FILM FESTIVALS
In 2010, Be Phat Motel founded the South African leg of the shnit WorldWide Shortfilmfestival. For ten years, Be Phat facilitated and programmed the festival, under a dedicated and diverse team.
Over the course of the festival's history in South Africa, it made its mark as one of South Africa’s most prestigious film festivals and the leading Southern African short film festival, run by filmmakers for filmmakers, film-lovers and creative industries, driven by the guiding principles of seeking out and showcasing great South African film work, taking that work to the world through a global network and bringing the best of the world's short film output back to SA every year to educate, inform and inspire.
The festival team programmed more than 300 South African short films over ten years, ranging from fiction to documentary, animation and experimental work, student work and professional work, and produced 15 films through the Realtime 72hour film programme. The festival screened over 2000 international shorts in total, to thousands of audience members in Cape Town, Johannesburg and other parts of the country. It awarded more than 20 Made in South Africa jury and audience awards.
Running the Made in South Africa competition for 8 years, we've seen a wide range of jury members from the highest levels of the South African industry to young, trailblazing filmmakers, including international achievers John Kani, Akin Omotoso, Kagiso Lediga, Gavin Hood, Sharlto Copley and more. The festival has been a stepping stone towards feature film success for filmmakers including Sibs Shongwe-La Mer, Jenna Bass, Nosipho Dumisa, Daryne Joshua, Travis Taute, John Trengrove and many more.
Through our ten years our festival team grew exponentially and took on much of the management of the global festival. It was instrumental in the spread of the festival to Egypt, Argentina, Costa Rica, Russia, Thailand, Hong Kong and the USA, and for short periods of time, to Nigeria and Singapore.
Despite parting ways with the shnit organisation in 2020, we remain committed to our ongoing quest to strengthen the industry at grassroots level, showcase amazing work, put filmmakers together and inspire and grow together in new and exciting festival projects.
Watch this space.
"Your festival inspires all aspiring film technicians and creative artists. It was an honour and a joy to be a small part of your bold efforts to encourage and recognize short film making in South Africa."
- Gavin Hood, South African jury president 2014
