The festival has indicated that attendees will have access to exclusive video content, such as masterclasses and interviews with industry heavy-weights, as well as Q&A's with international filmmakers.

The festival has also announced that it will be expanding its reach. SAIFF says that it aims to reach to the whole of the African continent.

According to the festival, the COVID-19 pandemic has made hosting traditional film festivals impossible. For a while, it seemed that the international 2020 film festival run would not take place, says the team at the festival.

"That was never an option for us," says artist and festival director Berneen Cereska. "We knew we couldn't disappoint our hard-working official selection filmmakers whose excellent work deserves to be celebrated."

"When it became clear that a traditional festival wasn't going to happen, we set our minds to creating a virtual experience that maintains all the advantages of the traditional festival, but expands our reach and keeps our audience and team safe," says James C. Williamson, festival managing director.

Some of the highlights of this year's catalogue include:
  • Spanish-Ethiopian sci-fi / comedy Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway
  • SAFTA award-winning local film Fiela se Kind
  • United States horror Artik, and
  • Danish-Zambian documentary The Remandee.
The 2020 SAIFF jury comprises:
  • Natasha Thahane (Blood and Water)
  • Neil Marshall (Game of Thrones, The Descent)
  • Toya Delazy (The Powerpuff Girls)
  • Academy Award nominee Peter Baynham (Borat, Hotel Transylvania), and
  • returning judge Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Black Sails, Pirates of the Caribbean III).
"Everyone involved in the festival, from the organisers to the jury, have a heartfelt love for indie film," says festival director Ryan Kruger. "As independent filmmakers ourselves, we understand the disappointments and thrills that come with the territory. This festival celebrates all the highs, lows, hard work and creativity of indie filmmaking."

The official selection catalogue will be available for streaming for all residents of the African territories from Friday, 14 August to Sunday, 30 August. Individuals are encouraged to click here for more details.

SAIFF is in partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa. Tickets are available here and attendees can attend the festival here

For more information, visit www.saindiefilmfest.com. You can also follow SAIFF on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.