The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival welcomes two new film industry stalwarts, Ms Karen Meiring and Ms Toni Monty, to its board ahead of the 24th edition from 23 June to 3 July 2022.
Both locally and internationally known for the work they do in the film sector, Meiring and Monty join current board members Ms Azania Muendane, Ms Moroba Nkawe, co-founder Mr Steven Markovitz and Director of the Festival, Ms Mandisa Zitha.
Recently retired MNet Director: kykNET Channels, Karen Meiring, offers the Encounters festival insights and experience from her more than 37 years in the arts, film and television industries. She has had an extensive career as both a performer and an arts administrator, including being the first Festival Manager and later MD of the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) in Oudtshoorn. She was CEO at the celebrated Oude Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch for a few years before being appointed as MNET Director of kykNET Channels.
Over the years, Karen has served on the boards of several arts festivals, music foundations and arts trusts, amongst others: The UNISA Music Foundation, Absa KKNK, Aardklop, Suidoosterfees, Ghoema Trust, Arts & Culture Trust, SBA (Foundation for Empowerment), SAFTU and SATMA and has been a member of the Artscape Council since 2021.
Director of A.M. Afrika Film Consultants, which provides strategic advisory and executive producer services to film in development, Toni Monty, has more than 25 years experience in the film sector and brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a vast international film network to the table. Former head of the Durban Film Office for 17 years, Toni was instrumental in founding and developing Africa’s premier film industry co-producer and finance market, the Durban FilmMart, which she led for 11 years. During this time, she established a unique perspective of developing content for the global marketplace, as well as creating a solid network of international funders, co-producers, financiers and industry professionals. She has worked with over 200 African projects in development, many of which have gone on to achieve international acclaim.
Toni has served as director on the board of the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission and as an ex-officio member on the board of the KwaZulu Natal Music Cluster, KUMISA.
“We say goodbye to Professor Ciraj Rassool, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza and Encounters co-founder, Nodi Murphy, acknowledging them all for their contribution to the growth of the festival and thanking them for their service over 20 years. We wish them well for the future,” says Mandisa Zitha.
“We are excited to be screening films back in the cinemas this year,” enthuses Zitha. “We have an amazing line-up of films from South Africa, Africa, and around the world, which we will be announcing shortly.”
Encounters is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, The City of Cape Town and WESGRO.
For further information go to the Encounters website https://2022.encounters.co.za/; follow on social media or contact Joy Sapieka & Associates on +27(0)73 212 5492 joysapieka0@gmail.com / Joyls@mweb.co.za