GO!Durban creates "Believe Tree" at Sustainable Living Expo

Media Release

GO!Durban creates "Believe Tree" at Sustainable Living Expo

GO!Durban, the City’s new integrated rapid public transport network has created a fantastical "Believe Tree” for the Sustainable Living Expo at the Durban Exhibition Centre which starts today.

The Sustainable Living Expo aligns with one of the most important aspects of the Integrated Rapid Public Transport (IRPTN) roll out - future sustainability of the city through efficient, safe and affordable public transport. The “tree” has been created as a symbol of hope and dreams for the future of an environmentally friendly and sustainable Durban. Visitors to the Expo are encouraged to write their hopes and dreams on a leaf and place it on the “tree”. For every leaf “planted” on the tree, GO!Durban will plant a corresponding real living indigenous tree in areas most in need of greening along the different IRPTN corridors.

“It is indeed exciting times, as we watch as all the years of planning of GO!Durban start to come together. With construction well underway on the first corridor, our MUVO card system installed with 88 000 cards issued, and the ongoing developing of the brand GO!Durban, the dream is becoming the reality.  We first imagined it, now we can believe it and in 2016 we will be experiencing it.” says His Worship the Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo.

GO!Durban looks at the future of a city that has integrated, seamless transport. With a well run public transport system there are many aspects to the rejuvenation of community, living and working spaces. GO!Durban’s programme includes utilising a system of planning for transport to enable future spatial development to not be affected by the unnecessary road expansion in response to increasing traffic needs.  Around each station there will be a mixed-use transit-oriented development, which will aim to reduce the need to use cars and encourage people to walk and cycle.  This will also include developing green zones. GO!Durban will have the sustainability theme as  a golden thread through the programme, as the network will incorporate solar energy, harvesting rain water, recycling, and for the new transport fleet the use of biodiesels and a new more environmentally friendly type of engine with less emissions.

GO!Durban will also soon launch the NMT (Non-Motorised Transport) programme which enables and encourages people to walk and cycle through the city on dedicated walkways and cycle lanes.

At the Expo, the “Believe Tree” has been made from recycled materials. The base and main structure is mild steel and the branches are made from frames and forms of non-motorised transport, ie; used bicycle frames, wheels, cranks. cogs, chains, used skateboards and scooters and more. The branches and tree boughs and frons were made from weathered and aged mild steel cables and wire.

The designer Jonathan Katz from Fuelcon South Africa used this as an opportunity to up skill three men Simon Gwabeni, Deon Stephens and Jabulani Khumalo, who were taught basic welding skills as well as general safety with power tools of the welding trade. This has enabled them to take new skills with them that will empower them to make simple items like burglar guards, fences etc.

Members of the public of all ages are encouraged to attend the Sustainable Living Expo at Durban Exhibition Centre where they can not only see and make wishes at the “Believe Tree” but can also see other exhibits that speak to sustainability in the City.

The EXPO is open from 9am – 5pm today, Saturday and Sunday at the Durban Exhibition Centre. Entry is free.

DIFF Announces Audience Award Winners for 2014

Durban International Film Festival Announces Audience Award Winners 
for 2014 After Another Successful Festival

The Durban International Film Festival has announced the winners of its audience awards for 2014. The winning feature is The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared from Swedish director Felix Herngren. Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Jonas Jonasson, this energetically oddball black comedy begins with irrepressible pensioner and dynamite expert Allan Karlsson’s escape from a retirement home. His subsequent cross-county shenanigans are interspersed with flashbacks to a past studded with extraordinary events and famous historical figures. Highly entertaining, its pastiche of history refracted through the life of an eccentric is reminiscent of a darker take on Forrest Gump. The film received nearly unanimous votes of excellent from the DIFF audience.

The DIFF 2014 audience award for best documentary goes to 1994: The Bloody Miracle, directed by Meg Rickards and Bert Haisma. As South Africa celebrates the 20th anniversary of the advent of democracy, the film chronicles the countless deaths and widespread mayhem which nearly brought South Africa to its knees in the early ‘90s and speaks to the hard men who did their best to thwart the transition to democracy and who have now made an uneasy peace with the ‘Rainbow Nation’.

More than 700 industry guests from around the world attended DIFF and its sister event the Durban FilmMart (DFM). With 202 films spread over 9 venues, and more than 350 screenings, the festival was once more a great success. With just over 30 300 seats occupied, including workshop and attendance at DFM, attendance at the festival increased slightly, with the number of sold-out venues increasing dramatically.

More than 2800 people attended the beach screenings, including the annual Wavescape opening event as well the additional four outdoor screenings funded by the British Council and the National Film and Video Foundation. In terms of the festival’s visual literacy programme, the festival once again presented a programme of youth-oriented films for more than 4000 students from schools in the region, who were provided with transportation to Suncoast CineCentre’s Supernova theatre.

DIFF together with the Durban Film Mart accommodated more than 300 guests and 1500 room nights at the newly renovated Tsogo Sun Elangeni and Maharani Complex, with hundreds of additional festival visitors paying their own way at the many hotels along the Durban beachfront. 72 temporary jobs were created, resulting in more than 5 000 job hours, while DFM hosted more than 900 meetings between local filmmakers and producers, financiers and distributors from around the world.

While DIFF and DFM provide a world class film event with a strong African focus, it is also an integral part of economic development within the local and national film industry and is an increasing driver of tourism. An Economic Impact Assessment study on the festival and the market will be released later this year.

The 35th Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the College of Humanities, Cheryl Potgieter) with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture and range of other valued partners.

-ENDS

Sharlene Versfeld

Versfeld & Associates

083 326 3235

Million Dollar Arm closing night film of The 35th Durban International Film Festival

Million Dollar Arm closing night film of The 35th Durban International Film Festival

The Durban International Film Festival (July 17 – 27) is extremely happy to present as its closing night film Million Dollar Arm (USA, 2014) from director Craig Gillespie, starring Jon Hamm. The screening will take place on Saturday the 26 July at 7pm and the Suncoast CineCentre Supernova.

Million Dollar Arm follows a once-successful sports agent named JB Bernstein who finds himself edged out by younger, slicker competitors. While watching cricket being played in India on late night TV, he comes up with an idea so radical it just might work. Why not go to India and find the next baseball pitching sensation? Setting off for Mumbai, JB stages a televised, nationwide competition. 40 000 hopefuls compete and two 18-year-old finalists, Rinku and Dinesh, emerge as winners. But JB’s job really begins when he returns to America to try to get the two young men signed to a major baseball league.

Talking about the film, Festival Manager, Peter Machen, saiys, “Million Dollar Arm is a film that is both accessible and engaging, as well as being beautifully crafted and filled with great performances, making it a strong festival title, as well providing an enjoyable note on which to close the festival after ten days of intense viewing"

The winning films in a variety of categories at Durban International Film Festival 2014 will be announced prior to the screening if the film.

The Durban International Film Festival ends this Sunday, July 27 . The festival includes more than 200 theatrical screenings and a full seminar and workshop programme, as well as the Wavescape Film Festival, the Wild Talk Africa Film Festival, and various industry initiatives, including the 7th Talent Campus Durban (in cooperation with the Berlin Talent Campus) and  the 5th Durban FilmMart co-production market (in partnership with the Durban Film Office).  For more information go tohttp://www.durbanfilmfestival.co.za/

The 35th Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Humanities, Cheryl Potgieter) with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture and arange of other valued partners.

