With well over 250 films submitted for this year's festival, the selection process is complete, judging underway and it aims to showcase the country's best talent alongside some exceptional international films.
"Great films really have no geographical boundaries and speak to a global audience so we took the decision to include international entries alongside South African films," says Lisa Henry, festival founder and organiser. "We have therefore created new award categories for the international entries but remain committed to showcasing and promoting local talent first and foremost, our opening night film being the South African premiere of iNumber Number. We also feel that this new addition will offer inspiration to our filmmakers and that the films that have been selected will engage a Jozi audience."
Jozi Film Festival has screened foreign films before but in the past, they had to be linked to Johannesburg somehow. "We have done away with that criteria and entries have been submitted from around the globe from countries such as Kenya, the Philippines, Canada, Germany, the US, Australia and India and well over 100 films from South Africa itself."
The Bioscope Independent Cinema in Maboneng Precinct will again be the cornerstone of the festival and will host the opening night film on Friday, February 21. Other venues are Cine Centre in Killarney and on Sunday 23 February, the festival will be holding screenings at The Rand Club.
JFF2014 will also be offering more workshops and seminars from industry leaders to be held on Saturday 22 February at Goethe On Main. We are also running a 6-second Vine Mobile Competition - open to all and based around the theme 'Unexpected'. Anyone can upload his or her masterpiece to Twitter using #jff2014 @carelnolte.
Jozi Film Festival enters 2014 with a new and improved logo and new website, thanks to designer George Xafis for creation and to Ada Deacon for the website. For more information, go to www.jozifilmfestival.co.za.
