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Second Annual Smoking Dragon Adrenalin Festival 16 - 18 June 2016

Media Release

Second Annual Smoking Dragon Adrenalin Festival

16 – 18 June 2016

The second thrilling annual Smoking Dragon Adrenalin Festival will take place at the Amphitheatre Backpackers’ Lodge, in the foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park of KwaZulu-Natal from June 16 to 18.

The three-day unique event combines adrenalin-packed festivities with great music in the bo-ho Backpackers’ Lodge overlooking the magnificent Northern Drakensberg mountain range. The festival offers an array of high-octane activities, and chilled relaxed vibes that are suitable for adrenalin-junkies, music-lovers, families with kids and even for the more mellow older festivite wanting to soak in the atmosphere.

This year, the festival coincides with National Youth Day and to pay special tribute, Smoking Dragon has chosen a young schoolboy to represent youth in the arts. DJ Eskay (aka Sakhiwe Khuzwayo) is only 19 and one of SA’s youngest club DJs. Khuzwayo is destined for great things, at 16 he was in the KZN Top 10 in the SA DJing Championships. He has performed for thousands of people at Moses Mabhida Stadium at the Fact Durban Rocks parties, sharing the stage with some of the biggest DJs in the country, including Tira, Black Coffee, C’ndo, Lulo Café and Shimza. His mixes have been played on two of the biggest radio stations in KZN, Ukhozi FM and Gagasi 99.5FM and is a regular feature on their entertainment pages. Eskay is still at school (Roseway Waldorf) and hopes to complete a music degree at UKZN and, of course, keep SA’s dance floors packed.

On Saturday 18 June, the festival will focus on women in music under the theme “Smoking Diva Saturday”. Performances include Nje, the band led by beautiful vocalist, Portia Malunga Rowling, who will perform with bassist Rogan van den Berg, drummer Gary Parker and guitarist Gregan Aherin. Also on the line-up is DJ Lindi Lush, her passion spans from Electro to Progressive and Trance among other genres. Trailmix a dynamic DJ from the UK offering a “Bloody Good Rave” on Saturday, and promises to mash up the dance floor bringing a blend of reggae, dancehall, digital dub, steppas and bass. DJ Nicky B from Kaya FM will also blaze the decks with he unique mix of Latin and African music. Another interesting element will be the collaboration of the Fantastic Cortina Whiplash (a 3-piece all women Rock ‘n Roll band, DJ Spicy M with electro house sounds and upcoming star Nomisupasta with her fusion of traditional Xhosa instruments and commercial drum ‘n bass. Also on the bill is Ann Jangle, briefly back in South Africa, DJ Shakti, DJ Nats and Saarkie.

The music offering includes a range of neo-soul, folk, trance, house music and Afro funk sounds. On the bill of performers are acoustic guitarist and singer Gavin Ferguson, Rubber Duc whose quirky sound has been described as “ flock-swing-hop”, Durban-based soul music artist Chico Muya, 7th Son who joins the pack to add rock and reggae sounds from Cape Town and local Mbaqanga artist Inkonjane no Bheseni. The Johanesburg based multi-award nominee MXO will add his afro-soul sounds in the line-up.The Lovestains from Johannesburg, Held On Till May, Raygun Royale, Boxer, Kings Down South and The Black Cat Bones promise to add in an eclectic mix of mood sounds to the weekend. To accommodate everyone at night, DJs will play in a private electronic dance music area far from the family camping site.

In between the music performances, festival-goers can enjoy numerous activities such as tandem skydiving (from the festival grounds), bag jumping (like a jumping castle for grown-ups), paragliding, abseiling, mountain biking, trail running, micro lighting, quad biking, off-road Segway, Downhill Scooting, canopy touring, paintball, hiking (to the highest waterfall in Africa), kloofing, white water rafting, bass and fly fishing or hot air ballooning. Most of these Adrenalin activities are charged separately and can be booked through the Smoking DragonWebsite. All service providers adhere to all safety and regulatory procedures. 

Accommodation is available in the many BnB’s and hotels nearby which Smoking Dragon organises on your behalf. There will be no entry fee charged to people staying at Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge, either camping or in their rooms. The lodge is child friendly and the festival has a dedicated kids zone with its own programme of child-centred activities and babysitters are available at night, this service must be pre-booked. There will be interesting food vendors, clean toilets, showers and full bar services. 

The festival starts on Thursday, June 16 and runs until Saturday, June 18. Those staying outside of Amphitheatre Backpackers will pay a levy of R50 per day or R135 for a 3-day pass. These will be limited. Kids under 12 staying off-site do not pay for a Day Pass but the “Kid’s Zone” will cost R70 per child per day and needs to be pre-booked. All arrangements for the festival are done through www.smokingdragon.org questions can be emailed to ilsa@smokingdragon.co.za or call 0825512495 Bookings at Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge are done through www.amphibackpackers.com questions can be emailed to amphibackpackers@worldonline.co.za or call 076 8227508.

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GG Alcock to present Masterclass at DFM 2016

 PRESS RELEASE

GG ALCOCK TO PRESENT MASTERCLASS AT DFM 2016

South African author and entrepreneur, GG Alcock, will present an unusual Masterclass at this year’s edition of Durban FilmMart, which takes place from June 17 to 20 during the Durban International Film Festival. Under the banner of "Authenticity is Key – Building Credibility with Audiences”, Alcock will talk about the vital necessity of engaging with an audience on their own terms through an authentic understanding of local narratives.

The author of Third World Child and Kasinomics (which explores the economics of South Africa’s townships, or ‘lokasies’), Alcock is uniquely placed to talk about accessing local audiences. Having grown up in Zulu culture, he is keenly aware how easy it is for external narratives to be imposed unsuccessfully on indigenous cultures. Alcock has been a shebeen owner, a political activist, a community worker, and an African adventurer, and runs a successful communications company - Minanawe Marketing. Born in Zululand and raised in the heart of rural Msinga area of Kwazulu-Natal in the local Zulu community Alcock is fluent in isiZulu and still has a deep physical and spiritual connection with his home village where his mother still lives.

As the founder of Minanawe Marketing, he has built an impressive reputation as a creative and strategist – his upbringing having given him the ability to unearth unique insights and apply these to marketing solutions in the African context. Given how important it is to establish an authentic narrative and convincing context when delivering a message, Alcock says that “these lessons can have just as much relevance for filmmakers looking to engage local audiences as for those wishing to sell products.”

