The DFA ( Documantary Filmmakers Association) is currently holding a “Short documentary Competition”

They are looking for candidates to make a 3 minute mini-documentary about their enviroment. Although it hasn’t been announced, there are prizes in the pipeline.  The 8 best films will be selected & showed at the Waterfront Nu Metro as part of the Encounters documentary festival. The documentaries will be screened before the main features. The 11th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival will be held in Cape Town from 2 – 19 July.

Below is the brief that has been given. So if you have an idea that will wow, why not send in your documentary

“My Town”

…The town we come from/live in shapes who we are. We occupy its space, it occupies us…

For this competition, filmmakers, aspirant filmmakers, artists and students are invited to make a short 3 minute documentary titled “My Town”. Interpret this brief any which way you like. Revisit your birthplace, explore your suburb or township. Tell ‘your’ story!

Films will be produced at own expense. The films produced remain the property of the filmmakers. The Documentary Filmmakers Association will endeavor to negotiate broadcasting and festival screenings with the filmmakers’ permission. Selected filmmakers will benefit from on-screen credits and general media exposure through the project. All filmmakers who enter a film will receive a year’s free membership to the DFA (July 2009 – June 2010).

Delivery and Deadline:

Deliver 3 x copies of your film on DVD (DVD’s must be high quality and viewable on home dvd players)

Films must be delivered by 14:00 on 12 June 2009

Deliver to:

7 Glynnville Terrace

Gardens, Cape Town, 8001

For Attention: THERESA MEYER

All films delivered must be accompanied with a signed MY TOWN competition entry form, which can be downloaded from our website

For more information, please mail Miki Redelinghuys on chair@docfilmsa.com

So there you go. 3 minutes isn’t that long. I know there are many interesting places around South Africa with lots of history & stories to tell. If you have a great idea, but don’t feel you  have the technical knowhow to shoot the documentary, try contacting some of the students at AFDA, City Varsity or CPUT to help out. If you know you believe you have the expertise and you are looking for the right equipment, why not try one of the following: Visual Impact Magus, Visual Impact Sales or HDHUB

Go on guys…Break a lense!