Peter Machen has resigned from his position as festival manager of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), effective 31 March 2015. Machen leaves the festival in the capable hands of Pedro Pimenta, who has been appointed festival director.
“I am very happy that I have left behind a strong programme of features and documentaries for DIFF 2015, the bulk of which has been invited and locked-down,’ said Machen. “I am also very happy to be leaving the festival in the hands of someone like Pedro, who has a lucid understanding of film and festivals, and is well-loved in the industry.’
Machen, who was appointed festival manager in 2013, has been working with the festival as a writer and programming consultant since 2006, and has a long and established career as an arts writer and film critic. He will be leaving Durban for Berlin in June this year where he will continue his freelance career as a writer, editor, art director and art photographer.
“It has been an extraordinary experience over the last few years,’ said Machen, referring to his tenure at the festival. “And I’m sure that I will continue to work with film and film festivals in the coming years. It’s also been a remarkable experience getting to know so many wonderful people on the local and international film festival circuits and I have built many rich relationships which will continue to be sustained in the future. So it’s certainly not a complete goodbye to film festivals.’
Machen expressed his warm wishes for 2015’s festival and future editions. “DIFF is very close to my heart, having personally attended for 25 years. It has become part of who I am, and of course I wish the festival the best of luck in 2015 and beyond.’