 

“I think it’s important to note up front that I am not a filmmaker. What I am able to share, however, is an understanding of audiences, particularly in the mass market, townships and rural areas.” His business specialises in developing themes, concepts and marketing campaigns that have a strong connection with the cultures and identities of these audiences. At the DFM he will be discussing some simple – but often ignored – rules, which he applies when communicating with audiences, and illustrating them with case studies.  While these case studies are located in marketing rather than in filmmaking, the value of his research extends to anyone who is trying to tell African stories. “I think the fact that marketers are often able to access audiences successfully indicates the importance of these lessons,” says Alcock.

Alcock plans to use some of the cultural and business case studies from Kasinomics to explore concepts that are seldom discussed outside of predominately verbal cultures. Core lessons and themes that filmmakers will be able to take away include an understanding of the role of culture and how audiences tend to “modernise rather than westernise”, the ways in which visual and verbal language can be misinterpreted, and the importance of the spiritual and intangible in touching the emotions of an audience. Alcock will also explore the power and significance of social networks and viral communication in a non-online world.

Ahead of DFM, Alcock together with Feyi Olubodun, COO of Insight Nigeria have been invited to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to present a session entitled “The African Consumer, Let My Enemy Live Long” on June 18.

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This unique addition to DFM’s packed roster, which will be presented on June 20, is sure to be both entertaining and eye-opening, and will no doubt inspire new ways of thinking about local audiences.

 

To register for DFM and to find out more about the delegate registration process, visit the official website at www.durbanfilmmart.com.  An Early Bird registration discount for the 4-day event is available to delegates who book before 30 May at a cost of R1 485, which includes access to allocated sessions, a daily luncheon, DFM networking events, entrance into festival screenings (subject to ticket availability), listing in the DFM Industry Manual, and access to Masterclasses and the Africa in Focus programme. After 30 May 2016, the cost is R2035. Daily passes to the event cost R605. (This does not include tickets to the DIFF screenings or access into the opening and closing events.)

 

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Note to Editors:

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and finance market and is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DFM provides filmmakers from across Africa with a valuable opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and to participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on the latest industry trends. www.durbanfilmmart.co.za

 

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film industry development arm of the eThekwini Municipality, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry. The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMMEs in the region. www.durbanfilmoffice.co.za.

 

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 200 screenings from different countries and cultures with a special focus on Africa. The festival includes development programmes such as Talents Durban and a rich schedule of workshops. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors. www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Flatfoot Dance Company presents Homeland - 6 - 10 April

 

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents HOMELAND

6 – 10 April 2016

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

Durban’s FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY, offers a new season of dance work from the 6 - 10 April 2016 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Provocatively titled Homeland, this season sees long-time friends and dance making colleagues Lliane Loots and Sbonakaliso Ndaba join choreographic forces once again. These two formidable award-winning South African choreographers last worked together in 2005 on a dance work poetically titled Side by Side for the Playhouse Women’s Arts Festival.

Homeland offers two works separated by a short interval. Both Loots and Ndaba have chosen to work on the evocative title of Homeland and given the recent xenophobic attacks, the continued rise of racism on social media, and the huge increasing levels of gender violence, both choreographers begin to look into the meaning of home. Interestingly enough, and despite the painful political and social backdrop of current South Africa, both choreographers have moved into the deeply personal and deeply interior landscapes of “homeland”. The work is strangely gentle, strangely feminine and very very beautiful; it is as if these two women artist have fought against the violence and terror inherent in the contemporary body and found another language to speak truth to power.

The first work is crafted by Sbonakaliso Ndaba and is a powerhouse of African contemporary dance rhythms that sees Ndaba’s indomitable style of energy and declaration take root with the 6 resident FLATFOOT dancers. Ndaba says, “Homeland for me speaks about where I come from, where my umbilical cord lies, where I speak my mother tongue with pride and no fear of shame. Homeland is where my great great grandmothers fought wars so that I can walk, speak and dance in freedom. Homeland is loving my own brown skin and waking up each morning to see another day despite so much.”

The second work sees Loots collaborate with the 6 FLATFOOT dancers on a work that looks at Homeland from the pain of the global refugee crisis that sees millions of people forced to leave or evacuated their homes due to war and political, social or natural disasters. With 2014 UN figures siting that a new refugee or an internally displaced person is created every 5 seconds somewhere on the planet, Loots and the dancers respond to false notion of belonging to a nation state and of feeling safe at ‘home’. With a deep resonance towards the pain of South Africa’s own xenophobia and continued racism, Loots’ Homeland begins to claims back the internal safety of a resistant (dancing!) self that seeks community in other ways; ways that talk back. Powerful and feisty work that, in Loots’s resolute dance making style, is sure to be controversial.

Artistic director of FLATFOOT, Loots says; “Sbo is like family to me, a sister, and so the chance to sit in a rehearsal space and work with her again feels like an enormous artistic and personal gift. We work very differently and make very different work aesthetically and I love this – I am pushed and forced to re-evaluate what I create”. Guest choreographer to FLATFOOT, Ndaba says, “coming back to Durban and to FLATFOOT is like a home-coming to me. This is one of the first company’s I created work with as a young independent choreographer and I am very excited to be invited back. The FLATFOOT studio still has my ancestors and so I am going to greet them again and work with some familiar and wonderful Durban dancers”.

Loots has, once again, collaborated with Karen Logan for filmic images and installations which further layer her Homeland, and Wesley Maherry has designed the lighting for both works.

FLATFOOT dancers for this season are, Jabu Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Kirsty Ndawo, Kim McCusker, Sifiso Khumalo, Tshediso Kabulu and Sanele Maphumulo.

The Thursday 7th April 7.30pm show offers a rare treat for dance audiences when arts journalist, Adrienne Sichel (The Ar(t)chive, Wits School of Arts) hosts a special on stage after performance discussion with both choreographers and members of the dance company. This is a chance to get up close and personal with the dance makers and ask questions.

Performances are on 6, 7, 8  and 9 April at 7.30pm and on 10 April at 3pm at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Ticket prices are R85 and R65 for (student, pensioner and group booking of more than 10 tickets)

Booking is through Computicket.

 

Partnerships at this year's Time of the Writer Festival

Time of the Writer

14-19 March 2016

Partnerships

The 19th edition of the Time of the Writer festival is presented by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) in partnership with various organisations this year.

