Ten years ago, the Multichoice channel, kykNET, was looking for a fresh and sustainable way to support, encourage and acquire outstanding local content. Their solution was to create a new platform affording South African filmmakers the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. Hence, the Silwerskermfees (*The Silver Screen Festival) was established.
In 2011, the very first event was held in the form of a short film competition. After a successful first year, it expanded into a large-scale film festival. They added full length feature films and documentaries to the bill, and then included non-Afrikaans films and international content.
Subsequently, the festival has produced many films that went on to compete on the international film festival circuit. Many titles have impressed international audiences such as Kanarie and Nommer 37, which made history by becoming the first South African film to have a world premiere at the South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW) in Texas. Silwerskermfees films like Krotoa have been screened all over the world, winning sought-after awards including Best Film at the Harlem International Film Festival and the Platinum Award at the International Movie Awards.
Here’s a look at some of the most outstanding short films to come out of the Silwerskermfees in the last decade:
Vossie Vergas Homself (Vossie Poisons Himself)
A depressed man drives out into an empty field and prepares himself to end it all. Before he has the opportunity, a stranger intervenes to convince him to fight another day. Despite being from vastly different backgrounds, they realize just how much their lives have taken similar turns and through their emotional, and at times hilarious interactions, their realities become intertwined.
This acclaimed dark comedy not only walked away with several awards at the 2017 edition of the Silwerskermfees, but also made waves on the international circuit, winning Best Male Short Film at the Amsterdam LGBTQ Film Festival Roze Filmdagen.
In a town filled with crooks, there’s only one cowboy. These crooks take Dan’s cattle while a beautiful young woman distracts him. However, all this is only a dream world constructed by the cowboy himself. The crooks are car thieves, Dan is a car guard, the cattle are the cars and the girl works at his favourite drinking hole. Cowboy Dan then decides to take on the very real criminal underworld so that justice can be served.
This unique and surreal comedy received a standing ovation at the 2018 Silwerskermfees along with awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Editing. The editor of the film, Alex La Cock, later received the award for Best Editor at the Eldorado Film Festival in Arkansas for a film called O-Puncha.
The small town of Kromkieriefontein is a strange place where everyone is crooked. When the mayor of the town ordains an unpopular rule accepted by all the inhabitants of the town, one woman remains unchanged and refuses to follow the status quo. A group of young students make it their mission to discover why she is unlike the rest of them. When the truth is exposed, their lives change forever.
The animated film screened at Silwerskermfees 2018 and left audiences mesmerized with its standout visuals. Kromkieriefontein was one of the first animated films to be released at the festival and is based on the highly popular children’s book, Kop in die wolke in Kromkieriefontein. (*Head in the clouds in Kromkieriefontein). The film also received the award for Best Script: Short Film 11 Minutes.
Nommer 37 (Number 37)
A man who recently became a paraplegic plummets into financial debt and subsequently falls victim to threats by a sadistic loan shark. He decides to initiate a blackmail scheme after he witnesses a gangster comitting a murder. However, he soon realises that he might have messed with the wrong person.
Nommer 37 gained great success by winning the SAFTA for Best Short Film in 2018. Nosipho Dumisa went on to produce a full length feature film of the same name that screened at SXSW as well as NIFFF in 2018.
In a post-apocalyptic world, there has been no rainfall in 4380 days. A census worker travels to a desolate desert town on a mission to gather as much data and information as she possibly can as to the cause. When threats regarding her presence begin to take a serious turn, she realises
that the place is much more strange and dangerous than she could ever have expected.
Explore our catalogue of Silwerskermfees films here:
