Invasion of the Jozi Film Festival 2020

AT THE BIOSCOPE AND IN YOUR LOUNGE!

Team CN&CO has always been a huge fan of the Jozi Film Festival.

“JFF allows you to see what’s happening outside of the mainstream and what wonderful, creative work people are capable of doing in film,” says CN&CO’s Colin Ford. “We’ve been massive supporters of the festival since it started back in 2012 and can’t wait for the next instalment later this month. It’s going to be epic! I mean… check out the poster for starters:”

Now read the official launch press release (and buy a ticket for the virtual event while you’re at it):

The City of Gold’s longest running multi-genre film festival, aka the Jozi Film Festival, has, for eight years, taken place each year over a four-day period at various venues in and around Johannesburg.

This year will be different…

From 17- 20 September, the Jozi Film Festival will be holding its first ever virtual festival alongside limited physical screenings at The Bioscope Independent Cinema where the festival began back in 2012. The Bioscope recently moved from Maboneng to 44 Stanley Ave and it remains Jozi’s only truly independent cinema.

One of the major aims of this year’s festival, alongside the usual mandate of showcasing the talent of 2020, is to support The Bioscope during these challenging times. To that end, one lucky person stands a chance to win a private screening at The Bioscope (Sunday, 20 September at 12pm) – take a group of friends, your partner or the whole family! Follow Jozi Film Festival (@JoziFilmFest) on social media to be in with a chance to win.

For the rest of the country, everyone’s invited to this year’s festival and you don’t even need to get a new outfit or have your hair done.

Over 30 films will be available on demand during the festival weekend (17 – 20 Sept 2020) for one special price of 7 US dollars (approximately R120). Virtual festival-goers will have four days of unlimited viewings of the official selection. To register and pre-order visit https://jozifilmfestival.vhx.tv/.

“While we do not prescribe a theme each year, we do select films that speak to the issues we are facing here in South Africa, and as a global community. 2020 has been unprecedented,” says founder Lisa Henry, “and this is reflected in this year’s selection.

“If you get a chance to watch a few of our films, you’ll notice a thread of the marginalised and disenfranchised; from the immigrants stuck for years in a refugee camp on Samos (Samos: The Faces of Our Border) to the many left behind in the ‘New South Africa’ (A New Country) to Deleted (UK), a short documentary that follows the last five hours of a 59-year-old man before he becomes homeless due to bureaucracy by the Department for Work and Pensions.

“Even the charming animation, Ruby & Roach (SA) about two unwanted, slightly soiled sale toys is a story laden with metaphor about prejudice in society, as well as a statement about the mass manufactured generic things we all desire.

“Having said that, there’s plenty that will entertain, too – amongst others, we have selected the quirky Reptilian from Hungary and the hilarious Blast from Nigeria about a call centre agent with tummy troubles…”

Jozi Film Festival  will also be running a competition to tweet (@JoziFilmFest) or Instagram (jozifilmfest) a photo of you enjoying one of our films at home. Upload your pic with #jozifilminvasion and the name of the film you’re watching and stand a chance to win a R500 Uber Eats voucher to have dinner on Jozi Film Festival!

There will also be cash prizes for the best review of any of the films. Send your review (not more than 500 words) to lisa@jozifilmfestival.co.za by 23 September and the top three reviews will earn their writers R1 000 each.

Jozi Film Festival is also delighted to announce that for the first time ever, Chubb will be awarding the Best Young Director a cash prize of R10 000.

“We are grateful to our sponsors and partners: EasyEquities, Chubb, Discovery Networks, CN&CO, Left Hand Films and Flow Communications,”says Lisa. 

For more information, please contact Lisa Henry, lisa@jozifilmfestival.co.za or Edwin Reichel, edwin@flowsa.com.

Also read: Jozi Film Festival, coming at you live and online in September!