The Durban International Festival Commemorates 35th Edition with Festival Poster Retrospective Exhibition at KZNSA

The Durban International Festival Commemorates 35th Edition with Festival Poster Retrospective Exhibition at KZNSA

In celebration of its 35th year, the Durban International Film Festival is delighted to announce a retrospective exhibition of its iconic poster design over the course of its existence. The exhibition will be presented for the duration of the festival at the KZNSA gallery cafe, which also serves as a hub for this year’s short film programme.

Since its inception in 1979, DIFF has grown from strength to strength, and is firmly cemented as a premiere event on the cultural calendar not only in the City of Durban, but across the country, continent and world. Every year, the high anticipation surrounding the ten day feast of cinema is marked by excitement around the release of the invariably innovative and recognizable poster design. For the first time in history, these posters have been brought together into a single collection that narrates the story of the longest-running film festival in the country through its pictorial history. Long-time festival goers will be treated to a nostalgic journey, while first-timers can enjoy an induction into the vivid world of the well-loved event through its graphic design, culminating in this year’s striking poster by Wesley van Eeden. The digital archive of posters can be found at http://www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/diff-archive.

Opening hours at KZNSA Gallery (166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban) are Tuesday to Friday: 9am - 5pm; Saturday: 9am - 4pm; Sunday, public holidays: 10am - 3pm. Closed on Mondays. Entrance is free, except during short film screenings (R20 entrance).

The Durban International Film Festival takes place from 17 – 27 July 2014. The festival includes more than 200 theatrical screenings and a full seminar and workshop programme, as well as the Wavescape Film Festival, the Wild Talk Africa Film Festival, and various industry initiatives, including the 7th Talents Durban (in cooperation with Talents Berlinale ) and  the 5th Durban FilmMart co-production market (in partnership with the Durban Film Office).  For more information go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za 
 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
 

1st DIFF (1979)             First DIFF takes place. Tickets to screenings cost R1.50. The founder and festival director is Ros Sarkin.

3rd DIFF (1981)            Poster design by Floris Eloff. Screenings take place at West Kine in West St, Durban.

4th DIFF (1982)            Poster design by Maria Criticos. Festival moves to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

5th DIFF (1983)            Poster designer unknown. Festival struggles to acquire films as commercial distributors unaccustomed to film festivals refuse access to films. They even threaten to deny cinema space to other companies who supply the festival with films. Government censorship is     also broadened.

6th DIFF (1984)            Poster design by Pippa Lea. Presented for the first time by the University of Natal (now UKZN).

7th DIFF (1985)            Poster design by Louise Baily. Festival expands to other venues across the city, as well as to Umlazi and other township areas.

8th DIFF (1986)            Poster design by Neville Trickett. First ever section devoted to South African cinema, with ten local documentaries.

9th DIFF (1987)            Poster design by Neville Trickett. South Africa in State of Emergency. DIFF screens Cry, The Beloved Country, and Alan Paton speaks. The programme includes a section on films devoted to Civil Rights and Justice. Corporate sponsors are introduced, including Natal Video, Legends restaurant, Southern Sun Hotels among others.

10th DIFF (1988)          Poster design by Georgia Sarkin.  Venues expanded to include Kine 600, the Playhouse Theatre and UKZN Shepstone 1.

11th DIFF (1989)          Poster design by Zahid Hoosen. The festival states that its policy is “to select films of superior quality which are not readily available in South Africa; films which highlight the problems and shortcomings of our own system; and films which promote political and social change in South Africa.”

13th DIFF (1991)          Poster design by Georgia Sarkin. DIFF creates association with progressive groups such as the National Organisation of Video and Allied Workers (NOVAW) and the Film and Allied Workers Organisation (FAWO).

14th DIFF (1992)          Poster design by Georgia Sarkin. Introduction of workshops and seminars to the programme.

15th DIFF (1993)          Poster design by Georgia Sarkin. Cultural boycotts against SA fade, and DIFF programme expands as a result.

16th DIFF (1994)          Poster design by Georgia Sarkin. DIFF celebrates first festival under democracy. Initiates schools programme and expands to include screenings in rural areas surrounding Durban on a year-round basis.

17th DIFF (1995)          Poster design by Georgia Sarkin. DIFF celebrates one year of democracy and 100 years of cinema.

18th DIFF (1997)          Poster design by Gulam Mather. DIFF returns after one year’s absence, and is scaled down and housed within the Centre for Creative Arts at UND (now UKZN). Gulam Mather takes over as Festival Manager. All screenings take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.           

19th DIFF (1998)          Poster designer unknown. Festival dedicated to Prof. Teddy Sarkin, after the husband of long-time festival director and co-founder, Ros Sarkin, passed away.

20th DIFF (1999)          Poster designer unknown. DIFF celebrates 20 years, and the fact that it is the longest-running film festival in the country. Peter Rorvik takes over officially as director of the CCA, while AJ Nel joins Gulam Mather as Festival Manager.

21st DIFF (2000)           Poster design by ND Mazin (Andy Mason) and D Hadlow. Reintroduction of outreach screenings - in KwaMashu, Ntuzuma and Shongweni. Berea CineCentre is introduced as a new screening venue after its support of Cinema Sublime – a regular Durban screening of arthouse cinema on Sunday evenings.

22nd DIFF (2001)          Poster designer unknown. Nashen Moodley takes over as Festival Manager. Expansion of workshop programme. City of Durban comes on board as principal funder. The festival features a retrospective of films by Djibril Diop Mambety and Oliver Schmitz.

23rd DIFF (2002)          Poster design by Disturbance. Further expanded workshop programme. The closing night film is Amandla!.

24th DIFF (2003)          Poster design by Disturbance. Festival introduces four new venues: Ster Kinekor Nouveau, Gateway, Nu Metro CineCentre - Suncoast, Cinema Screen Entertainment at the Workshop and the Ekhaya Multi-arts Centre, Kwamashu. The festival receives support from the National Film and Video Foundation and the National Lottery. Outreach programme expanded.

25th DIFF (2004)          Poster design by Disturbance. DIFF celebrates its 25th year, and ten years of democracy. It also outlines its principal objectives as such:

“to produce a world class, professionally implemented cinema event; to present a broad selection of culturally diverse, quality films from around the world; to create a special focus on Africa and South Africa and provide an internationally recognized platform to promote South African film and filmmakers; to devise a relevant seminar and workshop programme aimed at filmmakers, aspirant filmmakers and general public; to develop a comprehensive and meaningful outreach screening programme; to strategise effective audience development in all areas and levels; to make KwaZulu-Natal an integral part of the South African film industry.”

26th DIFF (2005)          Poster design by Disturbance. Festival adds Ster Kinekor Musgrave to venues. Wavescape Surf Film Festival comes to DIFF for the first time, including an inflatable screen on the Bay of Plenty lawns.

27th DIFF (2006)          Poster design by Disturbance.  Introduction of the Amnesty Award for films focused on social justice. BAT Centre added as a venue.

28th DIFF (2007)          Poster design by Disturbance. 77 countries represented in the DIFF programme – the most ever. Poverty and Inequality Challenge Film Festival presented as part of DIFF to raise awareness about inequality created through poverty.

29th DIFF (2008)          Poster design by Disturbance. “Love Film/Hate Xenophobia” included as a major theme of the festival following the 2008 xenophobic crisis in South Africa. The first edition of Talent Campus Durban takes place.

30th DIFF (2009)          Poster design by Disturbance.  The festival celebrates its 30th year. The festival hub is located at the Royal Hotel.

