According to Cape Union Mart, South Africa is a dream location for filmmakers wanting to capture the majesty of the outdoors juxtaposed by the grittiness of urban living. However, young, local talent in South Africa often struggle to find a platform to showcase their work and get noticed in the industry.

In its eighth year, the AFC encourages filmmakers to gear up, explore our natural landscapes and show off their talent.

Odile Hufkie, marketing manager at Cape Union Mart, says, "Our brand is not only about providing consumers with the gifts and gadgets to explore the outdoors. We also understand and support young and old souls in the field of adventure filmmaking and want to give them a creative platform to share their experiences with us and the rest of the world."

"This campaign not only highlights some of the best filmmakers in the business but also shines a spotlight on the incredible beauty our country has to offer right from our doorsteps," adds Hufkie.

All film submissions will be judged by a panel of external judges, all of whom are involved in the outdoor film scene in South Africa. They include Jacques Crafford, landscape and travel photographer and 2020's AFC Professional's winner.

Joining Crafford on the judging panel is Ofentse Mwase, award-winning cinematographer and business owner, as well as Faine Loubser, who worked on the Oscar-winning Netflix original My Octopus Teacher as the official GoPro operator.

"We take great pride in providing entrants with many opportunities to get recognised by the best in the industry. Our panel of judges are just that and come from varied backgrounds, all offering a unique perspective of what it means to capture something truly breathtaking and authentically South African that speaks to the audience," Hufkie adds.

Submissions will be judged on factors like:
  • storyline
  • creativity
  • originality
  • visual composition
  • technical execution
  • editing
  • sound
  • music, and
  • overall impression.
The BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival is one of the largest mountain festivals in the world. Taking place annually, the festival draws some of the world's best filmmakers.

In addition to the opportunity to be featured in the BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival, which is screened in South Africa, professional entrants will be competing for a cash prize of R10 000 and R5 000 worth of in-store gear, while aspiring filmmakers are vying for R5 000 worth of Cape Union Mart gear.

Films must be no longer than five minutes (300 seconds), including titles and credits. To be suitable for cinemas, all videos should also be shot at HDTV resolution (1920 x 1080) at 25 or 50 fps.

To enter, applicants can submit your final short film here by Sunday, 8 August at midday.

For more information, visit www.capeunionmart.co.za. You can also follow Cape Union Mart on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.