The eThekwini Municipality Libraries department has partnered with the Centre for Creative Arts, in supporting the community engagement programme of the festival in which a series of events entitled Conversations that Matter will take place in public libraries around the City. The City will also be purchasing two copies of each book by each writer featured at the festival which will be distributed to 92 eThekwini Municipal Libraries. The festival together with eThekwini Municipality has organised a park and ride shuttle service to the various venues. The shuttle will pick up passengers from Durban Centrum Park where you will be able to securely park your car, from Tuesday through to Saturday at both 10:00 and 17:30 each day.

The Festival has also partnered with the Etisalat Prize for Literature, the first ever pan-African prize celebrating first time writers of published fiction books. Etisalat, will bring three shortlisted writers for a reading at the Time of the Festival as well as donation of 1000 books to one of the City’s local libraries.

Independent news agency The Daily Vox will be live streaming the festival and providing a platform for online engagement from audiences.

This year’s Festival Book Drive received support from Independent Newspapers and Gcina Mhlophe’s Nozincwadi: Mother of Books Project, which promotes a culture of reading throughout the country. Through this partnership a rural school will be awarded books collected at events hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts.

Time of the Writer has partnered with the KZN Music Imbizo to present Notes on Music. Each evening a different musician will take to the stage before the nightly panel, to perform a new piece of music based on the artist’s interpretation of the festival participants’ written work. There will also be a short discussion facilitated by Salim Washington (UKZN) and Sphephelo Mbhele (KZN Music Imbizo), with the artist providing some insight into what went into composing that piece of music.

All events are FREE to library or student cardholders. For members of the public without either card, a nominal fee of R20 will be requested at the box office one hour before the event. The eThekwini Municipal Libraries along with The Centre for Creative Arts will be on hand at each venue in order to aid those without library cards to sign up for one on the spot, all that it requires is a valid ID document and proof of residence.

For more details on this years' Time of the Writer, visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or call (031) 260 2506

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University KwaZulu-Natal), the 19th Time of the Writer is supported by the City of Durban, the National Department of Arts and Culture, The Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Durban. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

 

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19th Time of the Writer 14 - 19 March 2016

19th Time of the Writer

14 - 19 March 2016

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) is proud to announce a change in venues and a special programme for the 19th Time of The Writer, which takes place from 14 to 19 March in Durban, under the theme Decolonising the Book.

A nationwide conversation on inclusiveness in the South African literature landscape began at the 2015 edition of Time of the Writer, sparked off by South African writer Thando Mgqolozana. In order to provide a platform for conversation and debate on this issue, this year’s edition of the festival will gather the leading voices from every facet of literature in the areas of writing, editing, publishing, translation, marketing, bookselling and promotion (including events), to deliberate on the salient issues pertinent to the transformation and growth of literature in South Africa. This theme aims to interrogate the central question of how to go about decolonising literature in South Africa, from writing to readership.

Conversations that Matter is a daytime programme of roundtable discussions, led by experts across the various fields of literature, that provides a space for people to share and contribute towards this vital topic. The nightly evening panels will then feature a summative discussion on the day’s deliberations.

The 19th edition of the festival is presented in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality Libraries department in whose libraries the day programme will take place.

This year’s edition of the festival features a shift in venue for the evening panels as each day the festival will take place in a different location across the surrounding areas of Durban; venues are located in Clermont, Cato Manor, Umlazi, Inanda and KwaMashu.

“We are very excited about the plans for this year’s festival, which came about as a result of a growing call from within the literary world and South Africa as whole for increased diversity, access and inclusiveness. The Centre for Creative Arts would like to acknowledge one of South Africa’s leading writers Thando Mgqolozana who has been very vocal about change in our society and has assisted in the programming of this edition of the festival,” says Tiny Mungwe, festival manager at the Centre for Creative Arts. “The change is very big for us and by breaking from years of tradition we will have another set of operational challenges, but it is something we believe is absolutely crucial for the festival and for the face of literature in South Africa if we are to effect some kind of shift in our thinking.”

The line-up of writers and venues will be announced in a few weeks time.

All events FREE to library or student cardholders. For members of the public without either card, a nominal fee of R20 will be requested at the door one hour before the event.

For more details about this years' Time of the Writer, visit the festival web page or call (031) 260 2506

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University KwaZulu-Natal), the 19th Time of the Writer is supported by the City of Durban, the National Department of Arts and Culture, The Goethe-Institut and Alliance Francaise Durban. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

 

Action in Autism/SAPS invites members of the public to "Protection and Support for People with Autism" engagement

Media Release

Action in Autism/SAPS invites members of the public to “Protection and Support for People with Autism” engagement

Action in Autism, together with the South African Police Service are inviting members of the public to a meeting that will take place on Saturday 14 November 2015 from 2pm to 4pm at the St Augustine’s School Hall, John Zikhali Road (next to the Botanical Gardens). This will be a dialogue/engagement session on the Protection and Safety of People with Autism.

People with autism and related communication disorders are vulnerable to abuse, and to becoming victims of bullying and crime. An added danger is that, in an unpredictable situation in which autistic people have little control and high anxiety, a flight and fright response can result.  Many people with autism run away in a situation perceived as threatening or unpredictable.   This is especially dangerous when police are not skilled on how to support people with communication difficulties and can even be life threatening.

The South African Police Service has asked for input from disability organisations on their Disability Action Plan. Invited guest speaker Major Lekganyane who heads Disability Services in the SAPS National Office will address their next Support Group Meeting regarding provision of police services to people with autism. All who are concerned with the protection and safety of people with autism are welcome to attend.

For further information or to RSVP for this Support Group Meeting, please call 031 207 4858, or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

Action in Autism does not receive any funding from government, if you would like to support the organization through cash or kind or through volunteering your time, we would be most thankful. For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

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Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 207 4858/083 7774468

info@actioninautism.org.za

SABC's Uzalo Season 2 - Trainee Opportunities

Media Release

SABC’s Uzalo Season 2 - Trainee Opportunities

Stained Glass Productions which produces the daily telenovela, Uzalo, for SABC 1 is looking to train six young filmmakers during its second season of filming in KwaMashu, Durban. Ethekwini Municipality’s Durban Film Office responsible for development of the local film and television industry, in partnership with Stained Glass Productions, are introducing a Trainee Development Programme for the youth of Ethekwini Municipality in a number of areas of film-making.

Areas of training include:

Sound – training a “boom swinger” in the basics of sound mixing. (Suitable for someone who is interested in sound design and has an ear for music.)

