The picturesque city of Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, recently played host to the 16th annual ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival, uniting tourism film producers and directors from around the world, celebrating global tourism at its finest. The festival reached its grand conclusion on Friday night, 27 October 2023, with a dazzling awards ceremony. “More than 150 participants entered this year, coming from more than 20 countries, and a surprisingly high number of participants from outside Europe: South America, Africa and Asia”, says founder and director of the festival, Francisco Days. Among the esteemed winners was first-time entrants, Demographica, who were the proud recipients of the 1st prize in the category of Tourism Experiences.
Demographica, a leading B2B global marketing partner to South African Tourism (SAT), emerged victorious in a fiercely competitive field. Their winning entry was a captivating short film titled ‘Khanyisa: Let your Story Shine’, which they conceptualised and produced for their client, SAT, promoting the trade platform, Africa Travel Indaba. The film served as a heartfelt tribute to the passion, uniqueness, and vitality of South Africa, with a special focus on the KwaZulu-Natal province. At a time when the world was cautiously reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency of normalising business events on the African continent was critical. ‘Khanyisa: Let your Story Shine’ not only showcased the location, but also set the stage for an extensive campaign to boost interest and conversations among key audiences.
Warren Moss, CEO and Founder of Demographica, remarked, “South Africa is a country of diverse opportunity. Most of all, it is a place of hope and passion, where anything is possible. This campaign aimed not only to promote South Africa’s business opportunities, but also capture its soul. It is a land with a rich storytelling heritage and that is what we wanted to showcase in this campaign.”
Moss emphasised that this achievement wouldn’t have been feasible without a client who shared their vision and commitment to narrating South Africa’s stories. He added, “All great work comes from great partnerships. This award is a testament to the hard work that the whole team, working together, has put in. South Africa has always strived to punch above its weight, and it is a privilege to display our beloved country on a global stage in this way.”
South Africa had a strong presence at the event, with a number of agencies receiving accolades. Her Excellency, Mmamokoena Gaoretelelwe, the South African Ambassador to Portugal, was also present to accept awards on behalf of the South African Tourism winners who couldn’t attend. Representing Demographica was Stacy David-Soobramoney, Client Partner at the B2B agency.
For more information about the ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival, please visit their official website at https://filmfreeway.com/ARTTUR.
Xolisa Tshunungwa (Project Director: Demographica) and Stacy David-Soobramoney (Client Partner: Demographica) accepting “1st Prize: Tourism Experiences” Award in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
The Portuguese Rooster was used as inspiration for the beautifully hand-crafted trophies at this year’s ART&TUR Festival.
Mr Mike Rumble, Xolisa Tshunungwa (Project Director: Demographica),
Stacy David-Soobramoney (Client Partner: Demographica), Her Excellency Mmamokoena Gaoretelelwe (South African Ambassador to Portugal),
Mr Carl le Roux and Ms Luz Marques (South African Embassy, Portugal).