31st DIFF (2010)           Poster design by Disturbance. The inaugural Durban Film Mart takes place in association with the Durban Film Office.

32nd DIFF (2011)          Poster design by Disturbance. The festival is dedicated to oppressed Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof. Nashen Moodley leaves the position of Festival Manager to run the Sydney Film Festival.

33rd DIFF (2012)          Poster design by Disturbance. The festival presents a programme of 175 films (as opposed to the 30 films in 1999). Peter Rorvik retires as the director of the CCA.

34th DIFF (2013)          Poster design by Disturbance. Peter Machen takes up the position of Festival Manager. Wild Talk Film Festival and Conference is introduced to the DIFF programme.

35th DIFF (2014)          Poster design by Wesley van Eeden. DIFF celebrates its 35th year, and South Africa celebrates twenty years of democracy.

The 35th Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the 
University of KwaZulu-Natal (a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the College of Humanities, Professor Cheryl Potgieter) with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture and range of other valued partners.

Award winning documentary PLOT FOR PEACE to premiere at Durban International Film Festival

Award winning documentary PLOT FOR PEACE to premiere 

at Durban International Film Festival

In celebration of twenty years of South Africa’s democracy, the Ichikowitz Family Foundation (IFF) launches its African Oral History Archive (AOHA) initiative to pay tribute to those who lie at the heart of the events that shaped South Africa’s modern history. The film Plot for Peace is the first of a series of political and historical documentaries produced by AOHA that will roll out this year, and will be showcased for the first time on African soil at the Durban International Film Festival which takes place from July 17 to 27. This highly acclaimed documentary lands off the back of a successful tour of the international film festival and commercial circuit, winning no less than eight awards including; Best International Feature Documentary at the 25th Galway Film Festival and the Special Jury Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The production team is led by multiple Emmy award-winning, South African filmmaker Mandy Jacobson.  The team uncovered the secret story of Jean-Yves Ollivier, aka ‘Monsiuer Jacques,’ whose behind-the-scenes bargaining was instrumental in bringing about regional peace and heralding the dawn of South Africa’s long walk to freedom.

Exclusive interviews from current and former heads of state including President Joachim Chissano, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, and other key role players including Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Pik Botha, Jorge Risquet and Chester Crocker bear vivid testimony to the secret dealings that were able to secure regional peace and end the system of segregation that threatened to bring South Africa to its knees.

“In this narrative, we discover a story that Jean-Yves Ollivier kept secret for over thirty years.  It was like finding a character straight out of a John LeCarre novel and we were thus able to craft this true life historic story as a political thriller,” said Producer and Director Mandy Jacobson.

As a result of his contribution to democracy, Jean-Yves Ollivier received one of South Africa’s highest honours twice, the first time by last stalwart of apartheid, P.W. Botha, and the second time by the first President of the new South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

 Seen in commercial cinemas in France, United Kingdom and Spain thus far, Plot for Peace was produced by AOHA, a heritage preservation initiative funded by the IFF.

Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman and founder of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation notes, “The inspiration for this film emerged from hundreds of hours of original testimony around the liberation of South Africa gathered by the AOHA and demonstrates the importance of documenting our Continent’s acclaimed and unknown history makers. Subscribing to best journalistic practice, AOHA adopts no single point of view in its work, but rather, provides the raw material for open storytelling, the hallmark of democratic societies.”

The premiere screening at the Durban International Film Festival, will be attended by protagonist Jean-Yves Ollivier, Director and Producer Mandy Jacobson and Founder and Chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, Ivor Ichikowitz.

 Plot for Peace at DIFF screening details

·       Date: 23 & 24 July 2014

·       Time: Premiere Screening at 18h00 on July 23

·       Venue: Sun Theatre 7, Suncoast Cinecentre, Suncoast Entertainment World

·       Note: Q&A session will follow the screening.

Plot for Peace opens for one week theatrical release

Fresh off the DIFF circuit, Plot for Peace will then move to Johannesburg for a one week theatrical release at the Cinema Nouveau in Rosebank starting on Friday 1st August and running until Thursday 7th August. Tickets will be available online and at the cinema.

 Second AOHA film to be screened at DIFF

Another of the AOHA’s Tribute series, Rainbow Makers: Tribute to Frontline States, will also be screened at DIFF on 20th and 23rd July.

Presented by the inimitable Shaka Sisulu, a child of exile himself, this portrait recognizes the extraordinary alliance known as “The Frontline States”, whose generosity and bravery provided a home in exile to the longest-lived revolutionary movement on the African Continent. Featuring interviews with over seven heads of state including Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda and the intimate stories from Max Sisulu, Albie Sachs, Mac Maharaj, Pallo Jordan and Ruth Mompati, along with other exiled icons.

Watch the press for further details on both screenings.

 http://www.durbanfilmfest.co.za/2014/documentary-films/

ENDS

About the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and its heritage initiative

The Ichikowitz Family Foundation was founded by Ivor Ichikowitz, a South African Industrialist and Philanthropist with a passion for Africa and its people. The Foundation carries forward a long family tradition of innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement.

The Foundation is committed to being:-

• a torchbearer for innovation through education and skills development
• promoting understanding of our complex history by spreading the good news about Africa
• building self-believe and confidence among Africans

·       conservation of the continent's biodiversity.

The Foundation’s African Oral History Archive (AOHA) initiative aims to safeguard Africa’s dynamic heritage for future generations. In a global effort, over 150 interviews have been recorded, giving unprecedented access to all those who have been instrumental in shaping South Africa’s modern history. The Archive charts the incremental changes, revolutions, set-backs and victories in Africa’s complex history and brings these stories to audiences across the globe

For the Celebrating Twenty Years of Democracy initiative, a six-part series called Rainbow Makers marks this historic event and will be shown on SABC during Heritage Month in September 2014.

The 35th Durban International Film Festival announces Hard to Get for its opening night film

The Durban International Film Festival (July 17 – 27) is extremely happy to announce that the opening film at DIFF 2014 will be Hard To Get from first-time feature director Zee Ntuli and produced by Junaid Ahmed and Helena Spring.

The film tells the story of TK, a handsome young womanizer from a small community who falls for a sexy, reckless young thief named Skiets. Thrust into Joburg’s criminal underworld TK realises that his best bet is to trust her and hang on for dear life.

The action romance explores the universal theme of love in the very specific context of contemporary South Africa. At its heart, it is simply a story of two young South Africans embarking on the universal adventure of falling in love, symbolically set against the dangerous, unpredictable, cruel and ruthless backdrop of Joburg’s criminal underworld. Says Zee Ntuli, “The criminal gauntlet parallels the emotional journey of TK and Skiets, providing a metaphor for how scary falling in love can be. Ultimately it is a hopeful story, one which carries the message that love is worth fighting for.”

Talking about the film, Festival Manager, Peter Machen, said, “I am very excited about Hard To Get. It’s a beautifully made film that works on every level and will satisfy commercial and art-house audiences alike. I also think that it’s going to make instant stars of its two leads Thishiwe Ziqubu and Pallance Dladla, who are both electrifying, as well as director Zee Ntuli, who is virtually guaranteed a bright future on the global filmmaking stage on the basis of this first feature.”