Camera- training as  a camera assistant with exposure to camera operating, lighting and focus pulling, with a view to equipping the trainee to be a competent camera assistant.  (Suitable for someone who has the ability to pay attention to detail, a basic understanding of camera equipment and previous experience/ interest in photography).

Make-up and hair – training as a make-up and hair standby assistant to be able to do onset checks and touch ups required by actors and performers. This trainee will also be exposed to the basics of television make-up application, hair styling and basic special effects.

Art department - training as art department standby assistant. This trainee will be exposed to set dressing, prop management and production design. They will become competent in seeing to all the onset art department needs; making sure artists have appropriate props handy and that the set is dressed to the directors satisfaction.  (Applicants must have an Interest in art, painting, carpentry, fine arts, graffiti and graphic design).

Production – training as a production assistant. This trainee will be given an opportunity to help with the running of the production and the production office, from making sure scripts, memos and documents are printed and distributed effectively, to getting exposed to the more high level functions such as scheduling, call sheets and movement orders.  (Applicants must have computer skills, an ability to pay attention to detail and good administrative skills).

Wardrobe - training as a wardrobe standby assistant who will be competent in all the onset checks and adjustments needed for artists and their wardrobe needs.  (Applicants must have an eye for design and training in dress making, costume design/ construction, interest in fashion and styling would be an advantage).

Preference will be given to trainees who have some basic knowledge of film-making, or who have demonstrated an interest in choosing film as a career. Whilst all of the training is on the job and hands on, the production house will be testing the trainees’ development in their respective basic functions every two months and these will be used to further tailor the learning and training.

“We have committed to supporting the production of the highly successful TV show, Uzalo, as part of the overall endeavor to grow Durban as a film city.” Say Deputy Mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, Cllr Nomvuso Shabalala. “As we have seen in other growth areas of film, a vital part of the development of the industry is to ensure that we have sufficiently trained people on the ground to support the needs of the production houses that aim to establish themselves here or that will be producing within the city on location. We are really pleased to be able to offer six young Durban candidates an opportunity to learn with a team on such a successful formula, and look forward to seeing the results of this process.”

How to apply:

Submit your CV and a covering motivation letter to:

Mr Fezile Peko, DFO Project Manager

 

Email  Fezile.Peko@durban.gov.za.Fezile Peko

Deliver:  11th Floor Rennies House, 41 Margaret Mncadi Av., Durban

For more information about how to apply contact Mr Fezile Peko on 031 3114243 or email Fezile.Peko@durban.gov.za.Fezile Peko

The deadline for applications is 13 November 2015 at 12pm.

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Donation from Journey Foundation for Action in Autism

Media Release

Donation from Journey Foundation for Action in Autism

Dr Adam Mohamed of the Journey Foundation is a dentist and author who lives in Durban. Action in Autism welcomed Dr Mohamed to the Action in Autism Early Intervention Centre in October, where he donated R29 498 to the organisation through his Foundation.

The impact of this donation is far-reaching, and will ensure all costs incurred by the recent Skills Transference Workshop held by Action in Autism on 16 and 17 October are covered. This workshop is held bi-annually to empower parents, educators and professionals through the transfer of skills and knowledge and hands-on, practical experience. The presenter team includes a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, two psychologists, a specialist in alternative and augmented communication systems, a parent, and a person with autism. Dr Mohamed demonstrated his commitment to autism by attending part of the workshop during the first day’s programme.

Action in Autism does not receive any funding from government, if you would like to support the organization through cash or kind or through volunteering your time, we would be most thankful. For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

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Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 207 4858

info@actioninautism.org.za

8 Morrison Street Book Launches and Open Mic

8 Morrison Street Book Launches and Open Mic

Poetry Africa festival staples, Book Launches as well as the Open Mic will be held on the 17th October (Saturday) at 8 Morrison Street. This is a free event for all wishing to attend.

Four books will be launched, with the opportunity for all willing participants to sign up for the open mic which will run for half an hour after every book launch.

The books that will be launched are:

12:00 – 12:30 Home is where the Mic Is (Botsotso) co-edited by Allan Horwitz and Mandi Vundla. It features 24 poets, in and outside of South Africa, who have served the poetry community well beyond their words. These are Critical Thinkers, Authors, Event Organizers and Activists who utilize their poems as a voice for social commentary relative to the struggles of our time

13:00 – 13:30 The Spoken Word Project (Goethe-Institut, South Africa) This book documents the spoken word scenes in South Africa, Madagascar, Cameroon, Mali, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda, where The Spoken Word Project, initiated by the Goethe-Institut in 2013, took place. The authors provide fascinating insight into the old tradition of story-telling and oral history, which during The Spoken Project, was taken up by a young generation of poets and transformed in a powerful new way.

14:00 – 14:30 Piggy Boy’s Blue (Nakhane Touré) a novel set mostly in the Eastern Cape, a distorted pastoral. It is a story about a city boy returning to the town in which he was born for peace and quiet, but in return, receives the opposite.

15:00 – 15:30 Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology Vol.V (Jacana Media) This is the fifth annual Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology, and is a compendium of the poems long-listed for the 2015 Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Award. Every year South African poets, young and old, debut or previously published, are invited to submit up to three of their poetic efforts to the award, in any of the country’s 11 official languages. The anthology seeks to publish voices in as many difference languages as possible, and be one of the spaces in which these tongues are given equal space and respect.

Tickets for the festival finale at Rivertown cost R70 (pre-sale or R80 at the door) and can be purchased fromwww.computicket.com

For more information go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or like the Facebook page PoetryAfrica or follow on Twitter @PoetryAfrica. 

Presented by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and made possible by support from the eThekwini Municipality, KZN Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council and the Goethe Institute. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter. 

 

GENERAL ENQUIRIES: 
Phone: +27 (0)31 260 2506
Fax: +27 (0)31 260 3074 
Email:  cca@ukzn.ac.za

19th Poetry Africa Workshops at Rivertown Beerhall

Media Release

19th Poetry Africa Workshops at Rivertown Beerhall

The 19th Poetry Africa Festival will be offering 3 insightful workshops which will be taking place on the 17th October at the Beerhall gallery from 10: 00 to 13:00. The workshops form part of a teeming line up of festivities to finalise the weeklong festival which begins on Monday, October 12.

