores a story of resilience and healing through Samar, a victim of an acid attack who devotes herself to helping another woman who has suffered the same fate.