The FAME Shorts Film Festival Announces 2024 Programme

The FAME Shorts Film Festival returns to Cape Town’s Labia Theatre from 4-7 September, bringing a dazzling array of African cinema. Featuring 31 thought-provoking films, the festival showcases innovative and creative filmmakers from across the continent, offering audiences a rich tapestry of stories from Africa and its diaspora. The eagerly anticipated programme was announced on https://fameshortsfilmfestival.com and bookings are open. 

Open to the public, the festival is a highlight of FAME Week Africa, an annual gathering and trade show for the entertainment industry. Martin Hiller, FAME Week Africa Portfolio Director, shared his excitement about this year’s line-up, “We’re absolutely thrilled with the FAME Shorts Film Festival programme! It’s brimming with personal stories, biographies, and tales of innovation, underscoring the rich diversity of African societies.” 

Over four captivating days, the programme explores themes of drifting through life’s challenges, the growing pains of coming of age, the complexities of love stories, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

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Apple TV+ Celebrates Female Storytellers For Women’s Month





For the duration of Women’s Month this August, Apple TV+ will be spotlighting storytellers from TV and film to celebrate the inspirational and groundbreaking work crafted by women. 

In Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Native American actress Lily Gladstone delivers a powerful portrayal of Osage tribe member Mollie Burkhart. The epic film highlights Gladstone’s commanding performance in a riveting narrative of wealth, power, and survival.

The Morning Show, led by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, continues to captivate audiences with its sharp critique of the media landscape, driven by strong female leads who navigate the complexities of power and public scrutiny in their professional lives.

In the historical drama Lessons in Chemistry, Oscar winner Brie Larson embodies Elizabeth Zott, a chemist who challenges the norms of the 1960s with her brilliant mind and unyielding spirit.


Meanwhile, Rebecca Ferguson stars in Silo, a dystopian drama that explores the human condition in a tightly controlled, subterranean world.




Jennifer Garner brings to life the thrilling narrative of The Last Thing He Told Me, portraying Hannah Hall, a woman unraveling a web of secrets that threaten her family’s safety, based on Laura Dave’s best-selling novel.

Comedy series Loot features Maya Rudolph as Molly Wells, a billionaire finding her footing in the world after a high-profile divorce, and Kristen Wiig delights in Palm Royale, a stylish comedy-drama that sees her navigating the quirks of high society.

Eva Longoria’s turn in Land of Women as a New York socialite escaping to Spain adds a humorous yet poignant touch to our lineup, blending familial duty with personal rediscovery.

The black comedy thriller Bad Sisters boasts a stellar ensemble of Irish talent, including Sharon Horgan as the fierce Eva Garvey, who leads her sisters through the chaos following a family tragedy.

Natalie Portman stars in the thriller Lady in the Lake, portraying an investigative journalist whose quest for truth brings her face-to-face with the systemic issues of 1960s Baltimore.

These are the bold voices in TV and film that are currently shaping the future of entertainment, showing women in South Africa and around the globe, what’s possible when you own your power.



Discover Women’s Month selection here: https://apple.co/WomensMonth2024


 

ESPN Africa Sports Fest

Last week, my family and I attended the ESPN Africa Sports Fest, where we got to see first-hand what’s in store for sports fans across the continent and participated in themed sporting activities.

ESPN Africa is set to warm up the mid-year Winter viewing with a thrilling line-up of non-stop action from American leagues and brand new sports documentaries this season.

Guests at the ESPN Sports Fest included media, influencers, affiliates, clients and families, who enjoyed an NBA Basketball activation, together with photo opportunities with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, an American football shoot the hoop activation, cricket fun, a Koodoo gaming station and soccer ball tricks with a local player. Former professional soccer player Janine Van Wyk, who played in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US, that ESPN broadcast, appeared at the event and shared her excitement that the league is now available for local audiences.

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The Ultimate Reality TV Lineup Coming To E! This Winter

CELEBRITY PRANK WARS — Pictured: “Celebrity Prank Wars” Key Art — (Photo by: E! Entertainment)

Get ready for a season of unbeatable entertainment as E! launches the E!-Lympics this July. Coinciding with the global athletic spectacle, E! will deliver its own celebrity-packed lineup, guaranteed to keep you glued to your screens.


Viewers can dive into quadruple bills of their favourite reality TV shows, featuring the best in pranking, plotting, plumping, and more. The shows will air on E! (DStv 124) every weekday afternoon from 1 July until 9 August, at 15:25 (CAT).

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DStv offers Disney Channel in an open window this winter break

DStv viewers are in for a treat this school holiday, as Disney Channel (DStv, Channel 303) will be opening to DStv Family and Access customers from Saturday, 15 June – Sunday, 7 July. To celebrate, Disney Channel has collected super-sized doses of fun, laughter and adventure, including returning films and seasons of fan favourites as well as brand new live-action and animation series.

Special holiday programming that customers will be able to dive into, includes a mix of new series from Pretty Freekin’ Scary S1 to Chip ‘n Dale: Park Life S2 to old friends on Bunk’d: Against the Ropes S7 and more in-between. A very special Saturday Movie Night block will be launched at 19:30 (VAT) and kicks off on 15 June with the iconic Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) High School Musical – following the gifted students at East High, the film broke barriers and stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.

Other movies include High School Musical 2 on 22 June; brand-new animated movie Night at The Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again on 29 June and on 6 July Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red, all at 19:30 CAT. 

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