The workshops include: Advancing Poetry through Events - Organisers of  Poetry events in Durban and South Africa (Thabiso Mohare, Vus’umuzi Phakathi and Mxolisi Mtshali) will be speaking about the impact of a growing literary society, Making Durban a liveable City – Through Arts Development -Representatives from the eThekwini Parks and Recreation (Themba Mchunu) and National Arts Council (Andrew Nkadimeng) will host a session promoting available  programs for the development and preservation of literature in KwaZulu Natal and Finding your Voice - Poetry Africa participants (Mthunzikazi Mbungwana, Nii Parkes and Aryan Kaganof) facilitate a session on finding your creative voice.

All workshops are free and open to the public.

Tickets for the festival finale at Rivertown cost R70 (pre-sale or R80 at the door) and can be purchased from www.computicket.com

For more information go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or like the Facebook page PoetryAfrica or follow on Twitter @PoetryAfrica. 

Presented by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and made possible by support from the eThekwini Municipality, KZN Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council and the Goethe Institute. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter. 

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GENERAL ENQUIRIES: 
Phone: +27 (0)31 260 2506
Fax: +27 (0)31 260 3074 
Email:  cca@ukzn.ac.za

 

[see attached file: 1. Nii Parkes lr.jpeg] [see attached file: 1. Aryan Kaganof.jpeg] 


19th Poetry Africa - Participants Announcement

Media Release

19th POETRY AFRICA - PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCEMENT

A select group of poets from South Africa and around the world will gather together for a week showcasing the face of present day spoken word and storytelling at the 19th Poetry Africa Festival. The festival takes place in Durban from the 12 to 17 October 2015.

Hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, Poetry Africa provides a space for intercultural exchange and dialogue by hosting an extensive community outreach programme with poetry readings, performances and workshops in community centres, campuses and also participate in a programme of visits to schools across Durban to share ideas about poetry.

Evening poetry readings and discussions will take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (Howard College) UKZN. The festival finale will take place on October 17 at the Rivertown Beer Hall in Durban’s CBD, with a closing performance by soulful singer Nakhane Touré.

This year’s festival features 24 poets:

UK-based Kat Francois, is a comedienne, playwright, actress, performer, host, schools and youth facilitator and a well‐known performance poet both in her country and globally. Lebohang 'Nova' Masango, is a Swedish-born writer, poet, activist, feminist and speaker, and UK-based Ghanaian performance poet, writer and sociocultural commentator Nii Parkes.

From South Africa comes the celebrated and prolific poet and actress Lebo Mashile, who, was named one of the Top 100 Africans by New African magazine; Lesego Rampolokeng the  renowned hard-hitting South African writer, playwright and performance poet; Aryan Kaganof a filmmaker, novelist, poet and fine artist, who refers to himself as a project of African Noise Foundation; Ntsiki Mazwai the outspoken and incendiary poet, writer and musician and Thabiso ‘Afurakan’ Mohare one of the pioneers of the modern South African spoken word scene.

KZN-based poets include Africa Dlamini, a slam/spoken word poet who lives in Howick, Durban’s Celiswa Majali whose novel entitled Imbali yentombazanana is used by schools at grade 10 level in the Western Cape and Gauteng Provinces. Also from Durban are Khanyi Shusha a diviner, performance art poet, stylist, designer, facilitator, brown consciousness activist, feminist and writer; Kwazi Ndlangisa a South African award-winning performance poet, vocalist, creative writer and art activist; Matt Vend who is well known across South Africa for his poetically-driven songwriting, unique rhythmic guitar playing and engaging live performances; Nokulunga Dladla who is a passionate recording poetry artist and a storyteller as well as being an educator in the Pinetown District; Nosipho Magcaba, a former “prelude poet” at the festival, who returns this year to the main programme; Tshebeletso Mohale also a former “prelude poet” at Poetry Africa 2014 who is lives and works in Durban; Thando Fuze has twice been nominated  for Best Female Performing Poet at the Original Material Awards and Vus'umuzi Phakathi who  is an award winning South African poet, writer, performer, facilitator and producer.

Other featured poets include Icebound Makhele a spoken word performer, writer, cultural activist and events coordinator from Bloemfontein,Makhosazana Xaba the author of two poetry collections and is a feminist activist with experience in women’s health, philanthropy and the anti-apartheid struggle; Mbali Vilakazi the award-winning South African poet, performer, curator and speaker, with a dynamic style and collaborative experimental approach; Mthunzikazi Mbungwana a poet, writer and storyteller from a small village of Upper Indwana in Cala in the former Transkei;  Mutle Mothibe has spent the last 15 years honing his skills a writer and performer and is also an accomplished workshop facilitator who regularly engages both learners and educators and Limpopo-born Vonani Bila who is poet and musician, who has written eight story-books for newly literate adult readers in Sepedi, Xitsonga and English.

Tickets for the evening sessions, which take place at 7pm at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, are R40 (students/ pensioners: R25 at the door) and can be purchased at Computicket or one hour before the performance begins at the box-office. Tickets for the festival finale at Rivertown cost R70 (pre-sale or R80 at the door) and can be purchased  from www.computicket.com

For more information go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or like the Facebook page PoetryAfrica or follow on Twitter @PoetryAfrica. 

Presented by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and made possible by support from the eThekwini Municipality, KZN Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council and the Goethe Institute. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter. 

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The 2015 JOMBA! Eric Shabalala Dance Champion Award

MEDIA RELEASE

The 2015 JOMBA! Eric Shabala Dance Champion Award

The Centre for Creative Arts and JOMBA! announced on Friday, September 4 that this year’s Eric Shabalala Dance Champion Award goes to a colleague of the late Eric Shabalala and fellow founding member of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, Ntombi Gasa, from Clermont, Durban.

The award, now in its 5th year, was created to honour of the memory of Eric Mshengu Shabalala who tragically passed away in 2011. Shabalala was a local dancer, choreographer, teacher and one of the founding dancers of the Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre in Durban. In a fitting tribute, the Centre for Creative Arts and the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience Dance Festival has set up this annual award to honour some of KwaZulu-Natal’s stalwart dancers and dance teachers – all in the name of Eric Shabalala.

The award is given not only in recognition of performance or choreographic excellence, but also most profoundly in recognition of dance practitioners who have worked tirelessly to help grow a culture of dance and dance training in Durban – who have supported the growth of dance as an art form at both community and regional level.

In selecting recipients, the Jomba! committee look for those gifted individuals who have gone above and beyond – often without funding – to dedicate themselves to the cultural industry and to put KZN dancers and dance on the national and international map.

