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GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS AND VIDEOS - The Garden Route International Film Festival (GRIFF) was successful in promoting Mossel Bay as a premier destination and created plenty of networking opportunity for businesses wishing to supply the film industry.

This is according to GRIFF director Patrick Walton.  The festival, which started on Tuesday, 12 July, wrapped up with an awards evening on Saturday, 16 July.

There was a learners' programme at the festival, offering workshops for students and school children to educate them on the film industry. Some of them had the opportunity to create short films, which were shown on a large screen at the awards evening.

PHOTO GALLERY: GRIFF celebrations 2022

Attendees were impressed with the quality of these films and the acting talent. "Eight individuals who had never used the camera, produced short films," Walton said.

In Mossel Bay next year

He confirmed the GRIFF would be taking place again in Mossel Bay next year. The Diaz Hotel proved an excellent venue for the festival.

Walton said that despite there being a smaller attendance at films than expected, the organisers were extremely happy with the outcome of the festival.

He said there was "good networking, high quality films and the industry programme was well received".

There were films from 27 countries including South Africa at the festival.

VIDEO - Garden Route international Film Festival director Patrick Walton tells of the employment created on the Garden Route through the film industry (Video: Elaine van der Toorn).

Some of the South African films included Klein Karoo 2, which was shot in the Garden Route, barakat, New Material, Thando, Singleholic, Sons of the Sea and The Domestic.

A special video message from the French ambassador to South Africa, Aurélien Lechevallier, was shown at the awards evening and he expressed the desire for continued partnerships between French filmmakers and the GRIFF organisers.

Main GRIFF Award winners:

Best Feature Film - Hard Shell, Soft Shell; Best Documentary Film - The Look on Venice; Best Short Film: Skin; Best Student Film (SA): Volksvreemd.

See the Garden Route International Film Festival Facebook page for the rest of the award winners. Photos: Elaine van der Toorn.

Some of the young students who created short films for the first time during a workshop, photographed together with the festival organisers.

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