Leaving Mandela Park fundraiser

VSAFF fans, if you can’t wait until April 20 to get your fill of South African cinema, we invite you to support our charity, Education without Borders, at a REEL CAUSES event on March 29, 7:30 p.m. at the Denman Cinemas.

REEL CAUSES is a local non-profit that organizes social film screenings for the benefit of a different cause every month. They have offered their generous support of EwB by screening the documentary, Leaving Mandela Park, on March 29.

Leaving Mandela Park is a story about the extraordinary drive of children to escape the harsh reality of township life through music and dance. Siseko sings opera escaping the abuse by his father, Cynthia plays the saxofoon while staying out of the hands of gangsters, and Guava sings kwaito on street corners, while Pinkie dances her way out of poverty. Their dreams are not isolated. They form a metaphor for the future of a country that will depend on this young generation.

Director, script Saskia Vredeveld
Script Bart de Graaff

WATCH THE TRAILER

Tickets are $11 at the door.

Vancity is proud to be sponsoring the theatre rental to ensure the organization has a venue to show films/give voice to important community and humanitarian issues.

Vancouver Premiere of ‘Under African Skies’ at VSAFF

We are extremely excited to announce ‘Under African Skies’ as our Opening Gala film for the 2nd Vancouver South African Film Festival.

A documentary from Academy Award-nominated and two-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, ‘Under African Skies’ travels with Paul Simon back to South Africa 25 years after his first visit, chronicling the creation and lasting influence of his groundbreaking album, Graceland. Simon revisits the making of the record, surveying from the vantage of history the turbulence and controversy surrounding the album’s genesis.

Watch the trailer.

The 2nd VSAFF Opening Gala is on Friday, April 20, at the Denman Cinemas in Vancouver. We look forward to bringing you more exciting feature films and documentaries.

Tickets for the 2nd VSAFF go on sale March 15! Stay tuned to this space for a full film schedule and ticket information.

The best way to keep in touch is through social media. The VSAFF is on Facebook and Twitter.

The VSAFF is in support of Education without Borders, a Vancouver-based non-profit that has raised more than $700,000 Cdn for educational projects in South Africa since 2002. Last year, VSAFF fans helped raise almost $15,000 for EwB projects!

Currently, EwB’s work is focused in the township of Gugulethu on the outskirts of Cape Town. All VSAFF proceeds go to EwB, who are fully volunteer run.

Save the date for 2012!

Thanks to your overwhelming interest and support, the Vancouver South African Film Festival is returning in 2012! Make it down in your calendar: April 20-22.

The VSAFF is presented by, and in support of, Education without Borders, a Vancouver-based non-profit that has raised more than $700,000 Cdn for educational projects in South Africa since 2002.

Currently, EwB’s work is focused in the township of Gugulethu on the outskirts of Cape Town. 100 per cent of all proceeds go to EwB, who are fully volunteer run.

We look forward to bringing you more exciting feature films and documentaries in April. Stay tuned to this space for updates on film selection and ticket information.

The best way to keep in touch is through social media. The VSAFF is on Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow EwB on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for your continued support and we’ll see you soon!

$14,000 raised for EwB projects in South Africa!

VSAFF fans, supporters, sponsors and film makers have helped raise $14,000 (that’s R100,000!) for EwB’s educational projects in Gugulethu and other South African townships!

Incredible support for year one. We hope you enjoyed all the films as much as we enjoyed putting this together. A great start!

We encourage all VSAFF fans to find out where the money is going. Follow Education without Borders through their website, on Twitter, or by becoming their fan on Facebook.

EwB runs other fund raising events during the year and if you send them your email, they will keep you informed!