The NEWF2019 Congress (the annual Nature,
Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers Congress) will take place at the Suncoast
Barnyard Theatre between July 14 and 17, 2019, as part of the winter film focus
in Durban.
NEWF is the only platform in Africa aimed
at bringing together nature, environment and wildlife filmmakers, scientists,
conservationists and broadcast media to engage, contribute and connect whilst
creating a path to conservation through film by amplifying the challenges faced
by the natural world and driving solutions through impactful creative science
communication. The theme for NEWF2019 is Partnerships.
Through an integrated slate of programmes
NEWF is inspiring and incubating emerging science, nature, wildlife and
conservation storytellers in digital media in Africa. Dedicated to discovering
the next generation of filmmakers, the N.E.W Pitch Competition will once again
be held at NEWF2019 where four young filmmakers will each win R50,000 to
produce a short film.
This year NEWF will launch a new project,
The Narrator LIVE competition, presented by the National Geographic Society,
aimed at adding diverse voices to the narration of nature and wildlife
documentaries.
Highlights at NEWF2019 include an opening
night screening of Our Oceans – A Journey
of Discovery, which profiles marine expeditions aboard the conservation
research vessel, Angra Pequena. Raising awareness and knowledge about South
Africa’s spectacular marine ecosystems, charismatic animals and the learning
journey of the scientists and ocean-stewards on board the vessel, as well as
offering insights from communities along South Africa’s coastline. This film
produced by WILDOCEANS and Off The Fence
was born and conceptualised at NEWF2017.
Other screenings include Our Gorongosa, a film that celebrates
the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and their partnerships with the
surrounding community. The Awards night will also feature the four films by the
2018 N.E.W Pitch winners.
NEWF2019 will also celebrate Africa’s
connections with India, presenting a delegation of four powerful female Indian
filmmakers who are game-changers in their respective fields; Akanksha Sood,
Doel Trivedy, Gunjan Menon and Malaika Vaz.
There is also an incredible line-up of
speakers in attendance; Ellen Windemuth, CEO of Off The Fence; Andrew Solomon
from Austrian broadcaster, ORF; Jannat Gargi from the internationally acclaimed
Vulcan Productions; Kaitlin Yarnall, Vice president of Storytelling at National
Geographic Society; James Manfull, Executive Producer at Love Nature; Dominique
Gonçalves an Elephant Ecologist at Gorongosa National Park; Thandiwe Mweetwa
from the Zambian Carnivore Programme; Lisa Samford, Executive director of
Jackson Wild; Paula Kahumbu, CEO of Wildlife Direct and African National
Geographic Explorers, Jahawi Bertolli, Fredrick Mugira and Maurice Oniangó,
each making a difference in their fields of work. South African companies
participating are; Safari LIVE, Earth Touch, NFVF and SABC and conservation
organisations; WildTrust; SanParks, represented by Zoliswa Nhleko and a PhD
candidate in the Department of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town,
Kolisa Sinyanya,.
Exciting sessions include Game of Festivals
- exploring and unpacking the festival circuit and Using your mobile phone to
shoot everyday conservation stories - how to use the concepts of cinematography
if you don’t have access to a camera. There will also be Case Studies on the
SAFTA 13 Winner, Incredible Bats, the
multi-award winning film STROOP – Journey
into the Rhino Horn War and Wildlife
Warriors a television series in Kenya which celebrates local conservation
heroes. WildEarth and Safari LIVE
produce a session on creating online content and understanding alternative
revenue streams for wildlife content creators.
Included at NEWF2019 will be a spotlight on
Virtual Reality, included in the programme as well a daily VR experience, with
a VR cinema presented by Habitat XR and the NFVF.
NEWF has partnered with Tsogo Sun, Suncoast
Hotel & Towers with special accommodation rates available to all NEWF2019
delegates.
NEWF2019 is funded and supported by the
National Film and Video Foundation, Ethekwini Municipality Parks &
Recreation, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, National Geographic Society,
KwaZulu Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs,
WildTrust and Grindrod Bank.
Accreditation for NEWF2019 only costs a
total of R700 for the four day congress, inclusive of congress sessions,
networking breakfasts, daily lunches and evening events, film screenings,
awards and cocktails.
To register for NEWF2019, visit www.newf.co.za
For queries contact registration@newf.co.za
or WhatsApp/Call +27-64 294 0669.
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