The Community Cinema Club is an initiative by New Age Artistry that seeks to reignite a passion for cinema while using film as a tool for engagement, education, and empowerment. By hosting curated film screenings, post-viewing discussions, and interactive activities, the project creates a dynamic space where young audiences can experience storytelling that resonates with their realities, challenges, and aspirations. With the help of the Gauteng Film Commission, the project has already hosted 2 screenings at Kgomotso High School & Gatang High School, and are slated to host their last screening at Javett Art Centre on the 1st of March 2025.
What We Do
The Community Cinema Club brings people together through the power of film. Our carefully selected screenings highlight South African cinema, focusing on thought-provoking narratives that spark meaningful conversations. But we go beyond just watching movies – our program includes:
- Film Screenings: Showcasing locally produced films that reflect diverse South African stories and voices.
- Interactive Discussions: Engaging in post-screening conversations with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals.
- Educational Activities: Hosting film-related competitions, trivia, and creative challenges to deepen understanding and appreciation of cinema.
- Career Exposure: Providing insight into various filmmaking careers, from directing and screenwriting, animation to cinematography and production.
Why It Matters
Film is a powerful medium that entertains, educates, and inspires. In many communities, access to cinema and the broader film industry remains limited. The Community Cinema Club breaks these barriers by bringing film to schools, cultural spaces, and local venues, ensuring that young people, especially students, engage with stories that reflect their lived experiences.
Through this initiative, we foster:
- A renewed love for South African and African cinema.
- Critical thinking and dialogue around social themes presented in films.
- Awareness of career opportunities in the film industry.
- Community engagement through shared cultural experiences.
Our Impact
Since its launch, the Community Cinema Club has reached young audiences across various schools and public spaces, facilitating screenings that encourage participation and open dialogue. We’ve hosted interactive movie discussions with film industry experts, giving students firsthand exposure to filmmaking as a career. Our activities, such as film trivia competitions and acting challenges, have created an immersive experience that transforms passive viewership into active engagement.
Thanks to the support of the Gauteng Film Commission, which has funded and commissioned this initiative, we have been able to expand our reach and deepen our impact. Our workshops in animation, multimedia, and marketing have been made possible through the contributions of Alchemy Art and Design Studios and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). Additionally, our project partners, EOD Media and Afridrum Productions, have played a crucial role in facilitating and strengthening our career exposure programs.
Join the Movement
The Community Cinema Club is more than just a film screening project—it’s a movement that celebrates storytelling, connects communities, and builds pathways into the film industry. Whether you’re a student, teacher, filmmaker, or film enthusiast, we invite you to be part of this growing network.
Stay updated on our screenings and events by following us on social media and joining our Community Cinema Resource Hub. Let’s bring cinema to every corner of South Africa—one screening at a time.