Machen continued, “With the production team of Helena Spring and Junaid Ahmed behind the film, I have a strong suspicion that this is going to be the one that cracks open local audience’s desire to watch strong local film products. I have no doubt that audiences will walk out of the theatre electrified, and will be filled with excitement about the rest of the festival. All of this makes Hard To Get the perfect opening film for DIFF 2014. Co-producer Helena Spring said, “Junaid and I are thrilled to be launching major new talent with Hard to Get. We are incredibly proud of the work that director Zee Ntuli, his team and cast, have delivered. There is already a great deal of buzz around the film and we have no doubt that a bright future awaits them.”

Junaid Ahmed mentioned that Hard To Get is the first of a slate of films that he and Spring are producing which showcase the talent of previously marginalised black filmmakers in South Africa. Ahmed went on to praise the assured and distinctive directorial debut of Ntuli, as well as that of co-writer TT Sibisi. “Hard To Get heralds the arrival of exciting new voices in South African cinema”. 

Although, Hard To Get is Ntuli’s first feature, he has already made his mark on the local film scene. He has written for the award-winning hit show Intersexions and has directed a humorous 40sec advert entitled Grandfather for Ster-Kinekor’s Vision Mission initiative. He has also directed music videos for the bands Crash Car Burn and Wrestlerish, as well having worked on Soul City and the crime drama Mshika-shika. Ntuli studied at AFDA, the School Of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, winning the award for Best Film during all four years of studies. His 24 minute short film, Bomlambo (Those Of The Water), won the award for best fantasy film at the New York International Film Festival. Ntuli was nominated for best short film at the 2012 SAFTAs and has already had his short films screened at festivals in South Africa and around the world. His 12 minute short In Return (Emasisweni) was nominated as the South African candidate for the Student Oscars in 2010.

The Durban International Film Festival takes place from 17 – 27 July 2014. The festival includes more than 200 theatrical screenings and a full seminar and workshop programme, as well as the Wavescape Film Festival, the Wild Talk Africa Film Festival, and various industry initiatives, including the 7th Talent Campus Durban (in cooperation with the Berlin Talent Campus) and  the 5th Durban FilmMart co-production market (in partnership with the Durban Film Office).  For more information go to www.durbanfilmfestival.co.za

The 35th Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Humanities, Cheryl Potgieter) with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture and arange of other valued partners.

AFDA Annual Experimental Film, Television and Performance Festival and launch of Taxi Radio in Durban this weekend

AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) Durban is hosting the AFDA Annual Experimental Film, Television and Performance Festival on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 June.

The two-day festival will consist of film screenings, theatre and musical performances, as well as a live television broadcast each day at the newly upgraded campus. The screenings will be a combination of films made by AFDA Durban first and second year students as well as third year Cape Town students. All performances and television broadcasts will be done by AFDA Durban students as part of their term project for evaluation.

Soli Philander’s online Taxi Radio, which is based in Cape Town, will be launched in Durban and will be broadcasting live from the AFDA campus during the festival.  AFDA Durban will host the station in Durban and will broadcast a live show every Friday from 4 to 6pmanchored by Dean of AFDA Durban, Franco Human (also known from his appearances on SABC’s Expresso as “The Guy in the Green Shorts”.). The show will focus on gigs and events and all things trending and taking place in Durban and will eventually be produced and anchored by students on the AFDA campus as an extracurricular activity exclusive to AFDA Durban.

The AFDA festival is open to all and tickets are available at the door at R30 for a two-day combined ticket or R20 for a one-day ticket. Food and refreshments will be on sale.

The Festival takes place from 2pm to 7.30pm on Friday, June 13 and from 11am to 7.30pm on Saturday, June 14.

For more details check out the Facebook  - AFDA Durban and Twitter @AFDADurban  For more info on AFDA contact 0315692252, go towww.afda.co.za.

Flatfoot Dance Company @ artSPACE durban

For the week 23 – 27 June 2014, Durban’s inimitable FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY will be resident at artSPACE durban. In a meeting of dancers and fine artists, FLATFOOT will work in artSPACE durban giving local artists an opportunity to paint, draw and create around the dancers as they rehearse, dance and create choreography.  FLATFOOT will continue to work in their normal day routine and will open up their daily work process.

The week will involve session where artists can watch and engage the dancers in their daily rehearsals but there will also be specific sessions where the dancers will be a little more still to promote portraiture (see schedule below). 

The week will culminate in a final performance called “SOUTHERN EXPOSURE” by FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY on Friday 27 June at 6.30pm (with bar facilities open) and curator Karen Bradtke will select some of the art works generated over the week to put on display in the gallery at the Friday event.  FLATFOOT will perform two works; “UGUHBU” by Sifiso Khumalo and “the inheritance of loss” by Lliane Loots.

Fees for artists to participate are 100 per day or R350 for the week and on June 25 there is a special portraiture session from 5.30pm - 7.30pm and the cost os R100.  Tickets for the performance on the 27 June are R50 or R25 for those taking part in the artist residency.

For enquires and bookings for the art residency, please contact artSPACE durban: 031 – 312 0793.

For enquires about the Friday night performance, contact Clare on 082 – 875 6065.

-ends

AFDA Durban to host Open Day

The AFDA Durban Campus will host an Open Day next Saturday, June 7 from 10 to 12noon at the Glen Anil campus, for prospective students and their parents to obtain more information about AFDA’s Undergraduate BA degree in Motion Picture Medium or Live Performance.

This new, state of the art, campus established in 2013 has seen substantial growth and upgrades to accommodate the students’ needs in the first and second year of the Undergraduate degree. The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed as a platform to nurture and develop the necessary skills to enter the industry and to create sustainable, quality and entertainment productions after they graduate. The Open Day will offer the opportunity to view selected AFDA student films, followed by a brief presentation by the Campus Dean about the Undergraduate degree. The open day will then proceed with guided tours around the campus with live demonstrations of disciplines within each of the Film, TV and Performance schools. 

On Friday, June 6, the Durban campus will also host an Interview Day from 1:30pm until 5pm. Prospective students are invited to book a slot to meet with the Campus Dean, a Head of School or a lecturer from the campus within the area they may be interested in. This is an opportunity to ask any questions and seek advice on the course or a career in the Entertainment industry. There are also limited slots available for appointments on Open Day, June 7.

AFDA Durban will host the AFDA Experimental Festival in Film, Television and Performance, which will showcase student films, performances as well as a live television recording on Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14. Follow the Facebook (AFDA Durban) and Twitter (@AFDADurban) pages to get all the details..

Contact the campus directly for more information on the Open Day or to make an appointment: 0315692252 / milenag@afda.co.za /puritys@afda.co.za. 

-ends

Vusi Mahlasela for Action in Autism Benefit Concert

Ernie Smith

Action is Autism in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality, will host a Benefit Concert for Autism with Vusi Mahlasela on Saturday, 14 June at the Durban City Hall from 19:00.

Action in Autism is a non-profit organisation established to act as a lobbyist, support and fundraising body for parents of children diagnosed with autism. The central focus of the organisation is to improve the quality of life for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their caregivers. One of Action in Autism’s flagship projects is its Early Learning Intervention and Resource Centre which has been running for the past 5 years and is temporarily based at 74 Keal Road, Sydenham, Durban, 4001. The Early Learning Intervention Centre provides a pivotal space of excellence in early intervention and therapy for infants and children aged between 2 and 6 years old. Each child enrolled at the centre receives daily one on one intervention, weekly speech-language and occupational therapy from a staff of 10 full time and 2 part time professionals in the field of autism.

