The FAME Shorts Film Festival, showing at the Labia Theatre from 4 to 7 September, is part of FAME Week Africa, an annual gathering and trade show for the entertainment industry. The festival features short, gripping dramas, comedies, and documentaries from South Africa, Africa and beyond.
The 31 films of the FAME Shorts Film Festival focus on four fascinating themes: Past Echoes, Love Stories, Growing Pains and Drifting. Here are our 10 to catch.
Tickets allow a full day’s access; 7 to 10 different short films are shown each day.
Riel
Directed by Zenobia Kloppers | South Africa | 2023 | 10 mins
Set in contemporary Southern Africa, ‘RIEL’ is a drama following an ageing Khoekhoe matriarch. She invites her granddaughter to participate in the iconic riel dance, hoping to strengthen their bond and share the love that defines their family.
Through the vibrant rhythms and movements of the dance, the granddaughter reconnects with her roots and discovers a profound appreciation for her grandmother’s love and legacy. As they dance together, ‘Riel’ beautifully captures the intergenerational bond, the power of love, and the importance of preserving cultural traditions in the face of modern challenges.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Time and Tide
Directed by Lamar Bonhomme | South Africa | 2022 | 9.01 mins
A pair of hopeless romantics navigate love and life in the big city. Mali, an addict, and Archie, who cleans yachts at the local dock to support their meagre existence, find their struggles intensified as Valentine’s Day approaches—a stark reminder of their hardships. They dream of escaping the city’s misfortunes by sailing off into the abyss, seeking solace and a fresh start away from their current reality.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Mawimbi
Directed by Mark Wambui | Kenya | 2023 | 20’44 mins
In this drama, Kazungu’s return home for his mother’s funeral marks a tense reunion with his father, whom he hasn’t seen in eight years. At first indifferent to his father’s announcement that he plans to catch a rare fish, Kazungu’s attitude shifts when he discovers an old photo of them from 12 years ago, smiling with a big catch at their feet. This memory prompts him to join his father the next day.
As they venture out to sea, the tension between them gradually dissipates, leading to deep conversations that force them to confront the roots of their strained relationship. When they finally encounter the rare fish, it symbolizes a newfound understanding and connection between them.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Boni + Wes
Directed by Helen and Kim | South Africa | 2023 | 8’26 mins
In this documentary, Boni Mnisi and Wes Leal reflect on their experience as an openly queer couple at an all-girls, Christian school in Johannesburg, South Africa. We learn of Wes’ struggle in coming to terms with trans identity, the loneliness of a long-distance relationship and most importantly, of a love that is evolving, brave and kind. This film is a love letter to the couples’ resilience and commitment to each other.
‘Boni & Wes, A True Love Story’, was awarded the Grand Prix at Ciclope Africa, and selected for the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand film festival in France.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Bonnarien
Directed by Adiel Goliot | France | 2023 | 20 mins
Mauricette Bonnarien’s surname means “no good” in English, and she’s determined to change it. As a slam poet, Mauricette understands the power of words to cause harm. She decides to use her craft to free herself from the colonial name imposed on her ancestors and heal long-standing generational trauma.
Through her poetry, she seeks to reclaim her identity and empower her community, turning a symbol of oppression into one of strength and resilience.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Middel van Erens
Directed by Kobus du Plessis | South Africa | 2023 | 22’51 mins
After a family tragedy, a man attempts to guide his son into manhood through a series of hunting trips at the request of his overbearing and traditional father. His father’s patriarchal influence trickles down the family tree, leading to fatal consequences.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
The Town
Directed by Lesedi Makgalemele | South Africa | 2021 | 15 mins
Lesedi spends her days aimlessly throwing stones at passing cars, yearning for something to disrupt her monotony. One day, a car unexpectedly breaks down, causing her to fear she might be at fault. Despite this, a transient connection forms between Lesedi and the reluctant visitor, sparking a brief but meaningful interaction that leaves a lasting impact on both their lives.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Spider’s Blanket
Directed by Christine Boateng | Ghana | 2022| 6 mins
Spider’s Blanket captures the liminal space of consciousness, dreams, and immersion. The film is a careful meditation on routine chores and the trance of fetching water at dawn. Through the experiences of two sisters, we learn to recognise the water as a marker for time, dreams, the body, and recollection.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
Qenawy
Directed by Marwan Tarek | Egypt | 2022 | 4’49 mins
Abdel Elsabour, not yet 20, lives in Upper Egypt, isolated from the city, striving to capture shots for “Al-Marmah.” This film showcases the annual celebrations in Upper Egypt, featuring horse dancing and jousting. Abdel is caught between his village’s traditional customs and his generation’s cultural openness.
He travels from city to city just to watch movies, dresses stylishly, listens to rap, and skateboards at night, feeling alienated in his village due to his differences. He dreams of studying abroad and becoming a cinematographer, trying to bridge his village’s traditions with his modern aspirations.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
What did you Dream
Directed by Karabo Lediga | South Africa | 2020 | 20 mins
It’s the summer school holidays in 1990 South Africa, and 11-year-old Boipelo returns to her grandmother Koko’s house in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The country is on the brink of democracy, and Boipelo is about to attend a multiracial school, adding to her uncertainty. This holiday is different, marked by her grandfather’s violent coughing and ominous adult conversations.
Amidst the usual chores and clashes with her cousins, Boipelo is troubled by her inability to remember her dreams, crucial for her granny’s local lottery, Fahfee. Determined to bring a smile to her grandmother’s face, she plans to dream again and feel a sense of belonging before her life changes forever.
Cost: From R120pp (full day, includes 7 – 10 films), book through Quicket
When: Running from Wed 4 to Sat 7 September 2024 | Various times, See the full lineup here
Where: The Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Website: fameshortsfilmfestival.com
Email: fame@rxglobal.com
Tel: 010 496 3500
Instagram: @fame_shorts_film_festival
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