Shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival Returning to its Cape Town Playground

Catch the best bite-sized masterpieces of 2016 and 2017, from all around the globe, at this mini-movie marathon

The acclaimed Shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival continues its cinematic domination and is returning for its eighth year in South Africa. The irreverent, quirky and intelligent fest – which happens to be the world’s biggest short film competition – traverses eight international cities simultaneously, including our beloved Mother City. From Wednesday, 18 to Sunday, 22 October 2017, this one week fest of unabashed movie indulgence will treat you to screenings happening at four venues around Cape Town, as well as plenty of cool events in between.

Since its conception in Bern, Switzerland in 2003, The festival has grown considerably and attracts the veritable who’s who of the movie biz.

The Labia Theatre will be the central screening venue this year and will be hosting the opening night screening. The newly renovated, charmingly vintage, movie house is the place to go for independent film in the Mother City. The Labia is the city’s longest running Shnit partner.

Along with screenings, there will be lots of other compelling events running throughout the festival at various venues around the city. The film appreciation affair will conclude with an awards ceremony at the iKhaya Lodge in Dunkley Square on Sunday, 22 October 2017. Here, noteworthy film makers in various categories will receive the ever-coveted Flaming Faun trophies.

Not to be compared with feature-length movies, short films have a limited time in which to get their message across. This kind of condensed work often uses the smallest details and subtlest dialogue to convey grand meaning. Films that will feature in this festival do so beautifully.

Shnit was initially started with the sole purpose of promoting short filmmaking as an independent art form. Since then, the affair has expanded hugely, reaching international audiences of more than 30,000 annually. The Cape Town event is made possible by the support of the National Film and Video Foundation, the Cape Film Commission and the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

SHNIT TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON AT THE 2017 SHNIT WORLDWIDE SHORTFILMFESTIVAL

Opening night: Like a red carpet premiere, this is going to be one star studded affair, kicking off the festival with the first of the screenings. Tickets to the opening night cost R70/p and can be found online at Webtickets.co.za.

Additional venues: Along with the Labia Theatre, in Gardens, and Pulp Cinema in Stellenbosch, new venues set to host screenings this year are the Alexander Bar in the CBD and Bertha Movie House in Khayelitsha. The new, inclusive venues means more Capetonians can access the fest.

Shnit Talks: This year, Shnit introduces this new tidbit to the festival. There will be two film masterclasses called Shnit Talks Happenings. All festival goers can participate in these and have the opportunity to meet masters of the movie industry and pro filmmakers, as well as take part in conversation in a cool creative environment.
There will be two talks on separate days, both from 12pm to 2pm at the Labia Theatre:

• Saturday, 21 October: VIRTUAL REALITY TALK
  Finnish Film Director Olli Tähtinen will lead this session on computer simulations and illusions.
• Sunday, 22 October: SHORT FILM PROCESS
  Director of local short film Apocalypse Now Now will give a breakdown of the film’s production process and talk about how short film can be used as marketing for future projects.

Themed screening nights at the Alexander Bar: Get your fill of animated shorts on one evening; and feast on lustful films that are short and sexy on another. Both evenings start at 9pm. The shows are 80 minutes each broken up by an interval.
Shnit Animates: Mini-movies made by filmmakers from across the globe take visual storytelling into colourful 3D form, where anything is possible.
Peeping Shnit: This naughty night for grown-ups presents a selection of sensuous short flicks from around the world. All are sure to whet certain appetites and arouse those human yearnings.
You can visit Alexanderbar.co.za to book tickets for each screening.

Sh***y Shnit Film Night Vol 3 at the Alexander Bar: “You’re tearing me apart Lisa!”. Remind you of anything? Recently, there has been a fascination with movies so terrible you can’t not love them. Some, like the infamous The Room, have even become unlikely cult classics. Alexander Bar knows this and invites all filmmakers, from the wannabes to the movie making whizzes, to submit their own awful films in a competition of cruddy cinema. Think cringe-worthy acting, dodgy editing and dreadful special effects. Think corny soundtracks and ridiculous plotlines. On Saturday, 21 October 2017, audiences will be treated to a screening of those wonderfully awful cinema submissions. There will be prizes for first, second and third place winners of the Sh***ty Film competition.

The deadline for submitting entries is Saturday, 14 October 2017. You can submit your lousy piece to the competition on the event page. So go on, do your worst.

The ‘Made in SA’ Screenings: Make sure you don’t miss out on this series of screenings of the best of our locally produced shorts, in the Made in SA category. These films are in-competition. On the final night of the festival, one film will receive the South African jury’s top honour – the Made in SA award.

The ‘Kaapse Bobotie’ Screenings: This category also includes lekker homegrown films that are not in the running for awards. With various screenings happening, you’ll regret not attending one and getting a taste of the best out-of-competition local productions.

International Competition Screenings: See top-quality shorts from all around the world. These have each been chosen to compete for the global shnit award.

Closing Night Ceremony: This awards night sees winners awarded the prestigious Flaming Faun trophies. Bid Shnit farewell until next year at this ceremony which will be held at the iKhaya Lodge on Dunkley Square in the city. A limited amount of tickets will be released for purchasing closer to the date. If you’re keen as a bean to attend, keep an eye out on the shnit website and Facebook page.

TICKETS FOR THE 2017 SHNIT INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Free screenings: Films from the International Competition, Made in South Africa and Kaapse Bobotie blocks will be showing for free at the Bertha Movie House in Khayelitsha and the Pulp Cinema in Stellenbosch. These films will be running throughout the festival week.
Priced screenings: The Alexander Bar screenings can be bought for R50/p online and for R60/p at the door. You can go on Alexander.co.za to purchase online tickets.
Tickets for Labia Theatre screenings will cost R50/p and will be available for booking online from Webtickets.
Shnit Talks: Tickets to these talks are R50/p and will be available from Webtickets.
Opening Night: Tickets cost R70/p and will also be available online from Webtickets.

All tickets are available from Webtickets.co.za.

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Get acquainted with the festival’s central venue, the Labia Theatre. You also might be wondering about this place where all the quirky events are going down – what is the Alexander Bar all about?

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