Jozi Summit Film Festival

This report looks at the overview of the exhibition and educational film screening activities held during the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. The Jozi Summit Film Festival (JSFF) was organised as an audio-visual education campaign as part of the cultural component of the WSSD at the request of the Film Resource Unit (FRU).

From the Executive Summary

"For the period under review we can report overall success in the film screenings, workshops and discussions implemented during the Jozi Summit Film Festival. [They] implemented 51 (32 township and 19 tertiary based) well-structured, didactically sound workshops over a period of seven-weeks. Each workshop used film as a medium to communicate development issues with strong focus on concrete solutions to challenges facing impoverished communities. Each of these workshops witnessed participation from 80 plus community leaders active in their respective constituencies.

These township-based workshops were 'focus-group' discussions, with a participation limit of 2-3 leaders per organisation. [They] reached a total of 4876 leaders representing an aggregate of 1623 community based organisations (CBO's) during the screening and workshop activity. [They] also successfully engaged 764 students at tertiary level (with approximately 40 students attending each workshop – 19 tertiary workshops in all).

The township mini-festival activities targeting the general public was organised over 5 consecutive weekends in select townships and was generally well attended with an average of 200-300 persons attending each screening. Mini-festivals were organised in 8 different zones with five shows per mini festival event – we reached approximately 10,000 persons through this activity. Thus, a total audience reach of close to 15,000 persons at township level and 760 students at university level.

In addition to this, [they] conducted screenings at 4 mainstream cinema sites (Sandton City, Village Walk - Sandton, Southgate and Carlton) with 3 additional screening sites set up at NASREC (venue for civil society), SA Breweries Centenary Museum (SAB) and Ubuntu Village. Attendance levels at these sites varied, with some screens boasting greater attendance levels than others. The Sandton-based sites were the weakest - attendance figures of 20-35 persons per screening with a smaller number attended the 9.30am screening slots.

The Carlton and South Gate sites performed significantly better with attendance of 40-60 persons per show. [The organisers] are also pleased with the screening figures at NASREC where civil society attendance peaked at 100-150 delegates per screening. The SA Breweries Screen, which was dedicated to the exhibition of Gender Films, boasted a consistent result of 60 plus persons per screening (4 screenings per day).

Attendance at Ubuntu Village varied from sparse evening attendance to modest attendance of 80-100 plus persons for the afternoon shows. Thus a total reach of 5386 persons attended the urban-based screens. This figure does not reflect village cinema because of an incoherent and diluted support from the Nu Metro Cinemas, Producers, filmmakers and NGOs were invited to run a number of side events e.g. launches, premieres, media conferences and panel discussions during the festival period. The Jozi Summit Film Festival (JSFF) provided a venue, technical support, publicity resource and complimentary market support. Venues for side events included Carlton Centre, NASREC and Village Walk. Attendance for side events varied between 50-70 persons.

[They] are also pleased to report substantive discussion at two well-structured panel discussions designed for filmmakers and the general public - said workshops focused on the relation between 'Film and Sustainable Development', related topics were also addressed. Approximately 52 persons attended the first workshop (Village Walk) and 61 the second (SA Breweries Centenary Museum). Those in attendance comprised mainly filmmakers, donors and students. 12 smaller mini-launches were organized as part of the main programme to enhance the publicity and profile of films dealing with sustainable development issues."

The objectives of the film festival campaign were to:

• Facilitate public participation and stakeholder dialogue;
• Utilise developmentally appropriate film to communicate issues relating to sustainable development;
• Showcase the best of SA, African and films from the Diaspora;
• Stimulate cultural growth industries and promote SMME development;
• Deliver a high quality campaign and set the basis for an annual film initiative for Jozi;
• Facilitate a sustained national social movement against global disparities;

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