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WOS is a non-profit section-21 member based resource network of African women filmmakers. It is a project-driven organization, which facilitates African women filmmakers to share their visions, skills and experiences and to commercially exploit filmmaking opportunities. WoS was officially launched in 2000 and is established nationally in South Africa and continentally as a resource exchange network. It continually seeks to develop and partner with regional and international programmes as channels to advocate for the promotion, skills development, the showcasing of films and skills with a specific focus on women in the film and television industry in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
WoS is based in South Africa and currently has members in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nigeria Kenya and mainly South Africa.
VISION is to be the leading agency for the advancement and showcasing of women filmmakers in Africa.
MISSION is to proactively facilitate the increased presence of women in the film and the television industry.
Presently Women Of the Sun consist of board members who are active and dynamic women who are representative of different levels of the film and television industry.
Executive Board
- Akiedah Mohamed (Communication) – a she has recently moved from Cape Town to Johannesburg. She has been an active member of WoS since its inception, a documentary director and currently she also writing for Rootz magazine.
- Mariam Sha (Treasurer) -
- Thandi Zwana – a South African who grew up in Zimbabwe – She has come back home and works as a freelance production coordinator. She recently gone into a partnership and started her own production company focusing on documentary filmmaking, of which the SABC has recently commissioned one of their projects.
Regional Representative
- Maji da-Abdi - born in Ethiopia studied Literature and Business in Canada and reside mainly in France. She is a director and producer of documentaries and some notable African short films. Recently has been producing African feature films with director Abduraman Sisseko. Recently she has also been working as consultant for the African Union on African Cinema.
Advisory Board members
- Seipati Bulani-Hopa – a producer/director of drama who has been working in the industry for 15 years.Seipati was also the founding member of WoS and has recently been appointed Secretary general of FEPACI.
- Xoliswa Sithole – one of the few very successful black women producers in South Africa and winner of a BAFTA award.
Eve Rantseli who holds the position of Executive Officer, she works closely and reports to the Executive board. Her responsibility is to coordinates the organisation’s activities, and is also the director of the AWF Film Festival.
Other staff members to execute and management WoS programmes namely the Development officer, the Monthly screening & network officer and volunteers are brought in as appropriate to the needs of each project.
FUNDING
As a non Profit organisation, WoS Main source of funding is annual membership fees, grants from government departments, local and international donor organisations and also sponsorships for different activities.
Funders that have supported WoS in the past include:
- Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has been our main funder since the conception of WoS.
- The National Film and video Foundation (NFVF) funded our skills development programme.
- The Department of Communication
- Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) – Funded the AWF Festival and award
- Transnet Foundation
- Interfund
- Mama Cash
Other Funders in which have been approached and response is anticipated include Hubert Bals fund, Price Claus fund, Africalia, Hivos and The South African Lottery Fund.
WOS KEY ACHIEVEMENTS 2001-2:
WOS was idealised at the Southern African International Film & Television Market Sithengi in 1998 and was formally launch in 2000, WOS has since then rolled out a regular program, the following are some of the highlights over the years;
In 2004
Our major successes in the WoS advocacy programme has been the huge role WoS played during 2003/4 with its participation in the United Producers’ Initiative (UPI), formed by some industry organisations to lobby for their constituency’s needs to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). WoS contribution in the UPI was to lobby the SABC to create more opportunities for women filmmakers. That meant the SABC had to commission programmes to be specifically produced by women, ensure that commissioning briefs require production companies to employ women in different levels of the productions and encourage that stories about and relevant to women are told.All of which is now standard practice at the SABC through a new centralised commissioning system called“The Content Hub”, which is now headed by the former WoS chairperson Kamscilla Naidoo who was the WoS representative in the UPI. Though her departure from WoS was a loss, we are happy and trust that women’s needs are represented and will be continuously catered for within the SABC.
In 2003
¨Due to industry demand WoS gained a seat on the board of directors and Executive board of Sithengi. This was a strategic move (advocacy) to have a focus ensuring that women’s needs are fulfilled annually at Sithengi.During Sithengi 2003 WoS held a meeting with female delegates and was well attended mainly by women form Southern Africa to and discussed what they expect from Sithengi and how WoS can assist to ensure that they have a productive attendance. The outcome of this meeting was that WoS should host programmes, which were on an annual basis at Sithengi.
¨On the 13th November at Sithengi 2003, WOS successfully hosted a gala event to Launch/announce the ‘African Women Filmmakers Awards’ Ceremony which will take place in on annual basis as of 2004.At the same event also launched repositioned WoS Festival to ‘African Women’s Film Festival‘ with the objective raise awareness of the event, get buy-in from the industry and funders also to solicit partnerships with film festival organisers who were present at Sithengi.
The event also coupled as a platform to launch WOS activities that will now take place annually to create a women’s focus at Sithengi namely:
- The gender screenings at the Sithengi ‘World Cinema Festival’ which will showcase films nominated for the African Women Filmmakers Awards (films in competition)
- And at least one intensive workshop/seminar with relevant experts that will cover subjects that African women filmmakers experience or battle with, e.g. breaking the glass ceilings of different levels of the industry/ Management/ distributions, fundraising etc. This will also provide WoS members and female delegates who are experts in their right, a platform to network and exchange ideas.
