Local filmmakers put Knysna on map

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KNYSNA NEWS AND VIDEO - The organiser of the International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFF), Caroline Ungersbock, has welcomed a video entered by two young Knysna-based filmmakers.

Raen (24) and his brother Chant Messina (20) filmed, produced, and edited the almost 3-minute long video, and also wrote and performed original music for the project, which is now live on their YouTube channel, Hermit State.

Ungersbock said she was struck by the quality of the imagery and the storytelling in the video: "ITFF Africa is a platform for everyone who wants to show off their destinations, and these boys seem to have captured the essence of Knysna very well," she said. "It's the kind of video that makes you want to visit the place – and that's exactly what ITFF aims to achieve.

"We believe we need to grow and nurture young talent, and the International Film Festival is a great platform for that. We wish them all the best through the jury process."

Watch the video below:

The video was funded by a grant from 34 South Restaurant at the Knysna Waterfront.

"We took a chance," said the restaurant's co-owner Charles van Tonder, "and gave the boys complete creative control. We wanted to see how young people would interpret Knysna, and I have to say I believe that Chant and Raen have captured the two things that make this town unique: the Knysna forests, and our beaches, where there's enormous space for everyone."

To be welcomed into the ITFF is a big deal for them, said Raen. "It means a lot. Martin (Hatchuell) came up with the idea and helped us with the sponsorships, and then we saw it as a good opportunity to broaden our field and audience," he said.

For the brothers, it is by far their biggest commercial achievement to date, but more than that, Raen said, "it was like a journey of growth for us. We have come up with an idea we really like and it's worked out well for us."

The video is expected to garner excellent coverage for Knysna: besides a screening at Africa Travel Week (during WTM Africa in Cape Town in April), all entries from South Africa will be screened on Brics TV, which has over 400-million viewers worldwide.

Knysna's natural beauty is the star of brothers Raen and Chant Messina's video which they entered for the International Tourism Film Festival Africa.