'Get your slice of cake from film industry'

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Garden Route International Film Festival (GRIFF) official opening took place on Tuesday night, 12 July.

It was a formal evening, but with a buzzy, friendly atmosphere, where invited guests mingled and chatted enthusiastically.

PHOTO GALLERY: The official 2022 GRIFF opening

The VIPs looked suitably swanky on the green carpet as they entered the main festival venue, the Diaz Hotel.

A noteworthy aspect of the festival is its emphasis on job creation among the youth and boosting the Garden Route economy and tourism.

Business can benefit from supply chain

If you are a business person wanting to benefit within and from the film industry supply chain, you are urged to network and rub shoulders at the seminars and networking events offered. There is still a chance today and tomorrow, 13 and 14 July, to promote yourself and your business.

See https://gardenrouteinternationalfilmfestival.com/ for more information or contact René Malan (079 554 5046) of the Garden Route Film Office.

There were a number of workshops for children 15 years and under on how to enter the film industry and the various jobs available

The festival spans five days, ending tomorrow, Saturday 16 July.

A large variety of films, long and short, have been on offer for the film buffs. Some of the films will never be shown in South Africa again.

Mr South Africa second runner-up Anton Siebert of Mossel Bay and Michelle Smit. Photo: Elaine van der Toorn

In his opening speech on Tuesday night, GRIFF director Patrick Walton himself mentioned jobs that had been created via filming in the Garden Route recently and he also gave as an example, filming taking place in the area for a series, which would plough R15m into the area.

Engage with role players

In an interview with the Mossel Bay Advertiser on 13 July, Walton urged local business people to engage with role players in the film industry. As an example, he said an accommodation establishment had already secured bookings from a filmmaker through networking during the GRIFF. Besides the obvious need for catering, services of artisans, health practitioners and more were needed by the film industry.

Producers were looking for suppliers, he noted. Millions were being spent within the Garden Route.

The GRIFF awards evening is on Saturday night. "People can engage with filmmakers there," Walton said. Today, Friday 15 July, the Garden Route economy impact study session is at 11:00 at the Diaz Hotel and business people are welcome to attend.

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Maggie Mutangiri of Travel Africa Network at the GRIFF opening night. Photo: Grey Stopforth