Born and raised in the Mamelodi Township, just outside Pretoria, self taught guitarist Vusi Mahlasela built his first guitar from fishing line’s and a cooking oil can.  In 1976, Vusi’s political education began as he witnessed the devastating massacre of more than 200 black South Africans in the Soweto Uprising.  Vusi responded through his music, inspiring other musicians and listeners around him. Vusi began to write songs of justice, of freedom, of revolution, of love, of peace and of life.   He joined a poetry group, The Ancestors of Africa, and also joined the Congress of South African Writers, a group of like-minded artists and writers, including Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer who paid for Vusi’s first guitar lessons.  At this point, his political activism truly began.

This past year, the SAMA Awards (South African Music Awards) chose to honour Vusi with a Lifetime Achievement award to recognize his accomplishments both at home and abroad.  The honor made the troubadour take a look back and realize that in what felt like a blink of the eye, it had been twenty years since the release of When You Come Back.  In celebration, he got the band together and put on a big show at the Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg—and recorded it.

Opening act is Durban’s music hero Ernie Smith whose mix of Jazz, African and R&B references will no doubt get the crowd revving up for Mahlasela.

“International statistics indicate numbers as high as 1:110 people being diagnosed with Autism. The focus of the benefit concert is to raise public awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorder whilst at the same time raising much needed funds to build an Autism Centre to cater for those most in need” says Director and Founder of Action in Autism, Liza Aziz.

Tickets are R180 to R250 and are available on Computicket. Corporate packages for 10 or more tickets are available. For more information on Action in Autism, the Benefit Concert, to block book a corporate package or how you can get involved in assisting the centre you can contact Kirsten Miller on (031) 2074858 or info@actioninautism.org.za

- Ends

AFDA Johannesburg launches new 75-seater theatre

AFDA Johannesburg launches new 75-seater theatre 

The AFDA School of Live Performance opened its new 75-seater Red Roof Theatre @AFDA on Friday, May 9 with a festival of four award-winning professional theatre productions.

The impressive set of plays that have been presented over the 10 day festival include the internationally acclaimed cult production THE EPICENE BUTCHER AND OTHER STORIES FOR CONSENTING ADULTS; Gina Shmukler's docu-drama THE LINE with Khutjo Green (Naledi Award Winner for Best Actress) and Gabi Harris; Amanda Strydom's multilingual cabaret, STATE OF THE HEART, that pokes fun at the Afrikaner soul and gives a glimpse of the history of South Africa from the twenties to the late seventies; and Phillip M Dikotla's Fleur du Cap winning performance in SKIERLIK.

In 2012 AFDA reintroduced its theatre-training programme that had been dormant since 2006. It also added a programme in Music Performance that trains singer / songrwriters. Greg Homann joined AFDA at the beginning of last year and under his headship the Live Performance School has rapidly grown in numbers. Joining the staff of Justin Strydom, Drikus Volschenk and Coenraad Rall, the school employed new staff members Camilla Waldman and Heidi Edeling, along with an impressive list of professional practitioners who serve the school as part-time teachers. These include Daniel Buckland, Ameera Patel, Prince Lamla, Gina Shmukler, and Robert Coleman.

At the beginning of this year the AFDA School of Live Performance in Johannesburg confirmed three Chairs in its discipline training of Screen Acting, Stage Acting and Music Performance. These chairs are Linda Sokhulu, David Dennis and Judith Sephuma respectively.

The festival ends this weekend with SKIERLIK being performed on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May at 7.30pm. SKIERLIK, written and performed by Phillip Dikotla, was the winner of best production at the Zabalaza Theatre Festival 2013, and a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the 2013 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. 

Tickets are R80 (R50 for students). To book call  011 482 8345 or at the theatre box-office.

E N D S

For further media info and enquiries email Greg Homann (gregh@afda.co.za)

Durban Film Selected for Cannes

Media Release
Durban Film Selected for Cannes

A film produced and written by Durban filmmaker and AFDA Durban Scriptwriting Lecturer, Janet van Eeden, A Shot at the Big Time, the short, has been selected for the Cannes Court Metrage, the short film corner of the official Cannes Festival 2014. It was chosen out of over a million entries. 

“This honour is something my co-producer, Magda M. Olchawska, and I have dreamed of since we joined forces to make A Shot at the Big Time, the short,” says Van Eeden. “We met online when I ran the Indiegogo.com crowd-funding campaign in 2011. I’d given up on the dream recently and am working hard at present raising funds to make the feature film by the end of the year, so when Magda let me know late on Thursday night that we’d been accepted I was over the moon.”

Van Eeden launched the crowd-funding campaign for Shot on 11th of the 11th 2011, on Remembrance Day, in remembrance of her brother, Jimmy, who was killed on the border in mysterious circumstances after being there for only three days in 1979. 
“I’d never been able to forget Jimmy’s tragic life, and after being challenged by film and theatre critic, Robert Greig, to write about my own life instead of writing plays about literary greats, I finally had the courage to put pen to paper and tackle one of the saddest experiences of my life,” she explains.

“Jimmy was my idol in the small town of Odendaalsrus. He was a rock star in the eyes of all the youngsters as he was the lead singer in a band which dreamed of making the big time. When he received his call-up papers when he was only seventeen, his dream was put on hold. Especially after he had a traumatic incident in basics which made him go AWOL, steal a rifle and fire rounds of bullets into the rubbish dump with the members of his band. A terrible accident happened and Jimmy had a breakdown and was classified as mentally unfit for military service. He tried to put his life back together again but he was broken by the events,” says Van Eeden. “Three years later the army forgot about the fact that they’d classified him as unfit and called him up to do Border duty. He was part of the infantry but he did not want to kill anyone. There are conflicting stories of what happened to him on the border on that fateful day, but all we know for sure is that three days after arriving on the border, my parents received a phone call telling them that Jimmy had been killed by a ricochet bullet.” 

The feature film script of A Shot at the Big Time is based on the the story of the tragic loss of Van Eeden’s brother which she says is Oedipal in its intensity. When she couldn’t get funding for the feature without giving away the rights to the film completely, and thereby compromising on the integrity of the story, she decided to do a crowd-funding campaign after listening to US expert Peter Broderick at the Durban Film Mart in 2011. She decided to produce the film herself. She didn’t raise enough money for the feature on Indiegogo.com but received so much support, including finding gifted young director from Australia, Stephen de Villiers and London producer Magda M. Olchawska, that they decided to shoot the short film instead. The lead actors auditioned online as part of the crowd-funding campaign and “the best actors I could’ve dreamt of” were found in Brad Backhouse as Jimmy and Sean C. Michael as the antagonist Van Staden. De Villiers flew out in July 2012 to film Shot the Short. Even an executive Producer, Athol Williams, was found through the campaign and he gave whatever he could to make the short film happen.

A Shot at the Big Time was one of the projects selected for the Durban Film Mart in 2012 and the short film premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in July 2013. It was awarded an eThekwini Film Award in November 2013. 

Producer, Magda M. Olchawska will represent A Shot at the Big Time at Cannes, as there has not been enough time to raise sponsorship for Van Eeden’s visit. However, she hopes the whole team  will represent Shot next year when they enter the feature into the festival.

-ends

NOTE:

“At Cannes, short films are represented at the Competition, at the end of which the short films Jury awards a Palme d’or, and at the Short Film Corner, a professional area for meeting people, exchanging ideas and promoting films. Cannes Court Métrage brings these two entities together in a complementary dynamic in an attempt to offer an all-encompassing panorama of the young production worldwide, as well as to stimulate the creativity of short film professionals by bringing them together at workshops and conferences in an area set aside for this purpose at the Palais des Festivals.”  http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/festival/CannesShorts.html

Launch of the Awesome iLembe Arts Festival

In celebration of 20 years of freedom and democracy, the first Awesome iLembe Arts Festival will take place across the iLembe region on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal from 8 to 10 August 2014. An innovative and far sighted initiative by the Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with producers Awesome Africa Festival Productions, this multi-cultural event will take the music to the people – and directly into the communities themselves at venues in Mandeni, Ndwedwe, Maphumulo and KwaDukuza.

