A short film by Hlumela Matika, a film director and film installation artist who hails from Kariega, was part of three hours of South African content which was screened at the 25th Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) on 21 June 2022.
According to Nceba Mqolomba, Festival Director Eastern Cape Film Festival, there was a total of six South African films screened.
“What is extraordinary is that all six short films are by female filmmakers of which three are from the Eastern Cape. They are Hlumela Matika with her film Ukuhlolwa kwephupha, which was also screened at the New York African Film Festival in May this year,” said Mqolomba.
“The other female filmmakers from the Eastern Cape are Matshepo Khumalo from Gqeberha with The Estuary and Alette Schoon with the documentary Giants.”
Matika is a Riebeek College Girls’ High School Alumnus from the Class of 2005 and received a Fulbright Scholarship to study at Syracuse University – College of Visual Performing Arts in New York, where she obtained her Masters in Fine Arts in filmmaking.
Matika has also obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking degree at AFDA, and completed various courses including courses at the International Filmmaking Academy, Bologna Italy, as well as at the University of Iowa.
Matika has worked in the South African film service industry on numerous international and local film productions and has travelled the world as film director.
According to Mqolomba, “This was the first of a five-year collaboration between the two festivals and we feel this will go a long way in promoting the South African film industry, especially to position the Eastern Cape as an international film destination.”
ZIFF is the largest multi-disciplinary art and cultural festival in Africa dedicated to the exhibition of films, music, and panorama. Each year ZIFF exhibits more than 150 films made in Africa, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, USA and Asia.
