Sarah Dawson, recently appointed manager of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), has resigned from her position, just six weeks before the festival is to commence. Dawson has been replaced by the previous festival manager, Peter Machen who will see the festival through.
There have been allegations that the opening night film was the reason behind Dawson’s and, according to the City Press, several other resignations. City Press reported: “Insiders say that Dawson, after much debate with the selection panel, decided against an opening-night screening for the big-budget Shepherds and Butchers, a death-penalty drama set in the apartheid era. City Press has reliably learnt that Dawson communicated with producer Anant Singh’s company, Videovision, that the film was to have a special gala screening – but not on opening night. One of her concerns, they say, was the violence in the film.’
It has been alleged that Singh interfered with this decision by objecting to the UKZN council. Reportedly the deputy vice-chancellor of humanities, Professor Cheryl Potgieter, agreed with Singh and overruled Dawson.
Reasons for resignations, interventions and mismanagement have not been confirmed. While DIFF confirmed that the festival programme is almost complete, the opening night and closing night films have not been formally announced and are due to be confirmed in a week’s time.
Click here for the full City Press article.
