1st Annual FYTA FILM FESTIVAL
 
FYTA FILMS:  The Film Festival where Youth take action against
consumerism and conformity. 
 
Background: 
The first ever FYTA Film Festival (Filmmaking Youth Taking Action) launches
in June 2008. Inspired by the need to fight against young minds being
numbed by stereotypes, conventions and trashy entertainment, this festival
aims to reignite the passion in young filmmakers. It aims to encourage
them to speak their minds and join the movement realizing that while
escapism is great, when it outweighs and white-washes all reason it
becomes dangerous. FYTA Films also enables young filmmakers to tell their
own stories, rooted in the rich heritage of South Africa. 
There are voices outside of Hollywood and FYTA is there to help uncover
them amongst the true free spirits of society- the youth!
This year we join forces with Mexican filmmakers to explore the common
ground between our countries- in film, in history and in daily life.
 
The Festival: 
FYTA Films in 2008 will be held from 13 – 16 June at the University of
Johannesburg.  The Festival consists of three main categories:
 
 1
1. Mexican-South African Film Showcase 
In collaboration with the Mexican Embassy in South Africa and the Gauteng
Film Commission, FYTA Films has invited selected filmmakers to showcase
their films at the Festival.  Several of the feature films and documentaries
from Mexico will be African premières.  In addition, filmmakers from both
countries will be in attendance at screenings for discussion and participate
in workshops.  
Some of the well-known Mexican guests include Elena Fortes, one of the
directors of the documentary festival Ambulante,  Flavio Florencio, creator
of the Africala festival, and Sebastián Beláustegui, who will bring his
groundbreaking photographic exhibition Africa in the Americas to FYTA. 

 
 
 
 
 
2. Workshops and colloquia 
With so many interesting visitors to FYTA, it is the ideal opportunity to
provide young filmmakers with guidance and support in the form of
exciting workshops. 
These include: 
• Animation workshop 
• “Taking Film to the People”  -  workshop on grassroots filmmaking and
storytelling. 
• The Power of Documentary  
• Music Video workshop 
Other events
In addition to structured events, young filmmakers will be encouraged to
mingle and view each others’ work in the Benign Bunker, an ideal
opportunity for networking. 
 
3. Young Filmmakers Showcase 
Emerging filmmakers, film students and anyone else with a story on film is
invited to submit their work for exhibition at FYTA Films 2008. Preference
will be given to films addressing issues relevant to youth culture and social
issues. All submissions must adhere to the following criteria to be eligible
for consideration:
• Films may be submitted in ONLY ONE category. The Festival
administration reserves the right to re-allocate films to different
categories if appropriate. 
• Films should have been completed after January 2006 to be eligible
for selection.
 
Selection:
A panel of judges will select films for screening at the FYTA Film Festival. As
this is the first year of the Festival, we are requesting films completed in the
past two years.  Directors of selected films will be invited to attend the
Festival and participate in workshops and events. 
 
The following prizes will be awarded:
• Audience award.  
• Best music video.
 
How to enter
Please see the call for entries or go to our website: www.fytafilms.org

 
Entries may be submitted to any of the following categories:
 
FYTA Flix 
Short-short films between 30sec and 5minutes, excluding animation. 
 
FYTA Figurines- Animation 
Animation, either  3-D or 2-D, any duration. 
 
FYTA Fact
Documentaries between 5-60 minutes
 
FYTA Fiction 
Short Fiction Films between 5-60minutes
 
FYTA Funk
Music video submissions. 
 
FYTA Fresh
Experimental films, no longer than 60minutes. 
 
Further information is available on our website: www.fytafilms.org
 
FESTIVAL OFFICE
 
Contact Person: Marguelette Louw
Telephone: + 27 82 445 3994
Alternative: + 27 11 559 3290
Email:  mlouw@uj.ac.za