The city of Durban was abuzz with film activity last weekend following a successful opening to the annual Durban International Film Festival on Thursday. The opening film wowed audiences on the opening night with chilling and emotional scenes that kept the audiences glued to the big screen at the magnificent Playhouse.
The first four days of the DIFF industry programme which included the Durban FilmMart has seen some robust conversations, networking sessions and meetings held over four days with about 450 delegates comprising filmmakers, producers, distributors, agents, broadcasters and film funders and government agencies. The feedback has been largely positive said festival organisers.
The Durban FilmMart, which is the co-production market, finance forum and industry development project of the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival closed on Monday, 17 July with an awards ceremony.
The festival has received agreeable reviews from ordinary people to film professionals and national stars. Former Generations’ star Zenande Mfenyana joined the buzzling Twitter reviews saying “I have the biggest respect for writers. Being at the DIFF has opened up my eyes to so much about the industry; I’m soaking it all up!’
South African Films are making a great showing at the festival with seventeen scheduled for screening throughout the 10 days. The films include #HOPE which is directed by Themba Ntuli, Asinamali by Mbongeni Ngema, Double Echo by William Collinson and Relics by Greg Bakker. Also showing will be Zakes Mda’s The Whale Caller directed by Zola Maseko, and Retribution by Mukunda Michael Dewil. Zee Ntuli’s Hard to Get has already been screened.
The documentaries scheduled for screening are 8mm South Africa by Richard Gregory and Dragan’s Lair by Lucy Witts and Bradshaw Schaffer, The Fall Through the Cracks by Davison Mudzingwa, Goldblatt by Daniel Zimbler, Skulls Of My People by Vincent Moloi, Strike A Rock by Aliki Saragas, The Sunrise Swimmers by Tao Farren-Hefer, This Land (Lo Mhlaba) by By Miki Redelinghuys, Troupes Of War – Diturupa by Davison Mudzingwa and Lucas Ledwaba, and Waithira by Eva Munyiricaller.
Junaid Ahmed and Joe Mafela were honoured over the weekend posthumously for their sterling contribution to the South African Film industry, on Friday and Saturday respectively. Ahmed was a leading South African producer, mentor and pioneer who lost his life following a short illness at the age of 57 and Mafela who was a veteran South African television and film actor, writer and director, died in a car accident earlier this year.
A number of initiatives were launched over the weekend, among them Equal Education’s Long Walk to School which profiles their campaign for scholar transport in the KwaZulu Natal province where some pupils walk for two hours to get to school.
The Sisters Working in Film and Television (Swift) non-profit organisation was also launched with a focus on gender transformation within the industry.
For more information visit the festival website.
