In 2013, NYC PictureStart Film Festival Visits South Africa was launched. The event took place April 22 - 28, 2013. Two screening nights in Potchefstroom and two screening nights in Johannesburg.
The festival in South Africa was created by Ben Arredondo, festival director of NYCPSFF, Steven Bosch, South Africa festival director and faculty member of North West University and Christoff Swanepoel, staff member at North West University.
The festival's objective was to showcase to South African audiences the work of South African filmmakers as well as top notch short films from around the world that have been screened at past NYCPS film festivals.
The inaugural event was well received, attended by over 400 people. The festival was supported through a successful Kickstarter campaign and North West University.
With more support from the South African consulate in NYC and South African Tourism group in NYC, a follow up event was held during the NYC PictureStart Film Festival in June, 2013. Four South African short films were screened to NYC audiences.
The hope is to make NYC PictureStart Visits South Africa an annual event so that the spotlight continues to shine on the talented filmmakers and performers of South Africa.
Festival plans for 2014 are in the works with a likely event happening in teh fall of 2014. More information to come. In the meantime, check out the video on this page that highlights our event in South Africa, April 2013, produced by Steven Bosch.
