International Tourism Film Festival Africa AWARDS 2020

On Friday afternoon, 27th November, the International Tourism Film
Festival Africa (ITFFA) was finally able to celebrate its first official awards ceremony of The Lockdown Edition of the ITFFA 2020 at the Radisson Red Hotel, V &;A Waterfront.

The ITFFA was started in 2019 after Caroline Ungersbock, co-founder and chair of the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Program (STPP), had been invited to attend the Committee of International Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT) member festival in Portugal (Art&Tur) as a speaker on sustainable economic development in 2017. Caroline noticed that no entries had come from Africa or South Africa. Given the talent and skills that the African continent possesses, she felt it her duty to introduce them to the CIFFT circuit. In rapid succession, the South African entrants won prizes in all the Tourism Film Festivals. It was then decided that South Africa, and Africa had to be contenders in this prestigious event that takes place on the global stage. In 2019, the ITFFA boasted more than 860 entries, from over 89 countries. In 2020, the Africa edition received 150 entries from 24 African countries. This just proved that the world at large had an ever increasing appetite for South Africa, and Africa as both a shoot location, and a great place to visit for holiday.

In 2020 an Africa Specific Edition was set for this prestigious event to showcase our local talent. Prior to lockdown, the ITFFA had planned to host the Africa Awards ceremony, in Cape Town in April 2020.

Naturally this had to be followed up with an actual awards ceremony, that needed to take place at a time deemed safe and responsible to do so. The opportunity presented itself when South Africa lifted international travel restrictions and de-escalated Lockdown to level one. With the generous
support of the V&A Waterfront, the Radisson Red Hotel and CIFFT, the team managed to forge ahead and host the first Official Awards Ceremony of The Lockdown Edition of the ITFFA 2020 on November the 27th.

The excitement was palpable as award winning entrants received their trophies and ended this rather peculiar year on a note of hope and encouragement. “We simply had to finish this year on a positive note, and honour those whose hard work and tireless efforts make this country as great as it is,” said Caroline. To further commemorate the event, the Director of CIFFT flew in from Europe to present the Cannes Dolphin to WESGRO and Sledgehammer Studios. “We were absolutely blown away by the support shown by all the award winning entrants” said James Byrne, co-director of the ITFFA. “People literally poured in their support, knowing that we are fully self- funded, they offered to contribute in every way that they could”. Ald James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities also attended and said “it was such a pleasure to attend the first official awards ceremony of The Lockdown Edition of the ITFFA 2020. Tourism is very close to my heart and this year has been particularly difficult. That is why it was so wonderful to celebrate amazing destinations at this ceremony, and especially Cape Town which continues to be a destination of choice for many. No matter what you are looking for, we have
it all.”

'Soapbox Films’ Refiloe Chakela-Gava and Brendan Stein were instrumental is making this event the success that it was,” said both festival directors, Caroline and James. A special mention of thanks to Cape Cobra Hire, Jeep Tours, Radisson Red Hotel, the V&A Waterfront as well as Hendricks Gin and Belvidere Vodka, and last but not least De Grendel wines. “This event was created and shaped by those that attended, and we are beyond grateful to have shared in this journey with them”, said Caroline.

Entries are now open for the International version of the ITFFA Dates for submission are 1st December 2020 and entries close on the 15th March 2021.