A shortlist of eight films was selected from all the entries, with a focus on films that are well-made, stylistically innovative and original, with interesting and captivating subject matter and storylines.
Beetge started his writing and directing career after finishing cum laude at film school in 2001 with his short film, Triomfeer. He worked as a commercials director in Johannesburg for three years afterwhich he completed his feature film script and took up a teaching position at the Cape Town Film School. He then rejoined the commercials industry in 2007 and produced The Abyss Boys in participation with the Goethe Institute and Focus Features in New York. The film has just won Best Short Film at the African Movie Awards (AMAA) in Nigeria.
The winner, who receives £500 in cash, sponsored by The Africa Channel and African Movie Channel, was selected by a high-profile jury, chaired by last year's Short Film Competition winner, Paul Emmanuel (3SAI: A Rite of Passage). All the shortlisted films were shown on Wednesday, 27 October at Edinburgh's Filmhouse cinema and the winner was announced directly after the screenings.
Commenting on this year's shortlist, Mark Cousins said: "The standard was, once again, high. A theme ran through many of the films: The false dream of being something you are not, the way that comparing yourself to others is the root of unhappiness."
The audience will also get an opportunity to vote for their favourite and the winner will be announced at the closing screening of the festival on 5 November 2010.