Past recipients of this prestigious award include Jarryd Watson who was the first recipient in 2011 for his work with the Wentworth Dance Movement, Sifiso ‘Kitsona’ Khumalo in 2012 for his dedicated work in growing the Flatfoot Dance Company’s dance education and development programmes, as well as developing his own community’s dance programme in Clermont.

In 2013, the award was given jointly to Byron ‘Bizzo’ Tifflin and Preston ‘Kayzo’ Kyd who, often having to operate in a situation with no funding, and these two dancers still manage to grow a community of dancers and their Bboy dance crew, the 031 Floor Assassins, is testament to this.

In 2014, the award was jointly given to Jabu Siphika, Julia Wilson and Zinhle Nzama. They are especially honoured for the dance development work they are doing though FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY with young girls and women in KZN and with using dance to address a society fraught with difficult gender politics that often makes the lives of young women so challenging.

Ntombi Gasa is a choreographer, dancer and dance teacher. She serves as a director on the company’s board and heads Siwela Sonke’s Training and Development Programmes. She began her dance career in 1994 at the Natal Playhouse Youth Development Programme under the directorship of Alfred Hinkel and then Jay Pather. Gasa obtained a Dance in Education certificate from the University of KwaZulu Natal in 2000.

Gasa has performed and travelled extensively with Siwela Sonke. Some notable performances include Ahimsa Ubuntu, Kitchen(winner of the Brett Kebble Art Prize), Republic, South African Siddharta, Cityscapes, The Beautiful Ones Must be Born, Body of Evidence, Qaphela Caesar! and rite under the direction of Jay Pather.

She has a long international performance career as well which spans New York, Bombay, New Delhi, Sri Lanka, Dusseldorf, Madras, Madagascar, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Den Haag and London. She (together with the late Eric Shabalala) led twelve young South Africans to tour 17 cities in the Netherlands as part of the World Children’s Festival.

Throughout her career, Gasa has valued working with both young children and the elderly. She currently runs classes and teaches students from 6 years to 75 years. Her strong focus on development has seen her bringing dance and dance education to various communities in KwaZulu Natal, both rural and urban, from KwaMachai in the South Coast to KwaMashu

“In all of this she remains, humble and modest. She best epitomizes what Eric Shabalala himself showed us: a hidden treasure that has enriched the world yet someone that remains KwaZulu Natal’s very own.” says the JOMBA! committee.

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Beats of the Antonov wins Artwatch Africa Award at DIFF

Beats of the Antonov wins Artwatch Africa Award at DIFF

During the closing Award Night ceremony at the 36th Durban International Film Festival on Saturday night, Arterial Network’s Artwatch Africa Award was presented to Beats of the Antonov, directed by Hajooj Kuka. The Award honours an African film that meaningfully engages with issues of Freedom of Expression and is accompanied by a R15,000 cash prize.

The Artwatch Africa Jury issued the following statement:

War has brutally divided the peoples of Sudan. This compelling film shows how the power of music, dancing and culture sustains the displaced people living in the remote war-ravaged areas of Southern Sudan. In the face of bombs dropping from the Antonov aeroplanes above, their songs of liberation and militancy are a means of identity affirmation and mobilization. “I want to dance, play, and have a normal life” they say, as they exert their claim to freedom and freedom of expression even under the harsh circumstances of war.

Arterial Network’s Artwatch Africa project promotes and defends artist rights and freedom of creative expression and this award celebrates the transformative and conscientising power of cinema. The Jury acknowledged film director Hajooj Kuka’s remarkable two year commitment in providing witness to the spirited resilience of local communities and ethnic cultures whose rights have been denied within the country of their birth.

The Jury comprised Junaid Ahmed - Award winning filmmaker, René Alicia Smith - Executive Dean of Faculty of Arts and Design at Durban University of Technology, Gcina Mhlophe - Award winning author, poet, playwright, director, performer and storyteller, and Peter Rorvik - Secretary-General of Arterial Network.

Artwatch Africa is supported by Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, Swedish Postcode Lottery, Swedish Institute, HIVOS, Mimeta, Goethe Institute and Doen Foundation.

With representation in more than 40 African countries Arterial Network is engaged in building sustainable networks, information dissemination, training, policy ormulation, advocacy, and African-centred research, all geared towards growing and strengthening the cultural and creative sectors in Africa. Visit www.arterialnetwork.org or call 021-4612023 for more information.

 

Durban International Film Festival Announces Award Winners for 2015

Durban International Film Festival Announces Award Winners for 2015

The Durban International Film Festival announced its award-winners tonight (July 25) at the closing ceremony of the festival’s 36th edition at the Suncoast Cinecentre, prior to the screening of the closing film, The Prophet directed by Roger Allers. The festival officially closes tomorrow (Sunday) evening after a successful ten days of 255 screenings at 13 venues around the City of Durban, with many sold out houses.

The international jury this year was led by former Manager of the DIFF and current Director of the Sydney Film Festival, Nashen Moodley and included prolific and award-winning South African filmmaker Robbie Thorpe, South African producer of numerous award-winning films who sits on the advisory panel for NFVF, Moroba Nkawe and award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, Newton Aduaka.

The South African feature film jury consisted of film-makers Lizelle Bischoff, Thandeka Zwana and Jenna Cato Bass while the documentary jurors were film-makers Annalet Steenkamp and Sylvia Vollenhoven and the short film jurors were film-makers Darryl Els, Zandi Tisani and Terrence Dalisu Ngobese.

The award for the Best Feature Film, which carries a R50 000 cash prize from the DIFF went to Sunrise directed by Partho Sen-Gupta. The film was described by the jury as “an uncompromising, brilliantly-crafted film that takes us through a fragmented mind, into a shady world allowing us to enter the reality of Mumbai’s underbelly”.

The award for Best South African Feature Film, which carries a prize of R25 000 courtesy of Film Finances SA, went to Necktie Youth directed by Sibs Shongwe-La Mer, described by the jury as “a film desperate to reconcile the seemingly disparate realities of its country, and whose urgent questions about South African life are posed with such mischievous energy that they cannot help provoke debate, itself one of the most important responsibilities of cinema.”

Shongwe La-Mer also won the award for Best Direction, for Necktie Youth, “for displaying a unique, contemporary voice weaving together poetic images and a striking view of South African youth with a boldness seldom seen in South African cinema.”

The Best Documentary and Best SA Documentary awards which carries a prize of R25 000 each in cash, courtesy of the National Film and Video Foundation went to Beats of the Antonov directed by Hajooj Kuka and The Dream of the Shahrazad directed by Francois Verster, respectively. The jury awarded Beats of the Antonov “for its story, characters, relevance and visual interpretation,” and for a “story told with grace, while honouring the integrity of the people who gave them access as well as the subject matter.”

