A local initiative is bringing aspiring Nelson Mandela Bay filmmakers together through films screened at local community halls.
Kasi Bioscope, the brainchild of Lazola Ntsiko and Mthobeli Moni, will be screening local short films and feature films across the metro this August.
“These screenings feature films which were shot and produced in Gqeberha and Kariega,” Moni explained.
“The producers of these films are aspiring filmmakers; some have little to no formal education when it comes to filmmaking.”
Kasi Bioscope was established in 2014 with the aim of bringing film screenings to youth in Motherwell and Kariega who do not have access to such opportunities.
Explaining the thought behind Kasi Bioscope and how it all started, Moni shared:
“We are film enthusiasts, some who like horror and others who act in dramas. We come from a background where we watch and share films from a garage every Saturday,” he said.
“We thought, instead of going to YouTube to showcase our films, why not go to communities to screen the films. This year, after receiving funding from the National Film and Video Foundation, for which they have been applying since 2020, made it possible to share screenings of local short films in community halls across Nelson Mandela Bay.”
About 26 people, mostly students and a few filmmakers from Nelson Mandela Bay, submitted their films, which are being screened.
The first short film screened was Ace of Spades, a horror film produced by a nine-year-old from Despatch.
“The short film, which is around five minutes long, warns children not to play card games after 22:00,” Moni explained.
“In the film, kids play a card game, and when they draw the Ace of Spades, a creature comes out.”
There will be a series of screenings, including two workshops, running until September.
The short films range from 5 minutes to 40 minutes and will be screened at various locations between 12:00 and 16:00.
“We will also have the filmmakers speak about their films and how they were produced, which creates a networking stage for people to create films together,” he added.
During the school holidays, Kasi Bioscope showcased two productions in Kariega.
“The narratives that are portrayed in these films are not just of struggle but also survival in areas where one is not expected to amount to much, but also where defying the odds is the only way out,” said Moni.
“We saw how many powerful local stories never reach the people they’re made for. Kasi Bioscope gives filmmakers a direct line to their communities. It’s not just a screening; it’s a moment where the audience sees themselves on screen.”
Film screenings in August will take place at the following venues from 12:00 to 16:00:
• August 2: Walmer Multipurpose, Walmer, Gqeberha
• August 16: DeJa Vu Dance Studio, Cleary Park, Gqeberha
• August 30: The Athenaeum Museum, Central, Gqeberha (Panel of Speakers and Film Screenings)
