SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Loud cheers and heavy applause met the closing credits of Elelwani, the first ever Venda production in cinema history, at its world premiere screening on the opening night of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on 19 July at Suncoast.
Directed by Ntshavheni wa Luruli (The Wooden Camera, Chikin Biznis: The Whole Story) and starring Florence Masebe, Elelwani was shot in the sumptuous green splendour of the Limpopo province. It relates the story of a young woman who has to negotiate the demands and rituals of her Venda culture alongside those of her modern aspirations.
Wa Luruli told the audience that the film had taken 10 years to make. He continued “It’s been a long journey to get to this point. During this time I’ve had to deal with people making comments about the script and about “insignificant people’ from Limpopo. I want to thank everyone involved in the making of the film, in particular my producer Florian Schattauer who was like a bulldog – he never gave up trying to raise the finance for the film.
“In addition I would like to thank Florence (Masebe) who has been with the project right from the beginning and thanks also to the film’s sponsors and to DIFF for choosing it as their opening night film.’
Masebe in turn thanked Wa Luruli: “Thank you for your faith in me throughout all these years. It’s not easy at my age to have to play a young woman.’
Co-star Ashifashabba Muleya commented that it was important to be proud of what you are and not what you pretend to be. “Here is a film that depicts the Venda people as they are and which gives a window into our culture. This film is part of the African archives.’
In introducing DIFF 2012 festival director Peter Rorvik noted that in the buildup to the event people had been asking what they could expect. “A film festival offers access to new ways of filmmaking and to stories that are meaningful in our South African context as well as a look at perspectives from world cinema. Fifty-six different countries are represented in our line-up this year.
“But first and foremost DIFF is a platform for South African film and this year we are delighted to have more South African films than ever before – 16 feature films, 19 documentaries and 27 short films, as well as four films in the Wavescape Surf Film Festival.
“DIFF 2012 presents a focus on contemporary European cinema, in particular France through the France-South Africa Season. We also have a special focus on Japan.’
Rorvik revealed that next week in a special DIFF initiative targeted at schools, every day school children from remote areas will be brought to Suncoast to watch South African films.
“This festival is not only about film screenings,’ continued Rorvik, “it also presents a platform where filmmakers can find out about the latest industry trends, discuss challenges facing the industry and have the opportunity to meet with co-producers, financiers and sales agents.
“In 2008 DIFF introduced Talent Campus Durban and this year we welcome 50 filmmakers form 18 different African countries. It was in 2010 that we introduced another important initiative – the Durban FilmMart Co-production & Finance Market which each year offers a very dynamic programme of seminars and master classes.
“Together all these industry initiatives have contributed to the development of film. But I have to emphasise that we want to see the end product on the screen,’ concluded Rorvik.
Mmabatho Ramagoshi, chairperson of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), one of the principal funders of DIFF, pointed out that the NFVF had supported the festival for the past 12 years. “The NFVF’s focus is on emerging filmmakers so we are excited to see that DIFF is focusing on young filmmakers and schoolchildren – this is the way to go. We’re also very encouraged to witness the growth of the Durban FilmMart, which gives filmmakers a chance to further their projects.
“It’s important that we see DIFF grow from strength to strength and we are happy that there are so many South African films screening at this year’s festival. As the NFVF we pledge our support to DIFF and we want to make sure that these films are seen in rural areas,’ said Ramagoshi.
In formally opening the festival MEC for the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Economic Development & Tourism Michael Mabuyakhulu stated: “My Department is grateful that this province can once again host DIFF. The film industry is an industry of the future – there has been phenomenal growth in the global film market since 2005. In 2009 the global box office was $29.9bn, a 7.6% increase on 2005’s figure. These statistics hold high hopes for the future of the industry. It is projected that in 2012 the global box office will be $126bn.’
Mabuyakhulu noted that DIFF 2012 will see the launch of the KZN Film commission which is set to promote filmmaking in the region.
Report by Joanna Sterkowicz
