2022 marks the second year of the Filmit Festival. This festival is a film competition for high school learners from Southern Africa, and is hosted by Paul Roos Gymnasium. In 2021 learners were invited to submit short films under 15 minutes. In 2022 creative learners had the option to submit music videos, documentaries, short films, animation and ‘other’ film ideas that do not fit into one of the previously mentioned categories. There were 6 music video entries, 6 documentary entries, 2 ‘other’ entries and 14 short film entries. The schools who made it to the final round are:

1. Waterkloof High School, Pretoria
2. Reddam House Durbanville
3. Kylemore High School, Kylemore
4. Jan van Riebeeck High School, Cape Town
5. Worcester Gymnasium, Worcester
6. Hermanus High School, Hermanus
7. Potchefstroom Girls’ High, Potchefstroom
8. Paarl Boys’ High, Paarl
9. Garsfontein High School, Pretoria
10. Pearson High School, Gqeberha
11. Alexander Road High School, Gqeberha
12. International School of Cape Town, Cape Town
13. Dainfern College, Johannesburg
14. Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, Stellenbosch
15. Charlie Hofmeyer High School, Ceres
16. Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Rondebosch
17. Durban High School, Durban
18. New Orleans Secondary School, Paarl
19. Theo Geldenhuys (a homeschooler)

Learners were invited to attend a series of Shop Talk Sessions hosted at Paul Roos Gymnasium during the month of May. Here industry specialists offered their time and expertise to advise learners on various topics such as screenwriting, producing, directing, acting, set and wardrobe design, editing, making music videos, documentaries, animation and composing for film.

The following Industry specialists all dedicated their time to share their knowledge and experience with aspiring young screenwriters, directors, actors, composers, cinematographers and more:

• Lynne-Anne Vosloo (Moonlighting Films)
• René and Corné van Rooyen (Red Letter Day Pictures)
• Nathani Lüneburg (animator)
• Uga Carlini
• Izette Mostert
• Nina Swart
• Cinematographers Jorrie van der Walt and Johannes Pieter Nel
• Editors Eva du Preez and Leon Visser
• Suidooster actors Esther von Waltsleben and Dean Smith
• Composers Braam du Toit and Kyle Shepherd.

Learners who could not attend the Shop Talk Sessions had the opportunity to watch these sessions online on the Filmit Festival YouTube Channel. The quality of the films entered in 2022 has improved immensely due to access to free online and in-person mentorship.

Over the last couple of weeks judges have been viewing and taking notes on the various music videos, documentaries, animation films, short films and other interesting submissions. Filmit Festival reached out to the following specialists to act as the judicial panel:

1. Johannes Pieter Nel | Cinematographer, director, editor
2. Jorrie van der Walt | Cinematographer, director
3. Izette Mostert | Producer, Documentary maker, Editor
4. Niel van Deventer | Producer
5. The Animation School | Best Animation School in SA
6. Nathani Lüneburg, UNISA | Professional Animator and Media Lecturer
7. Amelda Brand, University of Stellenbosch, Drama Department
8. Esther von Waltsleben | Actress, writer, director, Suidooster
9. Irvine van der Merwe | Actor, Suidooster
10. Deon Lotz | Actor
11. Retief Scholtz | Screenwriter and head writer at Suidooster
12. Leon Visser | Editor
13. Braam du Toit | Compser
14. Melissa van der Spuy | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Singer-Songwriter
15. Schalk Joubert | Producer, Composer, Musician
16. Elandré | Singer-Songwriter, Music Video Director
17. Christian Joubert | Set designer
18. Marné van der Burgh | Wardrobe designer
19. Louiza Calore | Makeup and hair stylist for film
20. Haidee Muller | Radio personality and radio producer
21. Henriëtte de Villiers | AFDA

The nominees in each category are (in alphabetical order):

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN

• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• Hot mess, International School of Cape Town
• Karen Kronicles, High School for Girls Potchefstroom

