:: the mamtsotsi bird :: about the movie ::







2007 Update February 28 2007 Our short film, 'The Mamstosti Bird' has enjoyed quite a lot of success in both the local & international arena. Some of the films more notable achievements include an award for Best Direction at the CAN2006 in the UK. Best Supernatural/Horror at From Dusk Til' Dawn Film Festival in Houston, Texas. Our in-house editor Walter Green has also walked away with an award for Best Editor at the Terror Film Festival in Philadelphia. On the nominations side our in-house animation and visual affects director, Brenton Green has been nominated for best visual effects at the FAIF Film festival in Hollywood as well as the Terror Film Festival in Philadelphia. Other noteworthy nominations were for Best Foreign Film at the Red Bank Film Festival in New Jersey, Best Underground Film at the FAIF Film Festival and Best Supernatural Film at the Action on Film Festival in Los Angeles. Another feather in our cap was being accepted into the World Film Festival in Montr'al, which as you probably know is on par with Cannes and one of only 7 festivals recognised by the FIAPF. Plus, our film has also been invited by numerous film festivals, such as the Africa in Motion Festival in Edinburgh, Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, The Black Film Festival in London and African Diocese in New York Locally and internationally we've been accepted into over 40 film festival including a silver award at the 1st Innibos Film Festival in Mpumalanga for Best South African Film. We've also been invited to screen at the World Film Festival in Cape Town. -- -- -- PRESS RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2006 September 21 2006 Creative Vision?s 3D animated bird-like creature soars to new heights by winning GOLD in America?s Dusk Til Dawn International Film Festival. Our short film, ?The Mamtsotsi Bird?, which boasts no less than 25 visual effects and 3D character animation, has won first prize in the supernatural / horror category of the From Dusk till Dawn International Film Festival in Houston, Texas. It has also been nominated for best supernatural film in California?s Action on Film Festival. Locally, the film received SILVER for best South African short film. The Mamtsotsi Bird has been invited to play at the Edinburgh African in Motion Film Festival, which is by invitation only and showcases the best of African cinema. We have also received an invitation to play at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. ?I am overwhelmed that our film has done so incredibly well in festivals around the world. It was never our intention to enter festivals, but purely to showcase our visual effects and 3D talents. The world is hungry for new characters and stories. African mythology is new to most of the western world which has not been over exposed to African culture.? Say?s director Jo Horn. To date, it has been accepted into 26 International Film Festivals playing in Hollywood, New York, London, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Rome, Cologne, Athens, Dublin, Sao Paulo, Zanzibar and Durban to name a few. Some Additional Highlights: ? Being shown in the heart of Hollywood at the world famous Chinese Mann Theatre where some of the biggest premiers take place. ? Being accepted into the biggest film festival in North America, The World Film Festival in Montreal. This festival is recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Association and is on par with the Cannes Film Festival. ? The 24 Hour Film Festival in New York which Time Magazine describes as one of the Top 20 events in New York City. -- -- -- Creative Vision gets International Recognition May 26 2006 Creative Vision's first short film 'The Mamtsotsi Bird' has been selected to have its world premiere at the Darklight International Film Festival, which is Ireland's leading festival for filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores the convergence of art, film and technology. Within the same month it will be having its South African premiere at Durban International Film Festival where it was chosen as part of their official selection. In December we took a break from commercials to shoot a short film based on African mythology, to showcase our extraordinary animation and visual effects capabilities. The film was shot over an extended weekend and boasts no less than 25 visual effects and an exceptional bird like creature created in 3D. All of which was done in house by the Creative Vision team. Additional Information: Darklight International Film Festival: below an excerpt from their website. "Digital filmmaking techniques have become increasingly universal, they have revolutionised contemporary filmmaking practice and contributed hugely to the liberation of animation. In response to this the Darklight programme has become focused on work that challenges; concepts, visual aesthetic, narrative, access, methods of production and dialogue through these contemporary filmmaking techniques. Darklight exhibits work that pushes these boundaries and displays creative excellence. Our mission is to nurture new talent and to create new possibilities for the imagination." Darklight website: www.darklight.ie Durban International Film Festival: is the oldest and most established festival in Southern Africa. Only 10% of over 2000 entries are selected from around the world. The festival includes a competition component in ten categories. Last years Best Direction award went to Hany Abu-Assad for "Paradise Now" which went on to win the 2006 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and was Oscar Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, which Tsotsi won this year. DIFF Website: www.cca.ukzn.ac.za -- -- -- Mamtsotsi Bird - Awakening Evil in 3D April 26 2006 An African mythological creature, The Mamtsotsi Bird, is called down from the thunder by witches to carry out missions of malevolence. This is the theme of director, Jo Horn's 12 minute movie. I wanted to find a story that would showcase Creative Vision's many talents and the movie to be a calling card for the long form and feature film industry. Being a successful and award-winning commercials production company that specialises in 3-D animation and digital visual effects, I felt there was no reason for us not to be servicing the long form and feature market. As a live-action director I have always wanted to make a movie, but it was important that we showcase not only my ability but also those of the talented team. -- -- -- Durban International Film Fest April 16 2006 We've done it... We have been accepted into the (DIFF) Durban International Film Festival!!! Only 10% of over 3000 entries are selected from around the world. The festival includes a competition component in ten categories. The Durban International Film Festival is the oldest and most established festival in Southern Africa. Last years Best Direction award went to Hany Abu-Assad for "Paradise Now" which went onto win the 2006 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and was Oscar Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film, which Tsotsi went onto win this year. Durban International Film festival -- -- --