The first film that recognised and utilised the province of KwaZulu-Natal as its stage was a film titled A Zulu’s Devotion which was shot in 1916. The film was directed by Joseph Albrecht.
In celebration of this centenary of film making in the province, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission (KZNFC) unveils its programme during the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).
The KZNFC will host a Film Week which will be in celebration of South African cinema. Local films will be taken to the people of the province through screenings that will be held in the townships in and around Durban, during DIFF.
The highlight event of KZNFC is The Simon “Mabhunu’ Sabela Film and Television Awards which is celebrated in honour of the late Simon “Mabhunu’ Sabela who was a legend in film and television. Not only was he South Africa’s first black film director, but he also had a long and successful career which saw him feature in more than 34 films, both nationally and internationally.
The awards will be held at the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) on Saturday 18 June 2016. The awards are attended by delegates of DIFF, who are national and international film industry role players, South African celebrities and dignitaries from the province.
On 16 June 2016, South Africa will commemorate 40 years since the Soweto Uprising where school children took to the streets in protest against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, ushering in a new chapter in the history of South Africa and catapulting the struggle for political change to another level.
In honour of this generation, the KZNFC announced the theme for the 4th Annual Simon Sabela Awards as Sarafina! – the iconic film that showcased the plight and the determination of the youth during the apartheid era.
Sarafina! is a product of legendary figures of the province of KZN – producer, Anant Singh and creator/writer, Mbongeni Ngema. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the production of the film.
The KZNFC has a year-long programme of industry engagements and workshops that have been set up to further enhance the skills and enrich the knowledge base of film practitioners in the province. During DIFF, KZNFC will host a series of master classes hosted by its special guests during the festival. The highlights of the master class series will be hosted by the legendary music icon Caiphus Semenya, hosting a master class on music in film and Darrell Roodt, the director of the film Sarafina!. The Master Classes will take place at the KZNFC’s newly established Film Hub.
A number of the Durban International Film Festival guests will on Monday 20 June 2016, be treated to a tour of the South Coast province, in partnership with South Coast Tourism.
The Master Classes detailed programme:
17 June 2016: Daryl Roodt – Learn the tricks of being a director with great credits.
18 June 2016: Caiphus Semenya – Music meets Film.
22 June 2016: Kirk Cooper – Market Readiness Workshop.
22 June 2016: Film Policy Review.
24 June 2016: The Film Mrs Right Guy. A Story Development Case Study.
All master classes will take place at the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, 11th Floor Musgrave Towers, 115 Musgrave Road, Durban.
For more information visit the KZNFC website.