¨WoS held its third Annual general meeting and now has heavy weight board member that successful in the industry and possess strong leadership skills and commitment to the development of African women filmmakers. WoS is very determined to co-opt additional board members from the rest of Africa, however lacks the financial capability at present.
Back to funding
In 2002
¨WoS Hired a full time Executive officer and Launched it’s website where members can promote their projects.Since the deployment of the Executive officer WoS now fully registered as a section -21 company and the following activities were realised -
¨From 8th – 11th August 2002, Women Of the Sun successfully partnered with the Market Theatre’s ‘Women’s Art Festival’, a three day festival celebrating Women’s day where WoS brought forth the film perspective of the arts. WoS was responsible for the screening of films made by South African women throughout the festival. The addition of film in this event was well received, however we realized that publicity and advertising of this new film addition would increase to attract filmmakers and film audience to feel part of this event, which has always been perceived as a dance, and music platform/festival.WoS aim is to increase local audience for local films and WAF is a perfect platform and therefore this partnership continues annually.
¨During the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) WOS ran the WOS ‘From a Woman’s Perspective’ Film Festival.This festival was focused on a woman’s perspective on using audio-visual media to deal with sustainable development. The launch of the festival featured the much-acclaimed premiere of a 52-minute documentary on a close encounter with HIV/AIDS“Shouting Silent” by a local South African female producer Xoliswa Sithole.300 people attended the launch against the expected 150.
¨Also around the Summit WOS hosted networking dinners for members to interact with international filmmakers attending the Summit.Present in one of the dinners was Debby Zimmerman, a New York based distributor of films made by women through out the world who was very interested in South African Films. As a result Women Make Movies (WMM) is now distributing Xoliswa Sithole’s film internationally.
¨In October 2002 WOS sent a delegation of 5 members to attend the Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) Bi-annual Summit hosted by the Jamaica chapter of the organisation.The summit included screenings, panel discussions as well as networking events.This outgoing mission was sponsored by NFVF and DACST.The WIFTI members and the Jamaican media very well received the WOS delegation. WOS has now been invited to sit on the executive board of WIFTI.
¨Shortly before Sithengi 2002 November, on the 20th of October 2002 WOS in conjunction with Sithengi and the Independent Producer Organisation (IPO), WOS hosted a workshop on ‘How To Work The Market’.This workshop was aimed at filmmakers that had a product and were intending on attending Sithengi, to help them utilise the market their most benefit.The CEO of Sithengi Mike Auret, the Commissioning editor of SABC1 Siven Maslanoney and other filmmaker who are experts on international markets and festivals shared information on; which buyers were to be present - what product they were looking for - who to speak with for which product - how to set up a meeting - how to present a product - what the SABC was to present at Sithengi - which social activities to attend to socialise with the relevant buyers.The workshop was a success, 40 filmmakers attended. Through a follow up survey by WOS after Sithengi in January 20023, we discovered that attendees found the workshop very helpful and requested for the workshop to take place annually.
¨At the Southern African film and television market SITHENGI 2002, WOS hosted the South African premier of an African film “Bedouin Hackers”, a feature film produced, directed and co-written by a Tunisian filmmaker Nadia El Fani.The premier was a celebration of an African woman filmmaker whose film was also unusual in that it is a wholly African financed film made by an African. The film was first pitched at SITHENGI in 1998 to be premiered there four years later.SITHENGI, DAC and the GAUTENG FILM OFFICE sponsored this event.WOS had achieved its goal and had a successful presence that focused on women at Sithengi, as a result 12 new members from various countries within the African continent were signed up.
In 2001
¨Throughout the month of August 2001 WOS hosted in conjunction with the Film Resource Unit (FRU) a Mini Festival entitled “Taking Care of Business – African Women in Films”. The festival consisted of screening over the weekends, a discussion with industry bodies entitled “Progressive Partnerships” as well as film critics and analysis.
¨In September 2001 WOS hosted a documentary screening with American Producer and Director Alonzo Speight.
In 2000
¨Early 2000 saw the ratification of the WOS constitution and the election of the key organisation officials i.e. an Executive Board including Chairperson and Treasurer.It is now run with a proper organisational structure.
¨The focal WOS Networking and Publicity event (sponsored by M-NET, South Africa) was held in August to highlight the achievements of the organisation and unveil some of the key initiatives that have been developed.The event also kicked off the August Women’s Month Screenings, a highlight of the WOS calendar.
¨WOS hosted a learning and development workshop at Sithengi 2000 entitled “The Future of Film and TV; Implications for Women of Colour”.The turn out was outstanding and the issues highlighted have been compiled into a Strategic Planning Document that guides WOS as to how to address the needs of its constituency.
¨During this period WOS was able to sign on new members from Namibia and Nigeria.These women have indicated their interest in setting up chapters of WOS in their areas and have therefore been charged, with WOS SA’ assistance, to explore the possibilities of broadening the network through Africa.
In 1999
¨In 1999, hosted monthly screenings and discussions notably the August Women’s Month program, which included film screenings to acknowledge the achievements of women and a dinner hosted for renowned African actress and producer, Akosua Busia.
¨In late 1999, WOS needed to refocus and strategically plan its development, facilitation and capacity building initiatives.A core group of South African women was called upon to assist to this regard.
In 1998
¨WOS was launched at the Southern African International Film & Television Market Sithengi in 1998.
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