2004 Bio:

Clifford Bestall’s film career started in response to the emerging political activism of the late 70’s, was invigorated by the 80’s and early 90’s to be followed by the calmer years when he could re-evaluate why he became a film maker in the first instance. Since 1994 he has made a number of documentaries that have attracted international acclaim and awards.

2001 Bio:

Cliff Bestall must be one of South Africa’s most prolific filmmakers, having made over 50 documentaries in the past 20 years. He has won many international awards for his work both as a cinematographer and a director. An innovative filmmaker, Cliff avoids the classic mode of objective filming, using a range of perspectives and often striking contradictions that encourage the exploration of the subtle textures of the truth.

In 1999, at the first Encounters Documentary Festival, we screened his Nelson Rolihlala Mandela—an intimate portrait, and he tutored in the Close Encounters Laboratory. He also shot the award-winning Close Encounters documentary, JG Strijdom is Very, Very Dead, for Pule Diphare.

1999 Bio:

Cliff Bestall has made over 50 documentaries in the past 20 years and received many international prizes for his work, among them the Artes Award for the original series of Ordinary People. Bestall’s interest in the conventions of documentary is evident in his innovative approach to the making of Nelson Rolihlala Mandela—an intimate portrait.

Bestall avoids the classic mode of ‘objective’ filming; here, there is no single authorial voice, rather a range of perspectives and often striking contradictions, which encourages the exploration of the subtle textures of truth. We are pleased to welcome Cliff Bestall as a guest of Pro Helvetia and this (1999) Festival.

He will introduce the screening and answer questions from the audience on Thursday, 24 June 1999, at 6 pm. We are grateful to the SABC for the opportunity to have the World Premiere screening of the complete intimate portrait.