Trammakas(Sea) Film Festival

With this rich environmental historical backdrop, the museum aims to foster the reconnection of people to place and has refocused exhibitions and education to speak to the social histories of our natural environment. We realized that images and in particular film has the power to narrate stories that can resonate across generations. It is for this reason that we partnered with Nature, Environment, Wildlife and Film (NEWF),  the Cape Town Museum of Childhood, the Princess Vlei Forum, Arkys Outreach and Oceaneers to bring together a wide audience under the concept of ‘trammakassie,’

Trammakassie is a derivative of the Melayu word ‘ Teramah Kasih’. It travelled from the South East Asian archipelagos across the ocean to the shores of Cape Town in the1700s. Trammakassie, or thank you in English, reflects an experience of and connection to the ocean. It is a word that tells a story of slavery, of exile, and a reconstitution of home. We use this concept as an homage to the interconnection between our shared natural heritage and social histories and the potential for the reconnection of people, place and environment for a sustainable and equitable future.

We screened the following films:

TEMBISA JORDAAN- ULWANDLE LUSHILE ‘story about the unheard voices of traditional marine fishers’

JAMILA JANNA – HLULEKA ‘Hluleka is a marine conservation themed nature documentary that aims to encourage community engagement in decision-making.’

JESS LAMBSON - BETWEEN THE TIDES ‘Between the Tides is a conservational, emotional short documentary surrounding the protection of the endangered Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles.’

FAINE LOUBSER – AZILALI ‘A journey through the life of a dark shyshark foetus.’

FIDEL TSHIVHASA - SEEKING GIANTS ‘An exploration of the Humpback Whale as it travels along the Durban Coastline.’

MOGAMAT SHAMIER MAGMOET-RISE FROM THE CAPE FLATS ‘A story of a young man who has found peace in the beauty of the ocean through the experience of free diving.’

Loyiso Dunga- Phefumla ‘follows Loyiso Dunga, a marine scientist from one of South Africa's most infamous townships, as he embarks on overcomming his fears of drowning.’

We screened the documentaries in our environmental room. It was a fitting setting given the content of the documentaries. The festival was very well supported by an audience of all ages. In fact, we had two screenings on the day to accommodate everyone. The rain and the angry clouds did not deter the audience’s enthusiasm. We were very happy to host the Chacma Champions, The Fisher Child Project, as well as a group of young learners from a robotics school in Bellville. We were also privileged to have Jamilla Janna, director of Hluleka and Loyiso Dunga, the star of Phefumla join the event.

The documentaries, the space, and the people that attended all contributed to a really inspiring and hopeful day. There are many things to complain about, but being able to see young and not so young, sharing and smiling, perhaps there is a reason to a just a little bit hopeful about the future.