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Question and answer session with Ian Morgan

Cape Town based filmmaker Ian Morgan was the winner of the first SundanceTV Shorts Competition for South Africa, with his short film Good Mourning.

Ian Morgan, who won a trip to London to premiere his film at the Sundance Film Festival, returned this week excited, elated and inspired. Here he answers a few questions:

ALSO READ: WINNER OF INAUGURAL SUNDANCETV SHORT FILM COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

Tell us about your winning film Good Mourning?
Good Mourning is a dark comedy about Ted (played by Paul Snodgrass), a professional mourner, who loves his job to death. Until one day he is challenged by a disbeliever, Sandrine (Skye Russell), who questions his morals and ethical standpoint and the conversation take an unlikely turn.

What made you decide to enter the competition?
Paul (Snodgrass) suggested it and sent me a link to the SundanceTV Shorts Competition site. We had been entering the film into a number of local and international film festivals and thought we’d try our luck with this one.

SundanceTV has announced the winner of the first SundanceTV Shorts Competition for South Africa. The winner of the Jury Prize is Good Mourning by Cape Town-based filmmaker Ian Morgan.

Ian Morgan wins a trip for two to the premiere of his film at an event at Sundance Film Festival: London which takes place May 31 to June 3. Good Mourning will also be broadcast on SundanceTV (DStv channel 108) later this year. SundanceTV was joined by MultiChoice as exclusive partner for the competition.

Good Mourning is a dark comedy about Ted, a professional mourner, who loves his job to death. However, one day he is challenged by a disbeliever, Sandrine, who questions his morals and ethical standpoint and the conversation takes an unlikely turn.

ALSO READ: SundanceTV Looking For South African Short Films For TV Competition

“The SundanceTV Shorts Competition offers a unique platform to showcase the creativity of emerging filmmakers,” said Victoria Spitalieri, Marketing Director, AMC Networks International. “We’re incredibly excited to broadcast Ian Morgan’s film on SundanceTV Global later this year as well as to premiere Good Mourning at an event during the upcoming Sundance Film Festival: London. We’d like to thank all of the South African filmmakers who submitted entries as well as our partners who generously supported this exciting initiative.”

SundanceTV announced today the launch of the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts competition. The Jury Prize winning film will be broadcast on Sundance TV later this year and will premiere at an event during Sundance Film Festival: London, which takes place May 31 to June 3.

MultiChoice, SundanceTV’s exclusive affiliate partner in South Africa, will be supporting the competition with a representative joining the panel of jurors alongside Sundance TV and Sundance Institute.

“The Sundance TV Shorts competition reflects the very essence of the channel,” says Geraud Alazard, Senior Vice President of Marketing at AMC Networks International.

“It encapsulates SundanceTV’s unique energy and passion, shining a spotlight on independent storytelling and emerging talent. We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with Sundance Institute again this year and we’re enormously grateful for the support of our affiliate partner, MultiChoice.”

Submissions to the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts Competition can be made until April 15 at http://www.sundancetv.co.za/shorts. Entries must be submitted by the producer or director of the film who can provide proof of residency in South Africa. Films should be no longer than 15 minutes and must be delivered with English subtitles if English is not the language spoken in the film. Entries must meet SundanceTV’s official rules and technical requirements.