The Festival will feature around 40 local, national and international artists in the disciplines of music, theatre, dance, poetry, storytelling and arts and crafts, with the main focus falling on music this year. Audiences will be enthralled by contributions from various music genres and themes including jazz, gospel, pop, rock, pan-african, maskandi, isicathamiya, hip hop, Indian traditional, Bollywood, and various “world music” styles. The Festival will also include the “Funk it Up” DJ Experience, as well as a focus on South African legends and a Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

As the Festival falls over the “Women’s Day” weekend, there will be a strong focus on women artists, and in the special concert commemorating legends, the first artist to be featured will be the incomparable Ray Phiri with his “The Man, The Music, The Friendships” concept. 

In keeping with the Festival’s aim of showcasing local talent, it is envisaged that up to 50% of all talent will be drawn from the iLembe region. The international artists will be chosen for their passion and dedication in collaborating and transferring skills to local artists, and renowned KZN based mentors will work alongside local talent and local event managers to prepare them for the festival.

Says MEC for Arts & Culture Mrs Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Sapetha, “We are very proud and excited to associate ourselves with this unique brand and concept, that goes far beyond providing great entertainment. Besides many pro-active socio- economic elements, the Festival also addresses the vital aspects of social cohesion and nation building in our country. No longer will iconic events and artists be the domain only of the big cities. We pride ourselves in taking the music and the arts back to the people – in essence straight into the communities who have supported our fight for freedom and democracy. We have recently had big names such as Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem and other international stars only performing in the big cities, and even Durban has been excluded. Many people are asking us why we are bringing a legend like Kirk Whalum deep into the rural areas – and our answer is that we believe that we need to “give back” to our people in the communities, who have never had the opportunity to see these kinds of stars right in front of their eyes, despite relating and supporting their music for a long time – and in this instance especially Kirk Whalum, whose brand of gospel and jazz speaks directly to the soul of our people and our sense of Ubuntu.

So what better time to launch this than in 2014, the year of our celebration of twenty years of freedom and democracy. In years to come, it is envisaged that the number of venues included in the Festival will increase to include historical sites along the King Shaka Heritage route and the Luthuli Museum (which was a home for the first South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Chief Albert Luthuli), Ndondakusuka Hills and the Nhlangakazi mountains. We see this Festival growing organically in the future, and enticing tourists not only from South Africa, but also the world to come and share our community spirit and talent”.

Festival Director Princess Nandi Zulu says, “The Festival aims to be an iconic event that will last into posterity, and the added components of a local talent search and a capacity building programme will address inherent societal issues such as economic development, job creation, skills transfer and talent identification, making it a truly unique event. The festival, is expected to attract an audience of around 20,000 people over the three days, and will provide between 400 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs. The festival will actively target an eighty percent share of festival staff and festival related spend to flow into the iLembe region thus stimulating economic development. In time, we aim to stimulate tourism along the ILembe Region which boasts majestic hills, warm beaches and a rich cultural mix of Zulu, European and Indian people and historic heritage sites”.

The Festival will be launched in style on the 27th March at the Sibusisiwe Community Centre in Mandeni, with the example of “taking the music to the people in the communities”, being taken quite literally with a unique “concert of a lifetime” by US Jazz legend Kirk Whalum, who will bring his much celebrated series “The Gospel According to Jazz” to Africa for the very first time. The tenor saxophonist has collaborated with industry greats such as Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones and Barbara Streisand and it is his passionate sax solo that is heard on Whitney Houston’s mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You”. Kirk considers himself as a “man of the people”, and is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements for his musical excellence, and won his first Grammy award for Best Gospel Song “It’s What I Do”, featuring Lalah Hathaway. He recently recorded the next chapter in his series (Chapter IV) in New York to be released worldwide in September. He will preview some of those new songs as well as perform his anthems from the past.

For further information on the Festival, or for anyone in the ILembe region who would like to be involved, please visit the web site www.awesomefestivals.com or call Gabi Nkabinde on 084-3578860.

--ends

La Esencia del Salsa!... (The Essence of Salsa) Manteca Salsa and Afro-Cuban Band

Manteca, Durban’s premier 11-piece Afro Caribbean band presents La Esencia del Salsa! (The Essence of Salsa) at the Rumblelow Theatre, Umbilo from Friday, March 21.

The show brings together vibrant live music, fashion, energetic dance and intimate theatre to tell the story of Salsa: a world wide multi-cultural phenomenon – an expression of integration and the struggle for freedom.

From the courts of King Louis XIV to the plantation slaves of the Caribbean to the dance halls of New York and the world, audiences will be entertained by rootsy Cuban folklore, European art music with an African twist, swinging Latin Jazz, and explosive salsa. Manteca, which inspired a new range of designs by Durban fashion designer, Karen Monk-Klijnstra, comprises Mark Momple (bass), David Langley (piano), Jose Chemane (timbale), John Drace (congas), Johan van der Molen (baritone sax and clarinet), Daniel Sheldon (trumpet), Avikaar Maney (Alto, tenor sax and flute), Avinash Maney (keys and guitar), Raul Vazquez (vocals), Rod Choromanski (guitar/vocals), Sam Marais (vocals) and Liana Barciela (vocals).

Shows are on Friday, March 21 and 28, Saturday March 22 and 29 at 20:00, Sunday March 23 and 30 at 18:30 and Sunday March 30 at 14:00.

Tickets are R120 for adults (and R100 for pensioners and tables of 8 or more). The venues opens 90 minutes before show and audience is invited to bring their own picnic meals or snacks. (Braais are available). There is a bar available. (No alcohol may not be brought on to the premises). There is limited secure parking available. Booking is essential through COMPUTICKET or call or email Roland for bookings and get that money rolling in. H 2057602 Cell 0824998636. Email : roland@stansell.za.net. www.rhumbelow.za.net

ends

BASA Awards now open for entry

Entry into the 17th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard is now open to business and arts partnerships covering the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013.

Twelve of the 15 categories have opened for entry, encompassing a wide spectrum of partnerships, from small and in-kind to large-scale. The categories recognise all forms of creativity - including Visual Arts; Dance; Theatre; Physical Performance; Music; Architecture; Fashion and Design.

This year sees the judging committee refining a number of categories.

The Youth Development Award has become the Development Award, and is aimed at celebrating projects with an implicit educational and development element. The Single Strategic Project Award is now known as the Strategic Project Award, and honours an outstanding initiative, with best use of a project, which is an integral part of the business’ strategy.

“We are continually looking at ways to ensure the BASA Awards reflect the current state of play of business and arts partnerships, which is dynamic and evolving,” explains Gianni Mariano, Chairman of the judging committee.

Joining Mariano in judging the 17th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard, are Kojo Baffoe, Mary Corrigall, Fikile Moeti, Nicky du Plessis, Theresho Selesho, Dali Tambo and Roelof Petrus van Wyk.

The only South African awards celebrating business partnerships with the arts, the annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard, play an important role in the changing face of business in the country.

