OUR WATER
Our Water is about a small, rural village in the heart of Limpopo, South Africa, which is heavily influenced by the tradition of agriculture. But as the water, which used to flow in abundance in a nearby river, increasingly becomes a scarce resource, due to climate change and the large-scale, commercial farming practices upstream, the community’s traditions and culture are deeply affected. What used to be a farming community for generations is now steadily turning towards a more modern lifestyle, leaving behind the rich traditions of the past.
DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Emmylou Bailey
CO-DIRECTOR & CINEMATOGRAPHY
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
IN PARTNERSHIP
Kruger to Canyons
SUPPORTED BY
CSA & WWF
THE PROFESSOR
Koos Paulse carries immense knowledge of Khoi-San ancestry and indigenous plant use, which he imparts on Prof. Ben-Erik van Wyk, a renowned ethnobotanist. Against the painful backdrop of apartheid and rural neglect, Koos is able to tell this story about change, recognition and the restoration of dignity.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Carlos Francisco
PRODUCER
Laurence Dworkin
EMATIMATOLO'S SUSTAINABLE TIMBER
This short film was created for SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) and is about the environmentally sustainable farming practices by small-scale eMatimatolo timber growers in Kwazulu-Natal.
DIRECTION
Emmylou Bailey & Naima Maleika
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
AFRICAN BUSH CAMPS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
A promotional video for African Bush Camps, an African Safari experience.
EDITING
Naima Maleika
COMMUNITIES COMMIT TO CONSERVING THEIR NATURAL HERITAGE
This short film was made for SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute). It is about a successful land claim, in which four Community Property Associations (CPAs), representing villages situated along the Mpumalanga escarpment, chose to have their land included in the iconic Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.
DIRECTION, CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS PRETORIA
Thulisile Jaca, Regional Coordinator at the Biological Invasions Directorate at SANBI and Ntombifikile Phaliso, SANBI taxonomist, speak about how they identify and study invasive species in order to protect and conserve South Africa's biodiversity.
This was a participatory film production with SANBI Employees.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika & Laurence Dworkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
MILLICENT ROSINA MASANGO - ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER
Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the Biodiversity and Land Use Project (BLU) aims to support effective land use and environmental management decision-making that ensures that biodiversity continues to provide essential ecosystem services. The BLU project promotes career development of young people in the sector as well as improving the capabilities of relevant government entities to make good decisions that protect priority biodiversity. As part of this commitment, it has strategically placed young and mid-career professionals within relevant government entities.
This was a participatory film production with SANBI Employees.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika & Laurence Dworkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY, & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
SANBI NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN
Sarah Chabangu, bird curator at the National Zoological Garden, talks about the importance of conserving vultures, due to the significance they play in the wild.
This was a participatory film production with SANBI Employees.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika & Laurence Dworkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT - A YOUTHFUL PERSPECTIVE
Young scientists of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) speak about South Africa's third National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) after its release. The NBA encompasses the status of South Africa's species & ecosystems, and is harnessed in order to navigate how to continue to protect South Africa's biodiversity.
This was a participatory film production with SANBI Employees.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika & Laurence Dworkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
SIYAKWAMKELA - WE WELCOME YOU
Ms Carmel Mbivzo, acting SANBI CEO, and Mr Christopher Willis, Chief Director of National Botanical Gardens, provide an overview of the South African National Biodiversity institute (SANBI). Not only does SANBI manage a national network of botanical gardens within the various provinces of South Africa, SANBI also hosts biodiversity science institutions which generate biodiversity knowledge and evidence that feeds into developing guidelines and tools in order to engage policy makers.
This was a participatory film production with SANBI Employees.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika & Laurence Dworkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
DONGA REHABILITATION
Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the Biodiversity and Land Use Project (BLU) aims to support effective land use and environmental management decision-making that ensures that biodiversity continues to provide essential ecosystem services. Through the Ecological Infrastructure Challenge Fund, the BLU project supports municipalities to invest in projects that restore and maintain ecological infrastructure (EI), especially where EI supports municipal infrastructure. The Bushbuckridge LM in partnership with Ehlanzeni District Municipality and SANBI invests in donga rehabilitation and road improvements to improve community safety.
DIRECTION
Naima Maleika & Laurence Dworkin
CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers
ENVIRONTENTAL ACTIVIST
A film shot by environmental activists using cellphone footage. In a project collaboration between WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) and CareTakers, Naima Maleika trained 200 beach stewards & environmental activists in filmmaking using their cellphones. This short film was created for WESSA's Blue Flag Project.
VIDEOGRAPHY
Annalene Bernardus, Shahida Saayman, Pieter Sambo, Evan Lombaard & Remorgan Fielies
EDITING
Naima Maleika
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CareTakers