Why LIFF?
InniBos is a cultural festival hosted annually in Nelspruit the Lowveld
region of South Africa. Photonetwork, approached InniBos in 2005 to propose the hosting of
a film festival during InniBos, which gave birth to the 1st InniBos International Short
Film Festival in 2006.
2008 will be the third year of our film festival, which is now known as
the Lowveld International Film Festival, to distinguish it from the InniBos Cultural
Festival held at the same time of the year..
Changing the name to the Lowveld International Film Festival (LIFF)
allows the film festival to have its own identity, which we, as well as the organisers of
InniBos, felt the right thing to do.
Festival director:
Nico Conradie
Photonetwork
Tel : +27 82 600 5142
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Note: This festival used to be InniBos International
Short Film Festival.
Previous screening : 26 - 30 August 2008
Photonetwork Studio, Nelspruit
Press release: 3 September 2008
Nelspruit. The 3rd Lowveld International Film
Festival (LIFF), hosted by Photonetwork Studio in Nelspruit, came to conclusion last week.
LIFF is sponsored by the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation and has as
objective to draw the attention of local and international filmmakers to the natural
beauty and rich cultural heritage that the Province has to offer. “We know that we have many stories to tell
about our Province and the heritage of our people – and film is indeed a strong and
entertaining medium for doing so,” says Dr Mafika Lubisi, head of Arts and Culture in
Mpumalanga. “Through the knowledge and
awareness created through initiatives such as LIFF, we hope that more and more filmmakers
will choose Mpumalanga as destination for their next film. This will have a direct and
indirect benefit on cultural awareness in general, tourism, and stimulation of the local
economy.”
During the award announcement
ceremony held today, Festival Director and founder of LIFF, Nico Conradie of Photonetwork,
acknowledged the quality of especially South African productions contributed to LIFF this
year. “We have in the past been spoiled by productions such as Oscar winner Elalini
and the much acclaimed Karate Kallie, but it is pleasing to see new African
language productions such as Muti, The Cure and Jacaranda Sunrise coming to
the fore,” he said. “We also have to acknowledge the developmental role of
institutions such as the SABC – who co-produced Jacaranda Sunrise, and
‘breeding grounds’ such as AFDA, TUT (Tswane University of Technology) and
CityVarsity in Cape Town.”
The 2008 LIFF awards went to Hypo
from Japan for the best International Short Film, Crystals and Clowns as best
local production in English, and Jacaranda Sunrise as
best non-English local production.
Best
International Short Film: HYPO
Produced by Midori Takahashi
Japan
Synopsis: An
unemployed rascal, Nakano, accidentally discovers water-dechlorinating chemical closely
resembling methamphetamine (aka SPEED), and with Hamura, his sidekick, starts advertising
the pseudo-drug online.
Their backstreet business rolls. No shifty buyers will dare sue the
swindlers. And speed-thirsty Akabane buys a whole lot, not to be an easy dupe…
(Action comedy.)
Best Local Short Film in English:
Crystals and Clowns
Produced by Natasha Rademan –
AFDA.
Director: Simon Tuit.
Joe, a lonely drifter ends up working
at a circus where he meets Anoushka, the circus beauty. Personal pride is put aside in
order to explore an unsuspected relationship. (Fantasy, experimental.)
Best Local Short
Film non-English: Jacaranda Sunrise
Writer, Producer and Director: Beverley
Gurwich
(A co-production by SABC1 and AFDA).
A delightful insight into
the lives of homeless hobo’s on the pavements of the city. Proof that one should
never stop dreaming of achieving more in life! (Drama.)
Other films selected for screening were:
Amambuka we strike
Uhambo
The Cure
Kammakastig Land
Canaan
The Shadow Boy
Muti
D’Entre les Morts
Wiambu
The Owl House |
