The encounters film festival takes place from 1 – 17 June and we are pleased to announce that the Mats Staub project “21 Memories of Growing Up” is incorporated into the festival programme this year.  Additionally Mats and South African collaborator Maia Marie will be discussing the project in the context of a panel discussion organised by Encounters.  Encounters this year also happens in the wake of the South Africa focus at 2017 edition of the the Vision du Reel documentary film festival in Nyon, Switzerland, and Swiss Films provides support for a Swiss focus in the Encounters film and master class programme, including films from Laurence Bonvin, previously a Pro Helvetia artist in residence in South Africa.

Special Project:

21 – Memories of Growing Up (Exhibition)
When did you turn 21? What happened that year? And how did you become adult? Swiss artist Mats Staub asked these questions of a large group of people, of all ages, and recorded their stories and had them listen to their answers three months later, while filming their facial expressions. This became the video installation 21 – Memories of Growing Up. The exhibition is growing from city to city and will present portraits from Switzerland, Germany, Serbia, England, Holland and South Africa.

01 – 24 June
9am – 6pm
Homecoming Centre, District 6 Museum, 15a Buitenkant St, Cape Town

Industry/Panels/Master Class details:

Art of the Real (Panel Discussion)
Performance artist / filmmaker Samira Elagoz (Craigslist Allstars), Swiss video installation artist Mats Staub and his local collaborator, artist Maia Marie, will discuss how documentary and contemporary art inform and influence each other. This session, moderated by Meghna Singh, will deconstruct how to subvert genres and blur the boundaries between art and what is real.

Saturday, 3 June
4.15 – 5.15pm
Workshop 17, 17 Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
RSVP: pa@encounters.co.za

What does a Doc’ do? (Master Class with Heidi Specogna)
What can documentary films contribute and how are they perceived? And, contrarily, what are the difficulties and needs of the documentary form? Award-winning director Heidi Specogna (Short Life of José Antonio Gutierrez, Tupamaros, Cahier Africain) has worked extensively in Latin America and Africa. Illustrated with clips from her impressive body of work, she will expound on the relevance of documentary film today. Specogna will also consult, one-on-one, with emerging filmmakers.

Tuesday, 06 June
10am – 12pm
Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking, 109D, The Foundry, Cardiff Rd, Green Point
R50 entry/DFA Members free (www.webtickets.co.za)
RSVP:  pa@encounters.co.za

Still Lives and Motion (Panel Discussion with Laurence Bonvin)
Laurence Bonvin, an award-winning photographer and filmmaker, has exhibited her work across the world, including South Africa. Bonvin will discuss the relationship and tension between the still and the moving image in her work.

Wednesday, 07 June
12pm – 2pm
Cape Town School of Photography, 25a Buitenkant Str, Cape Town

RSVP:  pa@encounters.co.za

Swiss Focus Screening Details

Almost There
CT: V&A Mon 5 June 6.45pm
JHB: Bioscope Fri 2 June 7pm

Cahier Africain
CT: V&A Sun 4 June 7.30pm + Q&A
JHB: Bioscope Sun 11 June 7.15pm

Jazz: The Only Way of Life
CT: Labia Sun 4 June 3pm
JHB: Bioscope Sat 3 June 5.30pm

Laurence Bonvin Shorts
CT: Labia Tue 6 June 6.30pm + Q&A
JHB: Bioscope Thu 8 June 8.30pm + Q&A

Rio Corgo
CT: Labia Tue 6 June 8.30pm
JHB: Bioscope Sun 4 June 3pm