The Dream of the Shahrazad was awarded for the way in which “the filmmakers pushed themselves beyond their comfort zone, taking mythology and bringing it into the centre of modernity,” and for being “an ambitious film..(that) addresses life post revolution and what is left after heartbreak.”

Didier Michon for his charismatic and captivating performance in Fevers directed by Hicham Ayouch received the Best Actor Award of R20 000 in cash from the KwaZulu–Natal Film Commission.

The award for Best Actress, who also received R20 000 in cash from the KwaZulu–Natal Film Commission, went to Anissa Daoud for her portrayal of a determined activist who takes a stand, in an important film Tunisian Spring directed by Raja Amari.

Best African Short Film award went to The Aftermath of the Inauguration of the Public Toilet at Kilometre 375 directed by Omar el Zohairy., which won R20 000 courtesy of the Gauteng Film Commission. The jury described this as an “exceptional film explores and pushes new avenues in political satire and the cinema.” 

Unomalanga and The Witch directed by Palesa Shongwe, and cited by the jury as “a gentle and unexpected film (that) sheds light on the subtleties of relationships between women”, won the Best South African Short Film award also receiving R20 000 courtesy of the Gauteng Film Commission.

A new award, the Production Merit Award, sponsored by Hollard carries a R25 000 cash prize and goes to Rights of Passage directed by Ntombizodwa Magagula, Mapula Sibanda, Lerato Moloi, Valencia Joshua, Zandile Angeline Wardle, Tony Miyambo, Rethabile Mothobi, Yashvir Bagwandeen.

Sabrina Compeyron and David Constantin, won the Best Screenplay Award for “craftily tracking the age-old struggle between capital and labour spanning the end of industry and the disenfranchisement of a society” in Sugar Cane Shadows directed by David Constantin.

Jean-Marc Ferriere, took the honours for Best Cinematography “for creating a distinctive, atmospheric, highly-crafted and visually dynamic world depicted almost entirely in the dark”, in Sunrise directed by Partho Sen-Gupta.

Special Mention for Direction was made of Kivu Ruhorahoza for Things Of The Aimless Wanderer, “for a courageous and single-minded attempt by a director harnessing all means at his disposal to tell a personal, intricate and political story.”

A Special Mention for Best Film was given to Tunisian Spring by Raja Amari, “for it’s powerful depiction of an event that has, and continues to have, resonance in the world.”

Democrats directed by Camilla Nielsson, got a Special Mention for a Documentary, which is “commended for putting a human face on a story that is complex and sometimes almost opaque.”

The Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award for the film that best reflects human rights issues which comes with a cash prize of R10 000 donated by the Artists for the Human Rights Trust went to The Shore Break, directed by Ryley Grunenwald. The jury citation reads “The film powerfully portrays a struggle within a local community regarding foreign mining rights in a pristine environment…(and) concisely and movingly uncovers this complex and urgent matter, which is still under investigation and in need of public support.”

A further Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Honorary Award was given to The Look of Silence directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, a film that “bravely uncovers the genocide in Indonesia in the 1960’s.”

The jurors for these awards were Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Betty Rawheath, Professor Lindy Stiebel and Coral Vinsen, convener of the jury panel.

Arterial Network’s Artwatch Africa Award, for an African film that meaningfully engages with the issues of freedom of expression, went to Beats of the Antonov, directed by Hajooj Kuka, who was presented a cash prize of R15 000. The jury citation said  “This compelling film shows how the power of music, dancing and culture sustains the displaced people living in the remote war-ravaged areas of Southern Sudan.”

The Jury included Junaid Ahmed, Gcina Mhlophe, René Alicia Smith, and Peter Rorvik.

The DIFF Audience Award went to The Shore Break directed by Ryley Grunenwald.

For more information go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za for details of the remaining screenings.

 

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South African directors selected for the Cannes SA Film Factory

Media Release

South African directors selected for the Cannes SA Film Factory

Durban: 19th July 2015:

DW (France) and Zidaka (South Africa), in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), and the Cannes Quinzaine Directors Fortnight, are pleased to announce the selection of the four South African directors.

After a very positive response to the call, with more than 30 high quality submissions, a short list of 12 directors were invited to attend the final interviews, which took place in Durban on the 15th July.

The four South Africa directors selected are:

Sheetal Magan

Samantha Nell

Zamo Mkhwanazi

Zee Ntuli

Two of the directors are KZN born, and two are from Gauteng.

Cannes South African Film Factory will provide an opportunity for these four SA directors and four international directors, to collectively direct four short films, which will be produced in KZN, and then will be screened on the Opening Day of the Cannes Directors Fortnight / la Quinzaine, in the official Cannes program next year.

The workshop will commence on Tuesday 21st July through until 25th July, 2015, during the Durban International Film Festival.

The Factory enjoys exploring “new territories” of cinema... The South African cinema scene, which, in recent years, has often surprised us in major festivals, remains, however, little known in our hemisphere.  4 short films that will be soon directed by South African and international young filmmakers will enable the public of the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes to discover the unsuspected realities of South Africa. Known for its dramatic story and now, for its remarkable opportunities... We look forward to discover films that will be made and then screened in Cannes. Vive the SA Factory!" says Edouard Waintrop, Artistic Director of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight section.

“This is the fourth Factory and, after Asia, Europe and South America, this is the 1st one in Africa.  I'm amazed by the high quality of the directors and it was heartbreaking to select only four ”, says Dominique Welinski curator and producer. 

Carol Coetzee KZN Film Commission CEO adds “These results are very exciting and mean we are definitely moving in the right direction towards a transformed and sustainable film industry. To have young talents and particularly women being exposed to such an opportunity is a milestone indeed.”

“We are happy to be associated with this project, which not only recognizes our local talent, but also create opportunities for our filmmakers to be the best directors, sharing their vision and talent with the rest of the world. As an enabler, we constantly seek ways of developing the youth and ensuring the growth of our general film industry; this process is aligned to this objective. Congratulations to all selected directors,” says NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi.

AFDA Durban has offered its facilities for production and postproduction. Media Film Services and Sound Surfers, Hollard Film Guarantors, the Durban International Film Festival and Cote Ouest Audiovisual and Institut Francais (South Africa) are all official partners.

