Encounters

DITSI CAROLINO
Jhb Sat 21 July 9.30am–12pm CT Sun 22 July 2pm–4.30pm
Carolino, an award winning filmmaker, will share her experiences as an independent filmmaker in another developing world country, talking about access and ethics – where to draw the line, what and who to expose when focussing on the problems in her country – and of finding funds and an audience for her films.
Her film Life on the Tracks screens at the Festival.

JIHAN EL-TAHRI
Jhb Sun 15 July 2pm–4.30pm CT Sun 22 July 9.30am–12pm
Emmy nominated El-Tahri will talk about the challenges African filmmakers face in making heritage films that require the use of archive material; and how to find creative and cost effective solutions to the problem of expensive archives housed outside of the African Continent.
Her film Cuba: An African Odyssey screens at the Festival.

EVA MULVAD
Jhb Thu 19 July 6.30pm–9pm CT Sat 21 July 9.30am–12pm
Mulvad, winner of the IDFA 2007 Silver Wolf Award, will talk about the differences
of filming at ‘home’ and ‘abroad’ and of the challenges when faced with a difference in culture, language and religion and cultural sensitivity, what to put in and what to leave out.
Her film Enemies of Happiness screens at the Festival.

LEONARD RETEL HELMRICH
Jhb Sat 14 July 2pm–4.30pm CT Sat 21 July 2pm–4.30pm
For many years Retel Helmrich, an award winning filmmaker, has been documenting ordinary Indonesian people’s stories, reflecting on their heritage, culture and politics. Retel Helmrich will talk about the advantages and challenges of playing the dual role of director and cinematographer. Famed for his ‘single shot’ takes, he will reflect on creative decisions made ‘in camera’.
His film Promised Paradise, screens at the Festival.

THOMAS WALLNER
Jhb Sat 21 July 2pm–4.30pm CT Tuesday 24 July 6.30pm–9pm
Documentary films are not just the result of filming an ‘interesting’ subject. Successful documentaries are carefully crafted pieces of non-fiction storytelling. Using examples of films he has written as a case study, Emmy Award winning writer / producer Wallner will share how to conceive ideas, structure stories, conduct research and interviews, write narration, and how to adapt the script to the resulting footage.
Beethoven’s Hair, which Wallner wrote, screens at the Festival.