Cinema: The Encounters South African Documentary Festival 2021

Encounters South African Documentary Festival, 2021

When: June 10-20 2021 Website: https://encounters.co.za/ Tickets: Single feature tickets R60. Festival pass R500. Shorts – free. R70 for Bioscope (in person), Johannesburg Facebook: @EncountersDocFest Twitter: @EncountersDoc Instagram: @encountersdoc  

The Encounters South African Documentary Festival celebrates its 23rd edition from June 10-20, 2021. The festival will be online, except for some bioscope screenings (physical events) in Johannesburg. The programme includes over 50 documentaries. On TheCapeRobyn watch list: Ailey (2021, director Jamila Wignot, USA) tracks the career of Alvin Ailey, the “pioneering Black dancer and choreographer” and his obsessions and personal struggles, and ultimately his untimely death”. In Max Richter’s Sleep (2019), director Natalie Johns (USA/UK), follows the work of British composer Max Richter, “his family and the process of writing and performing his eight-hour opus, Sleep around the world”. In Dance Me to The End of Life (2020), South African director, Melanie Chait “documents the last four years of the life partner, theatre director Nancy Duiguid, as she fought breast cancer.” Dare to Dream (2020, SA) featuring Zip Zap Circus, directed by Kate Gorry-Thompson, is having its SA premiere at Encounters. Its recent film, Moya was streamed to wide acclaim. For review of Moya (not on at Encounters), see  https://thecaperobyn.co.za/film-review-zip-zaps-moya-premiering-online-april-2021/

Ailey (2021, director Jamila Wignot, USA) tracks the career of dancer and choreographer, Alvin Ailey. The film will be screened at The Encounters South African Documentary Festival. Supplied.