Film graduates find new and creative ways to navigate the rocky terrain of show business.
- A trio of former Wits film students debuted their independent screening event, Chosenima.
- The event challenges the rigidity and exclusivity of film festivals by providing an open platform for creative expression.
- With the success of the first screening, the group hopes to empower more emerging voices in the industry.
For a group of three film graduates, Natasha Chirambo, Simamkele Mrwetyana and Scott Paton-Levin, cinema has never been about the flashy film festivals or prestigious Oscar nominations. It is simply about a deep, unwavering passion for the craft.
On the evening of August 1, the group debuted their independent screening event, Chosenima, at Crispy Skateboards on 1 Fox Street, Ferreiras Dorp. Tucked away in the four corners of a graffiti-covered warehouse, filmmakers and film lovers settled in a cozy sprawl of pillows and blankets to share an intimate night of cinema.
From intricate hand drawn animations to crafty collages stitched from personal photographs, each film beats with the pulse of its creator. Soft, yet powerful, the films explored delicate moments of queer love, personal struggle and emotional vulnerability.
The initiative was founded by three Wits film and TV alumni who became increasingly disillusioned with the elitism of film festivals. “When we were doing our varsity degree in film and tv, we were taught to make films for festivals,” explains Mrewetyana. “And festivals most of the time have their own territorial needs.”
This sentiment is echoed by Chirambo, who sees the rigid requirements of traditional filmmaking as a trap for young creators. “People try to put in a formula so they can get an Oscar,” she says, “I don’t think that’s what art should be about: trying to please some invisible power in the industry.”
Paton-Levin recalls a personal memory, grappling with the film industry’s exclusivity. “When I was 15, I made a film called ‘Girl’. It was three minutes long. I submitted it to maybe 10 film festivals and I didn’t get into a single one, so I never got a chance to play that movie.” This rejection in turn has fuelled Chosenima’s welcoming ethos. “I want to talk to that kid,” he says, “and be like: ‘Come play your movie, my boy.’”
Edited by: Jamie Ho
By giving filmmakers space to experiment and hone their craft, Chosenima breaks away from the rigid expectations of commercial film. Mrwetyana’s own filmmaking reflects this through the genre of Afrobubblegum: a cultural movement that rejects mainstream cinema’s portrayal of the black, queer experience that solely depicts it from the lens of hardship and struggle and moves to celebrating the simple joys of ordinary life.
As the final film drew to a close and people lingered long after, it was plain to see that the future of cinema wasn’t far-off in some distant Hollywood theatre. It was already happening right there on that screen.
FEATURED IMAGE: Hand-drawn graphic of a cassette tape with the words ‘Chosenima’. Drawn by: Jamie Ho.
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