Filmit Films. This year was not without its challenges. With year two of the pandemic having an immense impact on cultural activities at schools, the launch of the innovative Filmit competition for high schools was a ray of light that sparked the imagination of learners across the country, even as far as Namibia. Filmit was brought to you by Atterbury and WeBuyCars.
Paul Roos Gymnasium, Atterbury and WeBuyCars launched Filmit in March 2021 – a competition aimed at challenging high school learners to pitch their short film ideas to a panel of independent judges. This resulted in seventy entries from 35 schools across the country and from Namibia. Of these seventy pitches, twenty were approved. These school groups moved to the final round of the competition. The finalists received mentorship by way of a pre-recorded educational video and online mentoring sessions with five actors from the TV series Suidooster. The educational video was made available via YouTube and included advice snippets by industry specialists in the fields of writing, directing and the producing of films. Experts in cinematography, sound engineering, acting and editing also contributed to this movie.
By October, nineteen of the twenty finalists submitted their works of art. All films were uploaded to Paul Roos Gymnasium’s YouTube channel where the public is free to view and enjoy the movies. Public voting was allowed between 25 October and 5 November. The public vote will count 10% of the final vote.
The external panel of judges consist of members from Gambit Films, Infinity Films, Nagvlug Films, the Red and Yellow Creative School of Business, Annie’s Wardrobe and composer Braam du Toit. The nominees in the categories below will be announced on Monday 15 November by 5pm.
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Music / soundtrack
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editor
- Best Special Effects / Creativity on Set
- Best Costume Design / Wardrobe
- Best Actress
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Graphic Design
Twelve category winners will receive a cash prize from ClemenGold. The Best Graphic Design winner will win an online short course in Graphic Design, courtesy of Red and Yellow Creative School of Business. All category winners will receive mentorship by industry specialists. These specialists include film companies Gambit Films, Infinity Films, Nagvlug Films and Gravitron. Other specialists are Quanita Adams, Nosipho Dumisa-Ngoasheng, Braam du Toit, Fahema Hendricks, Eva du Preez, Nicole Fortuin, Neil Sandilands, Erica Wessels and Deon Lotz.
The awards ceremony will be held at Atlantic Studios, courtesy of Suidooster and Homebrew Films. The gala event and awards ceremony will be held on Friday 10 December when the winners will be announced and the successful first year of Filmit will be celebrated with all finalists, winners, judges, mentors and members of the Suidooster cast.