Testimonials

“For our ambitious digital magazine /answers we need film makers who are natural storytellers with a love for the human aspect and a distinct individual handwriting. This is what made Anna Telford the obvious choice for us: talent to find the core of a good story, perfect mixture of closeness and birds-eye view and a unique feeling for a score that organically fits the story as a leading character. This film, ‘Into the Light’, was one of the most successful and acclaimed /answers stories so far and made it clear that we wanted to continue working with Anna on a follow-up story – and we did.”

Tobias Dennehy, Editor in Chief Corporate Communications, Siemens

“Our film Ubilali represents our work in the community prefectly; it is exactly what we asked for, only better! Thank you Butterfly, we are more than pleased.”

Andrew Smith, Chairman Masicorps

“The piece that Butterfly Films has made for Young in Prison is such a unique story, humanising the topic of incarcerated youth which many people do not want to think about.  There are many ways to go about making a film, or telling a story, and Anna approaches this so openly and intelligently, and with such a clarity of vision. This, paired with the exceptional image quality that resulted, means not only that YIP now have an extremely valuable tool for  spreading their important message, but also that the public have the means to engage in an otherwise faceless issue.  Telford herself is a powerful advocate of change and development –  we are very lucky to have her in South Africa, making films that have the potential to improve lives, inspire ideas and  open minds.”

Julia Merrett, Young in Prison Program Co-Ordinator

“Butterfly Films changed the face of The Adonis Musati Project forever. It not only gave our cause a voice but showed viewers that refugees were not faceless numbers but real mothers, fathers and children. It helped people identify and empathise with real living, breathing human beings. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case those words couldn’t ring more true.  The film was made with great professionalism and heart and it gave AMP the courage to go to the next level and achieve what only months before the launch of the DVD had seemed unattainable. Thank you Butterfly Films for believing in us and equipping us with the tools we needed to tell our story.”

Gahlia Brogneri , Founder of The Adonis Musati Refugee Project

“Butterfly Films has provided Off The Street Kids with a beautiful film to showcase our work. Not only does this film serve as an excellent fundraising tool, but it also equips us to advocate for our target group, which is essential to our work. I can write reports and show statistics, but the power of film was proved to me when I went into a school in England earlier this year to speak to 500 children in their morning assembly. These children didn’t have to sit and listen to me telling them what we do – the youth in our program told them directly, through the film, and the head teacher said afterwards that she couldn’t believe how engaged the children were. I could not have engaged them and gained their support (they have since sent us a donation and we are now one of their nominated charities) without the film.”

Michelle Potter , Founder of Off The Street Kidsroject

“The Big Issue SA would like to formally thank Butterfly Films for producing Refelctions, an award-winning film about our job creation and development programme. In our 14 years of existence, The Big Issue SA has had a number of films made about our project, but none before Reflections has so poignantly and movingly captured the essence of what we do.  As a result, Reflections has become one of our most effective brand awareness and fundraising tools.  I can whole-heartedly recommend Butterfly Films to anyone who is looking for a film that will really make a difference to your bottom line.”

Trudy Vlok , Managing Director of The Big Issue SA

“Anna Telford’s films have helped to significantly raise the profile of the organisations she’s made them for and the causes they address. Her phenomenal talent for evocative cinematography and empathetic, respectful and challenging storytelling moves audiences to want to get involved in taking action against the social injustices she exposes. She’s a social entrepreneur who helps organisations to extend their reach and impact. Anna’s film, Ikamva Flying Colours, which she made last year for IkamvaYouth, has catapulted our township-based education non-profit into a new realm of media attention, funding and attracted new volunteers. For the first time, many people are beginning to understand the extent to which our work enables young disadvantaged youth to pull themselves out of poverty and into university, and the impact this has on their families and communities. Anna’s films are an extraordinary tool for deepening understanding of social justice issues and garnering support for the organisations addressing them. Viva, Butterly Films, Viva!!”

Joy Olivier , Founder of Ikamva Youth

“Butterfly Films changed the face of The Adonis Musati Project forever. It not only gave our cause a voice but showed viewers that refugees were not faceless numbers but real mothers, fathers and children. It helped people identify and empathise with real living, breathing human beings. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case those words couldn’t ring more true.  The film was made with great professionalism and heart and it gave AMP the courage to go to the next level and achieve what only months before the launch of the DVD had seemed unattainable. Thank you Butterfly Films for believing in us and equipping us with the tools we needed to tell our story.”

Gahlia Brogneri , Founder of The Adonis Musati Refugee Project

“Anna’s films connect to the heart. Her films for NGOs allow these important causes to truly touch those who see them, and in so doing, create empathy and understanding. This, in turn, creates much-needed support and funding. She does this with unstinting dedication and an extraordinary ability to listen and capture the nuances and subtlety of human experience. It is this ability that makes her films such a powerful tool for change, and for creating an understanding of how our essential humanity transcends our divisions.”

Theo Erasmus , Creative Strategist, Membrane

“Butterfly Films took it to a level that we couldn’t have imagined. Given a loose agenda their creativity was left to do what they do best – extract the story. Our story resided in its parts in each one of us, but wasn’t known in full to any of us; Butterfly films coalesced these parts and told our story – one for treasuring. Thank you.”

George Eadie , Artistic management, Energy Partners