Cannes South Africa Factory website:    www.zidaka.co.za.

On behalf of the NFVF, KZN Film Commission, Cannes Film Factory, DW and ZIDAKA.


Media Contact Person

Buhle Malunga                                                   

Manager: Marketing and Communications KZNFCF    

+27 60 974 9786                                                     

buhlem@kwazulunatalfilm.co.za                             

Twitter: @kwazulufilm                                          

                                                                                   

Naomi Mokhele

Manager: Communications  NFVF

+27 82 496 9324

naomim@nfvf.co.za

  Twitter: @filmfound

@IamNaomiM

Triggerfish launches the Story Lab at Durban Film Mart

Media Release 

Triggerfish launches the Story Lab at Durban Film Mart

CAPE TOWN - After the international success of its first two feature films, Triggerfish Animation Studios is establishing The Triggerfish Story Lab with the support of The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and The Walt Disney Company.

Triggerfish will be investing up to R44m over the next three years in The Story Lab, which aims to give Africa’s most talented storytellers and filmmakers the opportunity to develop their ideas alongside Triggerfish’s international network of mentors. Selected storytellers will potentially have their concepts developed into episodic TV content or an animated feature film for the global market.

Triggerfish is conducting a continent-wide search for storytellers, which will be launched at the Durban Film Mart. These storytellers will be carefully selected, based not only on the creative and commercial merits of their concept, but also on their track record.

The entries will be evaluated by a high-profile panel of both local and international experts, including British director and co-founder of Aardman Peter Lord (Chicken Run, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists), Hollywood writer Jonathan Roberts (The Lion King) and script consultant Karl Iglesias (Writing For Emotional Impact), and a panel of development executives from The Walt Disney Company, as well as South African storyteller Gcina Mhlope, comedian David Kau and Triggerfish’s development team of Anthony Silverston, Wayne Thornley and Raffaella Delle Donne.

Shortlisted storytellers will take part in workshops with leading Hollywood script consultant Pilar Alessandra, author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter.

The selected Story Lab participants will also receive two weeks of mentoring with key studio and television executives at Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California.

“We are ready to bring a fresh voice to the world,” says Anthony Silverston, head of development at Triggerfish. “We believe there is extraordinary talent in Africa and the Story Lab is the perfect way to partner with them.”

“We are excited to be supporting Triggerfish on this innovative project,” says Christine Service, senior vice president and country manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We believe the Story Lab provides a unique opportunity to discover this continent’s next generation of storytellers.”

“The dti is committed to developing a pool of creative talent that can produce international quality animation production scripts,” says Nelly Molokoane from the dti’s Film and TV Incentives Unit, adding that the department is honoured to support projects that will contribute to job creation.

“The Story Lab will be a great catalyst for African creativity on the global stage,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “We look forward to opening up the Triggerfish production platform and our networks to the continent’s top creative talent."

The development process can take a number of years. For each phase of development, Triggerfish will provide financial support, workspace, and expert guidance by internal and international consultants and mentors, as well as a route to market through top-tier relationships with Hollywood agency William Morris Endeavor.

Animation has proven to be a successful medium for South African films to travel internationally, with Triggerfish’s films Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba being distributed in over 150 countries and dubbed into over 27 languages.

Applications are welcome from all writing and creative disciplines, not just experienced film and TV screenwriters. Applicants must be over 21 and either African citizens or permanent residents. Entries must be in English. Entries close 31 August 2015.

Full guidelines and an online application form are available at www.triggerfishstudios.com.  

Watch and embed the promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qWjb0ksSqA.

Triggerfish will launch the Story Lab at Durban Film Mart on Sunday, 19 July 2015 from 2-3pm at Suite 5. Anthony Silverston will be in attendance and is available for interviews. 

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About Triggerfish Animation Studios:

Established in 1996, Triggerfish Animation Studios is a Cape Town-based film and entertainment company. The studio has produced two feature films: Adventures in Zambezia (2012), starring Jeremy Suarez, Abigail Breslin and Samuel L. Jackson, and Khumba (2013), starring Jake T. Austin, AnnaSophia Robb and Liam Neeson. The two movies are among the top five highest-grossing South African films of all time.

 

About The Walt Disney Company:
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $48.8 billion in its fiscal year 2014.

 

Selection of Indian Films at DIFF 2015

Media Release

Selection of Indian Films at DIFF 2015

The Durban International Film Festival 2015 opens on Thursday and the diverse line-up of film from around the globe is bound to capture an equally diverse audience. The festival, which takes place from 16 to 26 July at 13 venues across Durban, features over 255 screenings and includes a number of films from the Indian sub-continent as well as films from the diaspora.

Sunrise, a feature film directed by celebrated Indian director Partho Sen-Gupta and set in Mumbai, tells a story of Joshi, a policeman who lost his six-year-old daughter, Aruna, ten years ago. The film exposes the horrid life of young girls that have been trafficked and the constant quest by policemen to stop such crimes.

New York and Mumbai based independent filmmaker and producer, Shrihari Sathe’s 1000 Rupee Note is a film that encapsulates the isolated political issues in rural India. The story is of Budhi, a poor old widow and mother who receives a gift of several 1000 Rupee notes from a politician during a political rally in a small village in Maharashtra, central India. 1000 Rupee Note is a narrative of a passive character that speaks to the broader concerns of Indian rural society. A society that is in a perpetual state of waiting for something to happen to them just as Budhi does.

Tigers directed by Oscar and Golden Globe award-winning director Danis Tanovic, is about two filmmakers wanting to expose the dark and unscrupulous methods used by a multinational corporation in manufacturing infant milk formula. Many babies die after consuming the formula and doctors blame the salesman named Ayan. Ayan quits his job with a determination to reveal the scandal behind the corporation’s infant milk formula.

The documentary Indians Can’t Fly, directed by Enver Samuel is a celebratory documentary about South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol who died in 1971 after being thrown from the 10th floor of the John Vorster Square Police Station. The documentary is narrated by Timol's nephew Imtiaz Ahmed Cajee, author of Timol: Quest for Justice..

The Fall of Ganesh, a short film directed and written by Sheetal Megan, tells the story of a troubled Mira hosting a Diwali dinner in order to announce her engagement to her boyfriend Sizwe, only to discover that this raises unspoken conflicts between herself and her father. Their dispute is over shadowed by a violent confrontation with the neighbours as the night ends in fireworks. This is one for the films in the NFVF’s Female Filmmaker Project.

For more information and the full programme go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

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