PRETORIA, July 3. /TASS/. South Africa plans an international film festival in 2016 with African and BRICS developing-nation filmmakers competing for the main prize, an 8.4 kilogram platinum-plated lion figurine.

"The South African International Film Festival aims to be the premier marketing platform for films made on the African continent, in the African diaspora and from BRICS nations," the event's founder, Eric Miyeni, told TASS, referring to the grouping of emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

"It aims to be a top-tier festival with the highest calibre of films vying for the Rapid Lion platinum award on a par with the Oscar and the Palme d'or," he said.

"It will awaken the world to the existence of universe-class films outside the mature territories of North America and Western Europe," Miyeni said, adding that the event will open in Johannesburg on March 19, 2016.

He called the platinum-plated 28cm high award made by the Chicago-based manufacturer of Oscars statuettes "a fusion of an ancient African symbol of excellence and a lioness in full flight".

"Choosing the metal finish is not accidental as South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum, accounting for 78% of global production," he added.