Nicole Schafer

Nicole Schafer (born 1980) is a South African writer, film director, producer, editor and cinematographer.[1] In 2019, her film Buddha in Africa was considered for an Oscar nomination.

Nicole Schafer
Born1980
NationalitySouth African
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town
Occupation(s)film director, editor, producer, cinematographer
Known forBuddha in Africa

Early career

Schafer completed her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in film and television production at the University of Cape Town. Whilst studying, she was inspired by the work of film-makers such as Nick Broomfield, Chris Marker, D.A. Pennebaker, Jean Rouch and Dziga Vertov. The film she made as her thesis was called The Ballad of Rosalind Ballingall and was screened at the 2006 Frijbourg Film Festival.[2]

Though Schafer was born in South Africa, she lived in Malawi for two years to pursue her career as a producer. She has produced award-winning stories for Reuters pan-African magazine Africa Journal while staying in Malawi.[3] She has also worked as an editor for the South African-based sports channel Supersport. Her other production credits notably include Lonely Planet magazine owned travel show Six Degrees and Discovery Channel's Sport Traveller.[4]

Schafer began producing the films under her production banner Thinking Strings Media.[3] Thinking Strings is based in KwaZulu-Natal and aims to support the production of documentaries in the province. It is also organizing the Umbono Film Festival for local young people, in conjunction with Michaelhouse school and the Michaelhouse Community Partnership Trust.[5] In 2011, her short film documentary Homage to the Buddha - of Africa (Namo Amitofo) was screened at International Film Festival Rotterdam. This was planned as a study for a longer work.[6]

Documentary

Schafer wrote, directed and produced her first feature film Buddha in Africa between 2012 and 2019.[7] It is a documentary following a child growing up in a Buddhist Taiwanese orphanage in Malawi.[8] The film won the award for best South African documentary film at Durban International Film Festival and was automatically qualified as an Oscar (Academy Award) nomination.[5][7]

References
  1. "Nicole Schafer". IFFR. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  2. "Hot Docs 2019 Women Directors: Meet Nicole Schafer – "Buddha in Africa"". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  3. "Nicole Schafer". Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. "Crew". www.durbanfilmoffice.com. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  5. "Buddha in Africa - for Hilton Arts Festival". Versfeld & Associates. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  6. "Homage to the Buddha - of Africa". IFFR. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  7. Birjalal, Alyssia. "'Buddha in Africa' in consideration for Oscar nomination". IOL. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  8. Vourlias, Christopher (28 April 2019). "'Buddha in Africa' Director Nicole Schafer on China's Soft Power Play". Variety. Retrieved 2 October 2019.

Nicole Schafer at IMDb

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