South African film, TV and performance school AFDA has announced the launch of their Durban campus, which was celebrated at the 33rd Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on 26 July.
Since AFDA student films have screened at DIFF for numerous years, it was decided that the event would be held to coincide with the festival at the Blue Waters Hotel – the main festival hub.
Says CEO Bata Passchier: “The AFDA programme aims to bring to Durban a tertiary education that is designed for the new millennium. AFDA’s learning facilities and equipment are aligned to relevant technological developments enabling our students to achieve their learning goals, which are in turn in alignment with relevant market trends. Ultimately the learning value is sustained through the connectivity of the multi-faceted network involved in the programme’s process.’
AFDA alumni include Danie Bester (producer of the Bakgat movies), Gugulethu Zuma of Isidingo fame, Diaan Lawrenson of 7de Laan fame, Emmy-award winner Emma Eunson, Bouffant director Dean Blumberg, Trevor Calvery (DOP of Material), Vickus Strijdom (director of Zama Zama) and Adze Ugah (director of Gog’Helen) to name only a few. Many AFDA student films travel to international film festivals, picking up award nominations and numerous wins through the years, one of which being the Foreign Student Academy Award in 2006 for the Honours short film, Elaleni. This year, nine of the short films at the 33rd Durban International Film Festival were AFDA student films.
The Durban campus launch hosted a number of guests including local filmmakers and key players in the industry, AFDA alumni, teachers from various Durban and midlands schools and prospective students and parents. Chairman and co-founder Garth Holmes says: “The Durban KZN axis is critical for providing the region with an international standard of learning. An international standard that is capable of producing the intellectual, aesthetic, conceptual, attitudinal and technical skills required to create the necessary commercial platforms to evoke Durban’s unique cultural voice.’
The new campus will be situated in Glen Anil at 2a Highdale Road which is in the Durban North and La Lucia region. Open days will be held at the campus on 18 August 2012 and 6 October 2012.
Any enquiries about AFDA Durban can be directed to Durban-based Marketing Officer Milena Gevers (milenag@afda.co.za/ 079 833 1682).
