‘The Little Match Girl’ is an evocative piece of storytelling about the plight of the homeless and the human need for acknowledgment. ‘The Little Match Girl’ is an adaptation of Danish author, Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale of the same name. An emotionally potent story of a homeless girl trying to sell matches on the streets of Cape Town to feed her family. Neglected and ignored by everyone around her she attempts to keep herself warm by striking a match. Every time she strikes, her imagination conjures up a series of heart-warming scenes. Once she has struck all her matches and has nothing left, she dies from the cold and neglect and her soul is carried away by her grandmother. ‘The Little Match Girl’ is about the loss of potential; it talks to avoidance and societal neglect and is a reflection on social mindsets and structures. Most importantly the film is about acknowledgment and how we all need to be seen, loved or recognised at some point; it’s one of the most fundamental human needs or desires. Laurels:-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Winner Social Justice London Indie Short Festival 2022-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best Human Rights Film Berlin Shorts Award 2022-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Award Winner SA Indie Film Fest-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best Actress Paris Women Festival 2022-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Winner Roma Short Film Festival-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best International Short 8 &amp; Halfilm Awards-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Winner Best Social Justice Short Film Cannes World Film Festival-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best Cinematography Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards 2022-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best Cinematography Prague International Film Awards 2022-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Winner New Wave Short Film Festival 2021-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Award of Excellence Indie Film Fest Awards

The Little Match Girl

An adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's famous short story by the same title, The Little Match Girl. A sad tale of a young girl who tries to sell matches to feed her homeless family, but is neglected and dies alone on the cold streets of Cape Town.

Desmond’s Not Here Anymore&nbsp;follows a devoted daughter who struggles to care for her mother whose Alzheimer’s keeps a painful memory alive from their past.&nbsp;This film is a celebration of the unique, abiding mother-daughter bond, and ultimately about healing. Directed by multi-award winning South African director and writer Mmabatho Montsho, and written by award-winning screenwriter Lindiwe Suttle Müller-Westernhagen, Desmond’s Not Here Anymore is a surprisingly cathartic piece of cinema. Laurels:-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best screenplay Hollyshorts Film Festival-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best short film Uptilt Film Festival-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Best short film Paris International Film Festival

Desmond’s Not Here Anymore

The mother can’t remember; the daughter can’t forget.

The Karoo is a magical place. It’s from here that South Africa gets much of its food, specifically meat, but underneath the pristine landscape are believed to be large quantities of natural gas which oil companies would love to get their hands on. Enter a new technique called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking for short. There are many who say it's environmental risks are too great and it is currently being investigated in the US. Should we be exploiting it? Originally produced for television and screened in South Africa, Fracking up the Karoo explores the impact of fracking in the Karoo. There is no trailer available for this film.

Fracking up the Karoo

Fracking up the Karoo explores the impact of fracking on the environment and livelihoods of people in the Karoo region of South Africa.

Patricia Goliath, the film's protagonist, is a woman juggling two lives that are poles apart. As Patricia she is a brave, tough, courageous police captain working in the highly disciplined male-dominated machine that is the South African Police Force. Patricia, a 36 year old from Strandfontein on the Cape Flats, is one of the few women Police Captains, ballistic expert and hostage negotiator on her local force. Working in the crime-infested areas in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, she trains young police cadets who patrol these gang-ridden areas. On her days off Patricia becomes Layla, named after a goddess, a beautiful sensual belly dancer. As Layla she is very serious about her dancing, performing in toptheatres, restaurants and at special events . Peppered throughout Patricia’s story we meet other members of this colourful dancing community like Penny a committed provincial government political change-maker, Cherie a middle-aged veterinary assistant whose world is surrounded by animals at work and at home, and Mel who works in a tough male-dominated environment, all of whom transform into gorgeous goddesses in their other lives. The huge number of Cape dance troupes come together and celebrate their talents at the Babylon Club, World Belly Dance Day and the Oriental Dance Festival. Women no matter how old, what size, ethnicity, or social class, have had their hearts, imaginations and even their souls, together with their torsos, captured by the fabulousness of belly dance. Laurels:&nbsp;Audience Award for Best Short Film WOW Film Festival

English

This Side of Fabulous

A revelatory, humorous and life affirming look into the infectious and extraordinary world of belly dancing as it beguiles, empowers, liberates and unites women of all kinds.

In a world where media’s credibility is being questioned, where fake news spreads like wildfire, the work of investigative journalists is imperative – and their presence on social media often an important counterweight to disinformation. But it is also a mouse-and-cat space in which journalists and bullies battle across the digital world. The film highlights the personal stories and exceptional work of four extraordinary women journalists in South Africa, Ferial Haffajee, Marianne Thamm, Pauli van Wyk and Caryn Dolley; it explores what suddenly shifted the discourse around the stories published, what sparked the attacks, what made them so personal and vicious; it is also a story of hope, inspiration, resilience and incredible strength - in especially challenging times. This is a film about journalists, made by journalists. Laurels:&nbsp;Award Winner Cine Paris Film Festival 2023 Note: there is bonus content available for this film, which will play after the film has ended. Also, please note that because bonus content is uploaded into the platform differently from the films it is not available through the Eventive App nor on Apple TV, Fire TV or Roku. It can be accessed using all other available means.&nbsp;

Contains scenes with violence and coarse language

Section 16

In a world where media’s credibility is being questioned, where fake news spreads like wildfire, the work of investigative journalists is imperative – and their presence on social media often an important counterweight to disinformation.

Filmmaker Emilie Gambade and investigative journalist Pauli van Wyk discuss the harassment of female journalists with former South African TV&nbsp;journalist, Lindy Mtongana. They explain the motivation behind extreme cyber-bullying, and how these attacks affect them personally and professionally. They share their hopes that this documentary will raise awareness of the dangers facing investigative journalists globally.&nbsp; Note: because bonus content is uploaded into the platform differently from the films it is not available through the Eventive App nor on Apple TV, Fire TV or Roku. It can be accessed using all other available means.

Section 16 bonus content: Interview with film director and investigative journalist

Interview with film director and investigative journalist

Canada

Shorts Package featuring diverse and and interesting short films, plus Section 16 bonus content: panel discussion

Single ticket - individual

Single ticket - Household (2+)

Education without Borders Foundation4490 West 1st AveVancouverBC&nbsp;V6R 4J4Canada&nbsp;﻿BN:&nbsp;873013718RR0001

Donation to Education without Borders

Donate to Education without Borders

Gift Cards

These are all the passes tied to your account. Remember to use your pass to order your films/events.

 You can access your tickets via {{my_tickets_link|"My Tickets"}}.  
{{buy_pass_link|Looking to buy another pass?}}


None available

Passes 

Continue browsing to explore our wonderful festival line-up. To purchase a ticket to an individual film, choose what you'd like to watch, click Pre-order Now/Watch Now.  {{link|https://saffcanada.eventive.org/passes/buy|Click here}} to buy a Virtual Pass to access all our online films and bonus content.

BRINGING YOU THE BEST IN SOUTH AFRICAN FILM: SAFF Canada is a festival with a heart and a purpose. All proceeds support Education without Borders (EwB).

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.