Shnit Short Films to Celebrate Women Directors in A TASTE OF SHNIT at the Alexander Upstairs

Ahead of the main shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival in October, shnit Cape Town has teamed up with The Alexander Bar once again to bring A TASTE OF SHNIT to the Mother City, screening the best short films that shnit has to offer, with a selection of thought-provoking and exciting films made by female directors from all around the world in celebration of Women's Month.

Now in its eighth year in South Africa, the festival returns to Cape Town and kicks off in October. While shnit Cape Town counts down to the festival, they have decided to whet the appetites of Capetonian film lovers by giving them a taste of the shnit experience. The August edition of shnit's monthly mix of local and international short films once again offers an opportunity to chat to the local filmmakers who are behind some of the most exciting shorts coming out of the country.

This month's lineup at A TASTE OF SHNIT includes eight films.

THE CALL (Zamo Mkhwanazi, 10 minutes): Sibongiseni is an emotionally isolated taxi driver who finds out the prostitute he is regularly seeing is pregnant. He must decide whether to abort the child or change his ways and try form bonds with the woman and a child that is potentially his.

INTO US AND OURS (Jessie Zinn, 13 minutes): Zenzile and Marie are driving home together when something hits their car. The incident, and the way each perceives the event, ignites a series of misunderstandings between them.

REALITY + (Coralie Fargeat, 22 minutes): Through the Reality + technology you can now have access to an "improved reality". The chip implanted in your brain affects your senses to change the perception of your image. Choose "who" you want to reflect and see yourself as you've always wanted.

EMBRYO (Emma Thorsadner, 13 minutes): "My mother still doesn't know," says one of five women who in intimate and frank conversation discuss their experiences with abortion.

OPERATOR (Caroline Bartleet, 6 minutes): Gemma wakes to find the house on fire. Trapped with her son, she dials 999. The operator who answers holds Gemma's life in her hands.

BABY DADDY (Sarah Summers, 5 minutes): A father-to-be awaits the birth of his child with his family. This is a joyous occasion as everyone gathers to celebrate this new life into the world, but the father can't help but think of the direct impact it will have on his own life.

EDMOND (Nina Gantz, 9 minutes): Edmond's impulse to love and be close to others is strong. Maybe too strong. As he stands by a lake contemplating his options, he goes on a journey backwards through his life and revisits all his defining moments in search of the origins of his desires.

ZIMA (Cristina Picchi, 12 minutes): A journey through North Russia and Siberia where people have to cope with one of the world's harshest climates, where the boundary between life and death is so thin that it's sometimes almost non-existent.

The screening of the Women's Month edition of A TASTE OF SHNIT is at the Alexander Upstairs on 20 August at 19:00. Tickets are available from the Alexander Bar's website, with seats costing R80 if booked and prepaid online or R90 if paid on collection at the bar. For telephone enquiries, call 021 300 1652. The Alexander Bar, Café and Theatre is situated at 76 Strand Street in the Cape Town city centre and can be followed on Facebook and Twitter. The shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival runs from 18 - 22 October at several venues in Cape Town. Further information is available on the shnit website.

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