“Business and Arts South Africa is proud to be partnering with Hollard and Business Day on the Awards.  Their support is crucial to the recognition and reward of businesses who engage in the arts”, confirms BASA CEO Michelle Constant.

According to Peter Bruce “The start of the Business Day BASA Awards is always an exciting time for Business Day, it is the beginning of a period where we always have great fun with the community who read and support us”

“When we entered Sasol New Signatures and our sponsorship of the National Youth Orchestra for the BASA awards, part of our motivation was to get broader recognition for the projects and the work they have done over many years,” comments Richard Hughes, Sponsorship Manager at Sasol which was named winner in the Youth Development category in 2013.

Each of the 12 categories now open for entry is of equal value, with winners each receiving a specially commissioned work of art. Entry into the 17th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard, is facilitated by an online system that is continually streamlined to ensure ease of use, and will open until 16 May 2014. Those requiring more information can also call Lakin Morgan at the BASA offices on 011 447 2295 or email lakin@basa.co.za.

The 17th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard Awards are audited by Grant Thornton.

For the full lists of categories now open for entry in the 17th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard. Go to the www.basa.co.za for more information.

About BASA (NPC):

Business and Arts South Africa is an internationally recognised development agency which incorporates the arts into, and contributes to, corporates’ commercial success. With a suite of integrated programmes, Business and Arts South Africa encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts in order to grow SHARED VALUE. Business and Arts South Africa was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of government and the business sector, as a public/private partnership.

AFDA Durban Open Day Saturday, 8 March

Prospective film students and their parents are invited to the AFDA Open Day  at the Durban Campus in 2A Highdale Road, Glen Anil on Saturday, 8 March.

The AFDA Durban Campus which recently saw an upgrade to its facilities and technical equipment to the value of R 1, 2 Million, currently offers an Undergraduate BA Degree in Motion Picture Medium or Live Performance with specializations offered under the Film, TV and Performance Schools. The Open Day presentation begins at 10am and will be followed by tours and demonstrations within each of the schools within the campus.

AFDA Durban Campus Dean, Mr Franco Human and AFDA Chairman, Mr Garth Holmes will begin the day with an overview of the degree course followed by Heads of schools and lecturers demonstrating further details of the areas of specialization offered within the degree course.

For students who wish to apply for next year, the campus will also have dedicated online application stations available to apply at for the Undergraduate Degree on the day. Current AFDA Durban Campus students will be on hand to assist in the applications of prospective students. For interviews with any of the AFDA Durban Campus lecturers, Dean or AFDA Chairman Mr Garth Holmes, contact Milena Gevers on (031) 569-2252 or e-mail milenag@afda.co.za or dbncampus@afda.co.za

Smartcard for public transport means bus coupons to be discontinued soon

Durban commuters using public transport can look forward to a swifter, more efficient and safer payment method as the deadline to change to the cashless card system looms.

The bus coupons that have been used on the Durban Transport and Mynah busses since the early 90’s will be discontinued on 1 April 2014 and replaced with the MUVO Card – the City’s new cashless smartcard.

Commuters who get their MUVO Cards now and use it 10 times or more until 1 April 2014 stand a chance to win free transport for one year with weekly draws giving 10 commuters the opportunity to win.

As part of GO!Durban, the massive Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network, the MUVO card is the cashless card that will eventually be used on all the public transport within the network which sees the integration of  public transport with dedicated lanes for busses and upgraded transport corridors for rail.

“The card was launched in July 2012 and was gradually phased in across all regions.” says Thami Manyathi, Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority. “This gradual approach enabled the project team to bed down operational and system teething problems and the system is now operating well with 32 000 commuters having already “moved over to Muvo.” ”

Muvo Cards are a progressive step towards modernising the current transport system. The card is a single Smartcard that can be used across all three of Durban’s primary bus lines: the Durban Transport, Mynah and People Mover busses. By loading cash to the MUVO Card, users are able to travel to central and greater Durban areas using the interchanging routes travelled by these buses. The card has been designed with two main choices, to either load cash or load specific trips.

The benefit of the MUVO Card is that it can be loaded with travel products that only expire after 3 years, whereas the coupon expires after 2 weeks.  The card can also be loaded with cash which can be used to pay for goods and services at retail outlets that display “MUVO accepted here” signage. The card eliminates the need to carry cash on the bus and to do other transactions and each card has a secret pin that the user chooses which safeguards it like a debit or credit card.

The MUVO Card has been certified by Mastercard and the National Department of Transport’s compliance Agency making it fully compliant with banking and regulatory requirements.

The card is being issued free of charge until 1 May 2014, one month after the bus coupons have been discontinued, from which point a charge will be levied for the card.

PayPoints have been set-up at the same locations where bus coupons are sold - look out for the branded MUVO SmartVans - with the addition of some Municipal Sizakala Centres to increase commuter convenience.

Pensioners, people with disabilities and scholars will also be catered for with the new system through a concession card programme that will follow a simple and convenient application process.

For enquiries about the MUVO Card call  080 000 6886 or SMS your name and a short description of your question to our free of charge SMS line 44524 and one of our brand ambassadors will call you back.

For a full list of Muvo PayPoints visit the Muvo websitewww.muvo.co.za, and for more information on the GO!Durban project go towww.godurban.co.za..

 -ends

Business and Arts South Africa lines up impressive 2014 calendar

Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) is again cementing its standing as the country’s leading art-business agency with an excellent line-up of events and programmes in 2014.

A significant portion of the 2014 calendar is aimed at BASA business members, underscoring the benefits of business membership to the organization.

There are also a number of events that continue BASA’s commitment to bettering business skills in the arts sector, in particular the extensive BASA Education Programme for 2014.

We have spent a great deal of energy and time preparing different programmes and initiatives that work in tandem creating an equitable and sustainable business-arts partnerships for the benefit of the whole of society says BASA CEO, Michelle Constant.”

Among the member-focused events are the upcoming BASA Africa Breakfasts series. These events explore how the arts act as a progressive enabler for business entering African markets, and will feature case studies and speakers both locally and from the continent.” The first event takes place in March.

Following on from the successful inaugural event in 2013, the 2014 Business and Arts South Africa Arts in Business Symposium will demonstrate how arts based initiatives can drive and develop innovation, create sustainable value and increase profitability in business. Globally renowned arts and business expert, Giovanni Schiuma kicked off the series last year and drew a capacity audience to the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in October.

A highlight is sure to be the 17th Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Hollard. The Awards jointly sponsored by Business Day and Business and Arts South Africa and supported by Hollard, recognise and reward excellence and innovation in the field of business support for the arts.

In addition, BASA will continue with its firm commitment to innovate in the business-arts terrain, as seen by last year’s development of the BASA | Middel & Partners SED Programme. Already in use by businesses, big and small, the programme provides a simplified on-line platform for businesses to maximise their SED points on their B-BBEE scorecard BASA’s three-tiered Education Programme is part of a commitment to developing innovative educational programmes that seek to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the arts in society.

Arts organisations and individuals wishing to start a non-profit or for profit organisation are the target of BASA Basics. The programme introduces emerging artists to the legal options and processes available in the establishment of an arts organisation, and further supports arts organisations with simple workable business models in order to take the organisation forward.

For arts organisations wanting to go the for profit route, BASA has established a partnership with Shanduka Black Umbrellas that enables BASA to jointly identify potential high impact businesses in the arts sector and provide these businesses with the skills, support and development they require in order to become sustainable and create jobs

BASA Intermediate is aimed at registered arts organisations with a basic business model and plan. The intermediate programme focuses on the strategic objectives developed from the overall business model/plan... Finally, BASA Professional is aimed arts organisations that have been in operation for couple of years but are faced with strategic organisational challenges including governance, marketing and HR.