BEST WARDROBE

• Liyolatha, Alexander Road High School
• Stukkies, New Orleans Secondary School
• The Stitch, High School for Girls Potchefstroom

BEST SET DESIGN

• Colours of the afterlife, Waterkloof High School
• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

• Burn, Jan van Riebeeck High School
• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• Watched, Rondebosch Boys’ High

BEST MUSIC EDITOR

• Descent, Dainfern College
• I am cowboy, Paarl Boys’ High
• Forgo, Curro Durbanville

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

• Liyolatha, Alexander Road High School
• Watched, Rondebosch Boys’ High

BEST ORIGINAL SONG IN FILM

• Hot Mess, International School of Cape Town
• Seeing Hope, Worcester Gymnasium
• Stukkies, New Orleans Secondary School

BEST ORIGINAL SONG IN A MUSIC VIDEO

• Life will always, Worcester High School
• Love at first sight, Kylemore High School
• Milkee Way, Reddam Durbanville

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School
• Watched, Rondebosch Boys’ High

BEST EDITOR

• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School
• The repetition we follow, Durban High School

BEST SCREENWRITER

• Descent, Dainfern College
• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School

BEST DIRECTOR

• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• Liyolatha, Alexander Road High School
• Watched, Rondebosch Boys’ High

BEST ACTOR

• Aaron Ahlfeldt, The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School
• Liyema Levi Ntini, Liyolatha, Alexander Road High School
• Louis Botes, Burn, Jan van Riebeeck High School

BEST ACTRESS

• Claire Fisher, Descent, Dainfern College
• Mila Kotze, Writing on your wrist, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof
• Thandolwam Tom, The Stitch, High School for Girls Potcefstroom

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Jordan Cridland, Hit & Mis, Paul Roos Gymnasium
• Joshua Beckley, Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• Matt Fiuza, Watched, Rondebosch Boys’ High

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Amy van Wyk, The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School
• Anke Theron, Writing on your wrist, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof
• Mila Kotze, Writing on your wrist, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof

BEST ENSEMBLE

• Fargo, Curro Durbanville
• Hit & Mis, Paul Roos Gymnasium
• The Stitch, High School for Girls Potchefstroom

BEST ANIMATION

• I wish I never get over you, Jan van Riebeeck High School
• Waaihoek, Garsfontein High School

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

• I wish I never get over you, Jan van Riebeeck High School
• Life will always, Worcester Gymnasium
• Love at first sight, Kylemore High School

OTHER

• The antithesis, Dainfern College
• Start your day in presence, Homeschooler

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• Awé: an insight into language in SA, Paul Roos Gymnasium
• Start your day in presence, Homeschooler
• Seeing hope, Worcester Gymnasium

BEST FILM NOMINEES:

• Descent, Dainfern College
• Forgo, Curro Durbanville
• The Giallo Doughnut Case, Pearson High School

The Filmit Festival is proud of its association with TV programme Suidooster. Suidooster is committed to making their talented employees available to our young creatives. In addition – Suidooster is also creating a create opportunity for young actors. In 2021, four winners had the experience of making cameo appearances in one of Suidooster’s episodes, of which one has received numerous callbacks and can look forward to a bright future in acting on TV. This year, winners in the Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress will enjoy this same opportunity.

ClemenGold has been acting as the official cash prize sponsor for Filmit Festival since 2021. The Filmit Festival is excited about this association looking forward. A third party has joined the Filmit Festival in 2022 – with great prospects of taking the Filmit Festival to a next level in 2023.  The Filmit Festival is taking hands with Suidoosterfees. This partnership and its benefits for all participants will be announced at the Filmit Festival 2022 Awards Ceremony on Friday, 4 November, which will take place at the Homecoming (old Fugard Theatre) in Cape Town at 18h30. Participants, nominees, supporters, sponsors and the media are invited to attend this special event wherein the winners will be announced. For more information contact Luna Paige at media@paulroos.co.za

The Filmit YouTube Channel: Click here

The Filmit Festival Web Page: Click here