March 2024 Newsletter

Encounters Announces New Chairperson

Encounters Training and Development Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Toni Monty as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Toni’s official appointment was made during the organization’s Annual General Meeting held on February 5th, 2024, following nearly two years of service on the Board.

Expressing her excitement for the new role, Toni Monty remarked, “I am deeply honored to have been elected as Chairperson of the Board. I eagerly anticipate continuing the excellent work of the Board in steering Encounters and the Festival towards new horizons.”

Festival Director Mandisa Zitha commented, “I am excited about continuing to collaborate with Toni in her new capacity as Chair of the Board. Her wealth of expertise in strategic planning, policy development, and governance, particularly within the film sector, will undoubtedly enhance our endeavors as outlined in our recently crafted 5-year strategic plan. We extend our gratitude to Karen Meiring for her contributions as our interim Chair since 2023.”

With extensive experience in the film industry, Toni Monty currently serves as the Managing Director of A.M. Afrika Film Consultants, providing strategic advisory and executive producer services to creative producers for international sales and distribution. Her illustrious career includes leadership roles such as 17 years as Operations Head of the Durban Film Office and 11 years as head of the annual Durban FilmMart.

Moreover, Mrs. Monty has contributed her expertise as a director on the board of the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission for three years and as an ex-officio member on the board of the KwaZulu Natal Music Cluster, KUMISA, for four years.

Encounters Training and Development Institute looks forward to leveraging Toni Monty’s leadership to further its mission of promoting documentary filmmaking and fostering industry development.

Encounters and The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) Partnership

The Encounters Team wishes to announce the end of the Encounters and Durban International Film Festival partnership called Encounters-DIFF Connection, commencing this year. The strategic partnership, which has endured for over ten years, created an enhanced platform for all African filmmakers to premier their films in South Africa through an agreement between The DIFF and Encounters. These co-presentations preclude filmmakers from being compelled to choose one or the other festival to launch their films and afford increased visibility and reach for documentary filmmakers from the continent. The films would then benefit from premier screenings across three cities and shared marketing opportunities.

“We respect the reasons cited by The DIFF to maintain their World Premier status, a requirement by some large film festivals. However, this will have the most impact on our filmmaking community in the African region.

We were unable to mitigate this for the 2024 edition, and we would like to invite our stakeholders to engage with us in the future regarding their film’s premier status.”, said Festival Director, Mandisa Zitha.

Encounters Junior Movie Club Wraps

The Encounters’ success of 2024 so far was the JUNIOR MOVIE CLUB – the Audience Development programme for young people.  Curated and presented by the Encounters Team and the Education department of the District 6 Museum Homecoming Centre.

The programme was set out to allow young people to experience, learn, critic and enter the world of film. The young audience was drawn from the most disadvantaged communities of the Cape Flat’s and Inner City Cape Town. The average age was between 9 and 15 years old.

The films were carefully selected allowing audience to identify with their own situations or to take them on a journey to experience other cultures. One of the highlights was the experience of virtual reality to place the audience in the film, which was supported by Electric South.

The sessions are not just about screening films, but the audience also experienced the themes of the films, were introduced to special guests, life skills, competitions and quizzes and learning about participation through action.

Several programmes are tied in with the District 6 Museum’s ideas of memory, identity and perseverance .

The sessions were held once a month starting at 10am and finishing mid-afternoon. The club members were provided with breakfast and lunch and help with transport.

The Junior Movie Club, a tried and tested film programme centred around carefully curated and facilitated discussions between learners from varied backgrounds, is supported by the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports.

Meet the Encounters Readers

In September 2023, Encounters South African International Documentary Festival announced the opening of applications for individuals interested in becoming film readers for our 2024 edition. We were seeking a dedicated team with a genuine passion for non-fiction cinema. This opportunity was ideal for those with some background in filmmaking, film studies, film criticism, film programming and curation.

We had a very enthusiastic response to the Call, with numerous submissions, with 21 diverse Readers officially selected to participate in the programme. As a Film Reader, they were responsible for viewing and reviewing a selection of films (across feature, mid-length and short categories). Additionally, the Readers participated in monthly meetings with the Encounters team to provide feedback on viewing experiences. Please meet the Encounters Readers team: Amy Rinquest-Barnes, Salym Fayad, Lebohang Claudia Seemane, Vidal Thaver, Tshi Malatji, Tsogo Kupa, Mphatso Nkhoma, Thabiso Mkhize, Amanda Zungu, Luka Hoyte, Thomas Bundi, Nondumiso Masache, Nthabieleng Phora, Robin Scher, Yvonne F. Feresu, Ara Bhabha, Sharlene Versfeld, Nkateko Mabasa, Upasna Maharaj and Sipho Nuse.