#BRAVEFUTURES: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (2019)
In early December, OTV - Open Television took over J&B Hive in Johannesburg to screen six new short-films created by over two dozen South African artists for the first-ever, #BraveFuturesFilmRace. Borrowing elements from traditional 48-hour film competitions found around the world, #BraveFutures reimagined the concept by challenging creatives, storytellers and filmmakers of all skill levels to create short-films exploring authentic themes that relate to their intersectional experiences and identities. Entering into their fourth year of programming and community building, OTV believes it is imperative that artists are able to dream and build #BraveFutures that are unapologetically QUEER / TRANS / FEMME /NON-BINARY / DISABLED / FAT / WOKE / BROKE / LIVING.
The competition started with one simple question: How do we create #bravefutures? Over the course of two days, the six competing teams had a chance to screen the films they conceived, produced, edited and submitted the previous weekend. All voting was conducted by the viewers that attended each screening via their phones.
Unlike traditional film races that place an emphasis on technicality and production value (i.e. cinematography, acting, original score, etc.) OTV chose to focus on diverse awards that created more opportunities for inclusion, inspiration and impact: Best Use of Sound, Most Intersectional, Best Storytelling, Most Thought-Provoking, Best Use of Sound, Most Intersectional and more.
In addition to these, two of the awards featured premiere prizes: 1). OTV Staff Pick: The Time is Now Award featured a R20,000 production/distribution deal with the web platform and Executive Production of a pilot concept by OTV’s newest ED, Elijah McKinnon and 2). Best In Show: Most Brave Film Award featured a R10,000 cash prize and tickets to Afropunk Johannesburg 2019. All six of the short-films will be released on OTV in early 2020. For a full list of awardees and honorable mentions see below or visit bravefuturesfilmrace.com
2019 #BRAVEFUTURES FILM SELECTIONS (JOHANNESBURG)
CORREC (3:44)
Team Name: The Cuteness (Kago Saul, Thabang Moabelo and Lumko Rakgoadi)
Film Synopsis: An exploration of a visibly feminine queer boy whose existence is threatened by men, both queer and not , both closeted and open. he endures life with its tribulations and as they come but everything changes when a man, a stranger , a friend , a brother or a lover chooses to attempt to violate him back into heterosexuality.
Awards: The Time is Now Award (Honorable Mention), Best in Show (Honorable Mention) Most Intersectional Film (Honorable Mentions), Best Use of Sound (Honorable Mention), Best Creative Direction (Honorable Mention), Most Unapologetic Film Award (Winner), Most Innovative Film Award (Winner)
FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A MASTER KEY (4:01)
Team Name: Kamvehle (Brandon Ntuli)
Film Synopsis: Exploring asexuality through lived experience.
Awards: Most Thought-Provoking Film Award (Honorable Mention)
Film Name:: ON PHOTOGRAPHY (3:30)
Team Name: Mulberry Sunshine (Mela Khumalo and Lesole, Tauatswala)
Film Synopsis: An experimental film looking at the history of photography and the personal archive.
Awards: Best Use of #BraveFutures Elements (Honorable Mention), Best Storytelling Award (Winner)
NANOBOT MEET SIREN (6:48)
Team Name: SEI SIREN PRESENTS (Motsei Rangata, Janice Phiri, Amber Welkom, Chipego Mwiinga, Naledi de Wee, MWANJI THE WNDRKD)
Film Synopsis: A NANOBOT discovers a siren and introduces her their world and vice versa. New worlds.
Awards: Best Storytelling Award (Honorable Mention), Most Innovative Film Award (Honorable Mention), Most Intersectional Film Award (Winner), Best Creative Direction Award (Winner)
SABLE CHAMELEON (6:29)
Team Name: LIGHT RAYS (Nono Mncwango, Shine Madela, Dimpho Ndlovu, Zimi Mncwango, Ntombi Mthembu, Lukhanya Ndlovu, Nqobile Ndwandwe)
Film Synopsis: Having drifted away from her boyfriend of six months, Lotus boils it down to the fact that she's longing for something more - but does not know what exactly. Lotus shows her liberation through challenging the stereotypes and we see her 'ascend' from a space where she was once dazed and confused to where she's carefree.
Awards: Most Intersectional Film Award (Honorable Mention), OTV Staff Pick: The time is now Award (Winner), Best Use of #BraveFutures Elements Award (Winner), Best Use of Sound Award (Winner),
SAFE OUTSIDE (4:01)
Team Name: RETRO GAZE (Phiola Tesi Kayumba, Monthati Masebe, Khanyisile Peterson, Keza Cynthia R William, Neo R Paulus)
Film Synopsis: A 24 year old has internalised the shame imposed on her about her sexuality. A 15 year old is settled in her expression of love. The moment in which they collide reveals an ascension. Where do lost souls see their reflections?
Awards: OTV Staff Pick: The Time is Now Award (Honorable Mention), Most Unapologetic Film Award (Honorable Mention), Best in Show: Most Brave Film Award (Winner), Most Thought-Provoking (Winner)
2019 AWARDEES & HONORARIES (JOHANNESBURG)
OTV STAFF PICK: THE TIME IS NOW AWARD
WINNER: SABLE CHAMELEON (BY LIGHT RAYS)
HONORABLE MENTION: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS), SAFE OUTSIDE (BY RETRO GAZE)
MOST THOUGHT-PROVOKING AWARD
WINNER: SAFE OUTSIDE (BY RETRO GAZE)
HONORABLE MENTION: FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A MASTER KEY (BY KAMVEHLE)
BEST USE OF #BRAVEFUTURES ELEMENTS
WINNER: SABLE CHAMELEON (BY LIGHT RAYS)
HONORABLE MENTION: ON PHOTOGRAPHY (BY MULBERRY SUNSHINE)
MOST UNAPOLOGETIC FILM AWARD
WINNER: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS)
HONORABLE MENTION: SAFE OUTSIDE (BY RETRO GAZE)
BEST STORYTELLING AWARD
WINNER: ON PHOTOGRAPHY (BY MULBERRY SUNSHINE)
HONORABLE MENTION: NANOBOT MEETS SIREN (BY SEI SIREN)
BEST IN SHOW: MOST BRAVE FILM AWARD
WINNER: SAFE OUTSIDE (BY RETRO GAZE)
HONORABLE MENTION: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS)
MOST INTERSECTIONAL FILM
WINNER: NANOBOT MEETS SIREN (BY SEI SIREN)
HONORABLE MENTION: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS), SABLE CHAM (BY THE LIGHT RAYS
BEST USE OF SOUND
WINNER: SABLE CHAMELEON (BY LIGHT RAYS)
HONORABLE MENTION: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS)
MOST INNOVATIVE FILM AWARD
WINNER: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS)
HONORABLE MENTION: NANOBOT MEETS SIREN (BY SEI SIREN)
BEST CREATIVE DIRECTION AWARD
WINNER: NANOBOT MEETS SIREN (BY SEI SIREN)
HONORABLE MENTION: CORREC (BY THE CUTENESS)
About Brave Futures Film Race:
Brave Futures Film Race is an intersectional competition that challenges creatives, storytellers filmmakers of all levels to create an entire short film in 48 hours. More information here: bravefuturesfilmrace.com
About OTV | Open Television Open Television is a platform for intersectional pilots and series, supporting Chicago artists in producing and exhibiting indie series. #weareotv