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24 PHILANTHROPY MAGAZINEBrazil, the development component enabled a cohort of MECS honours students to produce five micro-budget short films.Two of the five films %u2013 The Journey Home and Amandla %u2013 were selected for screening at the 2023 African Film Festival in S%u00e3o Paulo, Brazil. As part of this opportunity, two students, along with Ms Noluvuyo Mjoli and Mr Sakhile Gumede from the CCA, travelled to the festival to participate in panel discussions on the state of African cinema. Gumede heads CCA%u2019s outreach and public engagement for DIFF.In 2024, the project expanded to include UKZN honours students and film graduates from across the province in the production of documentary films. Masterclasses, designed by MECS academic staff, guided participants through pre-production, production and post-production phases. These sessions also served as platforms for networking and collaboration, helping to spark new projects.Key themes of the masterclasses included storytelling, production management, marketing and distribution, cinematography (including lighting, sound and camera angles) and editing.Three documentary films were produced as a result of these masterclasses: Daughters of Lost Fathers, Kwanele Mtshali%u2019s Journey and Gifted.Currently receiving acclaim is Daughters of Lost Fathers, which has been named a finalist for the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards in the categories of Best Documentary Short Film and Best MicroBudget Film. The documentary follows two sisters as they deal with the emotional impact of their father%u2019s abandonment and their journey towards healing and self-discovery.The NIHSS grant, combined with UKZN%u2019s masterclasses, served as catalysts for the creation of Daughters of Lost Fathers. Its production and award nomination stand as a testament to the success of the grant, led by the CCA in collaboration with UKZN%u2019s Media and Cultural Studies Programme.In 2024, the project expanded to include UKZN honours students and film graduates from across the province in the production of documentary films. Masterclasses, designed by MECS academic staff, guided participants through pre-production, production and post-production phases. These sessions also served as platforms for networking and collaboration, helping to spark new projects.DONORS