Gold Lion Moments

Gold Lion In Pictures


Audience enjoys popcorn at the Gold Lion Film Festival’s “American Movie Matinee” held at the American Centre in Mbabane.	Gold Lion Film Festival Director James Hall greets the audience at a reception prior to the “American Movie Matinee" at Mbabane.

Audience at the Gold Lion Film Festival’s first screening to be held at the University of Swaziland.	U.S. filmmaker Angela Gordon greets film students at the University of Swaziland

Hosts Okhwakhe Dlamini and Mphumelelo Dlamini annouce award winners.	Thandolwetfu from the movie “A Kiss From Thando the Explorer” which was an audience hit at the Gold Lion Film Festival.

Zoe Dean Smith, one of the judges for the Golden Leo Award for Best Film of the 2012 Gold Lion Film Festival, watches the movies from the audience at House on Fire.	Ingwe Mazibuko, Technical Manager for the Gold Lion Film Festival Screenings in White River, South Africa

Lew and Tracey Golitz , Sue Butowsky and Casterbridge Cinema owner Louis van der Merwe. Tracey and Sue manage the theatre.

	First Golden Leo Award received at first Gold Lion Film Festival, October 2005. The winning film was "Binta and the Great Idea," which was later nominated for the Best Live Action Short Oscar. On left is the accountant from PriceWaterhouse/Coopers who supervised the balloting and in blue and white outfit isThandi Shongwe, Swaziland Minister of Communications.
Handsome Okwakhe Dlamini and elegant Gigi Reid co-hosted the 2010 screening of finalists for the Golden Leo Award.

A 2007 festival jury deliberates.	Lesotho's top models hosted the 2009 Gold Loin screenings in Maseru.
Audience mingles in the lobby of the Mbabane Theatre Club, venue for several 2008 screenings in Swaziland.
	Ma-Lord Mefane, coordinator of 2010's "Night of American Short Cinema" held in Maseru, Lesotho, with projectionist Mabina Mopeli.

Audience at Waterford KaMhlaba College, 2009, host venue for annual student films screenings.	Students at Maseru,Lesotho lecture hall ask questions of the festival director.
	Swazi warriors James Mhlindza, Sibo Mkhonza and Jabulani Dlamini rehearsal for 2007 Gold Lion promo film
Swazi folk singer Bhaloja performs for audience at a 2006 screening.


	Nigerian/American filmmaker Temi Ojo, Director of "Renouncing Angelica," receives the Festival Director's Award from Gold Lion Film Festival director James Hall 29 October 2009

	Side by side screens pressed into service at House on Fire for a 2012 screening.

GOLD LION HOSTS FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS

2009 concluded with the first production workshop hosted by the Gold Lion Film Festival. Ten aspiring Swazi filmmakers aged 18 to 22 participated in the five-day course, held in Mbabane. Hands-on camera and editing work was featured, as teams wrote, shot and edited assignments using digital camera provided by the U.S. Embassy to Swaziland, which sponsored the initiative. The second workshop was held in Manzini, Swaziland's second city, in May 2010 and a worshop for women filmmakers attached to non-governmental organisations was held in Mbabane in June 2010. Workshops are scheduled for 2013.


Swazi girls with phones. The festival depends on young volunteers from the University of Swaziland.	Resembling a cross between a Moorish market and Hollywood’s old Coconut Grove, the amphitheatre at House on Fire has been the glamorous main venue of the Gold Lion Film Festival since the fest’s inception.

© Gold Lion Film Festival 2008