The highly anticipated South African film Ayanda, directed by Sara
Blecher and produced by Real Eyes in association with Leading Lady Productions,
has been announced as the opening night film of the 36th Durban International
Film Festival (DIFF) which takes place from 16 to 26 July.
Set in the vibrant, Afropolitan community of Johannesburg’s Yeoville,
Ayanda is a coming-of-age story of a twenty-one year old Afro-hipster, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she has to fight to save
her late father’s legacy – a motor repair shop – when it is threatened with closure.
She’s thrown into a world of greasy overalls, gender stereotypes and abandoned
vintage cars once loved, now in need of a young woman’s re-inventive touch to
bring them back to life again.
The film stars Fulu Mugovhani (Scandal) and Nigerian actor OC Ukeje,
with a South African cast including Ntathi Moshesh, Kenneth Nkosi, Jafta Mamabola,
Thomas Gumede, Sihle Xaba and Vanessa Cooke.
“We are pleased that this feel-good film will open this year’s festival,’ says DIFF
director Pedro Pimenta. “The opening film of this, the most prestigious international
film event in South Africa, needs to reflect a clear priority established by the
festival to reach and develop local audiences.
“The recently published NFVF report on audiences in this country is very informative
and revealing in that while the industry has been successfully structured and
supported from all quarters to allow a regular flow of South African content, much
still needs to be done for this content to reach local audiences. By once again
opening the DIFF with a strong South African film, we endorse this objective.’
This is the second opening night film at DIFF for director Sara Blecher. Her film
Otelo Burning opened the 2011 edition to critical acclaim. “We are
very proud of Ayanda and are thrilled to have it selected as the
opening film at this year’s festival. The film had a very successful screening in
Cannes last month and we look forward to screening it to festival-goers in Durban,’
says Blecher.
“Ayanda offers an interesting and positive convergence of talents
style, resources and distribution potential for the film market.’ says Pimenta.
“There is a real sense that reaching an audience has been the most important
motivation equally shared by the filmmakers and their financiers in its
creation.’
“Ayanda celebrates the diversity of our country and revels in the fact
that we are a multi-cultural, colourful and exciting melting pot of Africa,’ says co-producer Terry Pheto. “With this film we have tried to capture the Afropolitan
nature of our country and the energy of its people.’
“What is also particularly encouraging in terms of the South African film industry is
that the film, originally titled, Andani and the Mechanic, was a project
in the 2013 Durban FilmMart, the co-production and finance forum of the DIFF and
the Durban Film Office,’ says Pimenta. “The film is one of five titles that have been
part of the DFM process over the years that will be screened this year at
DIFF.’
DIFF is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal
Department of Economic Development & Tourism and Environmental Affairs,
KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut,
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture and a range of other valued
partners.
For more information visit the DIFF
website.