As a demonstration of BASA’s holistic approach, the Business and Arts South Africa’s Mentorship programme continues to play a role in introducing better business skills into the arts sector, these are just some of the extensive range of programmes and events that BASA will be driving this year, to keep up-to-date, go to www.basa.co.za. The website also contains detailed information on membership and more.

-ends

About BASA (NPC):

Business and Arts South Africa is an internationally recognised development agency which incorporates the arts into, and contributes to, corporate commercial success. With a suite of integrated programmes, Business and Arts South Africa encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts in order to grow SHARED VALUE. Business and Arts South Africa was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of government and the business sector, as a public/private partnership.

Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) calls for entries 2014

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will celebrate its 35th edition from 17th to 27th July 2014 with over 250 screenings of cutting-edge cinema from around the world with a special focus on films from South Africa and Africa. The largest of Southern Africa’s film festivals, and the most important film festival in Africa, DIFF has a film competition component and also presents screenings in township areas where cinemas are non-existent.  

The festival will consider films completed in 2013 and 2014, and there is no charge for entry. All submissions must be entered via the Eventival online system at http://vp.eventival.eu/cca/diff2014. In order to submit a film you will need to create a free visitor account (if you have not already done so in previous years), then follow the online process. Finally, send us your DVD screener before the deadline. We are accepting submissions of both short and feature length fiction and documentary films. The deadline for all entries is 28th March 2014.

“We look forward to once again receiving a wealth of top quality films from around the globe,” says festival manager Peter Machen. “We also welcome input from and engagement with current and potential partners who support the development of the film industry on the continent. It is through collaboration that we can offer film-makers and the public a festival of brilliant film and a worthwhile industry development programme.”

Specific streams of programming for 2014 will include a focus on 20 years of democracy in South Africa, as well as films that explore architecture in various ways. This latter stream of programming acknowledges the World Congress of Architects, which will take place in Durban in 2014 the week after DIFF.

DIFF 2014 will also offer extensive seminar and workshop programmes, which will feature local and international filmmakers and industry professionals. These include the 7th Berlinale Talents Durban (18th to 22nd July), in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, and the 5th Durban FilmMart (18th to 21st July), in partnership with Durban Film Office.

For more information visit: www.durbanfilmfest.co.za or email diff@ukzn.ac.za. Follow the festival on twitter: @DIFFest.

The festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the City of Durban and other valued funders and partners. The CCA is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter, in the College of Humanities at UKZN.

The Greatest Love of All - The Whitney Houston Show

Showtime Management is proud to present, direct from the USA, The Greatest Love Of All - The Whitney Houston Show starring Belinda Davids, playing Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom's iZulu Theatre and other venues this Festive Season from December 5.

A tribute to a woman who has long been held as an icon of pop music and vocal ability, The Greatest Love Of All – The Whitney Houston Show will present and celebrate a catalogue of Houston’s most loved songs from the span of her 29 year career. The 2 ½ hour concert and stage show includes hits such as ‘How Will I Know’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’, ‘Didn’t We Almost Have It All’, ‘I’m Every Woman’, ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’, ‘Step by Step’ and of course, ‘I Will Always Love You’.

In the wake of Whitney Houston’s tragic passing in 2012, her timeless music and awe-inspiring voice have received renewed appreciation from her legion of long-time fans and garnered a new generation of admirers who appreciate Whitney’s unique voice, undeniable talent and pervasive charm as a welcome contrast to the artists prevalent in today’s contemporary music.

Davids’ ethereal voice and long music career - as a solo recording artist and as a support act and backing vocalist for such acts as The Temptations, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, Monica and Johnny Gill – make her a natural performer, but it’s her intimate knowledge and love of Houston’s music that give this show a personal, heart-felt feel.

Exposed mainly to R&B and gospel as a child, Davids was innately drawn to Houston’s musical style, and paid homage to her idol through her dress, hairstyle and by including Houston songs in almost every one of her live shows. Davids now understands the music so well that her performances are unbelievable for some audiences. One audience in Hong Kong demanded she sing ‘I Will Always Love You’ acapella to prove she wasn’t lip-syncing; Davids obliged and was greeted with looks of disbelief, closely followed by a standing ovation.

Davids will be directed by Showtime Management CEO John Van Grinsven Snr. and joined on tour by Artistic Director Kenny Wizz, Musical Director Dale Scheepers and Purple Ear Productions’ Director Jon Van Grinsven Jr., the team also responsible for the worldwide hit showMichael Jackson HIStory.

Belinda Davids was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and began performing professionally at the age of 14. She has never had vocal training and is blessed with a 4 octave vocal range, and hence the ability to sing any genre. Her musical heart has always been R&B; Belinda's inspirations as a child were Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Michael Jackson and the one artist whom she still, to this day, honours in every show she performs – Whitney Houston.

As a young girl one of the very first LP’s Davids ever owned was a song called “Hold Me” by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston. The quality and style Whitney portrayed in this song struck a cord and Davids’ fascination with the icon grew. She sang Whitney’s music at every chance: at family gatherings, talent competitions and to friends whilst playing on the street. Like many young girls at that time her bedroom walls were plastered with posters and magazine cut-outs of the icon. Whitney’s influence was so strong it inspired everything from her dress sense to her hairstyles.

As a young woman Belinda had the burning desire to live out her dreams and follow in her idols footsteps. She took on the club circuit and her performances left many people amazed at how similar she sounded to the icon.

In the mid 90’s Belinda caught the eye of record executives at Tusk Records, which spawned the album “Belinda Davids”. Three of the songs on this album, which Belinda wrote, were released as singles: “This I Swear”, “This Is My Life” and “We Go Together”. The latter was number one for six weeks in South Africa.

Davids promoted her album all over South Africa for a number of years at various hotels, clubs and cabarets. She opened shows for many international acts when they visited South Africa including Michael Jackson’s History Tour, The Manhattans, The Temptations and Peaches and Herbs. Years after her debut album Davids decided to travel abroad to expand her musical career, which took her to Dubai, London and Hong Kong to perform in major hotels and clubs, with renowned success.

Whilst performing “I Will Always Love You” at a hotel in Hong Kong she was requested by the audience to sing acapella as they thought she was lip-syncing to the original Whitney Houston song, after which she received a standing ovation.

After many years on the road she finally settled in Los Angeles where she started to focus on getting her solo career back on track. In L.A she collaborated with R&B singer/producer Sam Salter who worked on a couple of her promotional tracks. She also caught the attention of many R&B artists who asked her to perform and tour with them, such as Keyshia Cole, Monica, Johnny Gill, Kelly Price and Keri Hilson. She appeared on The Jay Leno Show and The George Lopez Show as a back-up vocalist for Monica.

Belinda Davids will once again showcase her exquisite voice as she takes on the lead role in the brand new Showtime Management production,The Greatest Love of All – The Whitney Houston Show - a show dedicated to keeping alive the music and spirit of the late, great and incomparable Whitney Houston.

The tour dates are as follows, Sibaya Casino, Durban on 5 December to 5 January and Wild Coast Sun Resort & Casino on 30 December. Other dates include Boardwalk Casino, Port Elizabeth on 7 January, Grand West Casino on 10 January. Tickets from Computicket:www.computicket.com or 0861 915 8000.

-ends