16th TIME OF THE WRITER International Writers Festival Durban: 18 - 23 March 2013

Media Release

16th TIME OF THE WRITER International Writers Festival

Durban: 18 - 23 March 2013

The written word will envelop Durban as nineteen writers from South Africa, Africa and abroad, gather for a thought-provoking week of literary dialogue, exchange of ideas and stimulating discussion at the 16th Time of the Writer International Writers Festival (18 - 23 March). The festival, hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), with principal support by National Lottery Distribution Fund, will feature a diverse gathering of leading novelists, social commentators, activists, playwrights and short story writers.

Opening night will feature all participating writers as they make brief presentations at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, while the newly appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor of the School of Humanities, Prof Cheryl Potgieter will make a keynote address. A tribute to the late Phyllis Naidoo will be read by struggle veteran Ella Ghandi. The rest of the week’s evening presentations will be panel discussions with writers talking about their writing and the issues dealt with in their work. The musical act opening the festival is Zimbabwean band Tanga Pasi.

The panel discussion titled Perspectives in South African Writing on Tuesday 19th March will feature South African writers Kabelo Duncan Kgatea and Jo-Anne Richards. Trained as a journalist and working as a miner, it was after Kgatea’s first book Njeng manong fa ke sule! (Devour me, vultures, when I’m dead!) was published and won the Sanlam Prize Youth Literature (silver) in the Sotho category, that he got promoted to communications officer and no longer worked below ground. When The Innocence of Roast Chicken, the debut novel of internationally published author and journalist Richards first appeared, it topped the South African best seller list in its first week and remained there for 15 weeks. This discussion will be facilitated by Zukiswa Wanner.

Controversial human rights issues are brought to the fore in the evening’s second panel titled Africa Writing Queer Identity, featuring leading Nigerian writer Jude Dibia and Graeme Reid of South Africa, and will be facilitated by Sarojini Nadar. Dibia’s books address issues which range from sexuality, gender roles, race to the stigma of HIV/AIDS in modern day Africa. Reid, the director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Programme and founding director of the Gay and Lesbian Archives of South Africa, explores gay identities in South Africa in his book How to be a Real Gay. Music by Durban duo Njeza and Siphelele Dlamini will commence the evening proceedings at 19h30. 

Book launches take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre’s Wellington Tavern deck prior to the evening shows, from 18h45. The first book launch of the festival is the UKZN English/IsiZulu Book (UKZN Press) – a collaborative venture of stories by various authors. 

On Wednesday 20th March, the first panel, titled Reflections on the Palestinian State, features Palestinian-born American-based novelist and essayist, Susan Abulhawa, in an interview discussion with Lubna Nadvi. Abulhawa’s Mornings in Jenin was translated into 24 languages worldwide and hailed by The Times as the “first English-language novel to express fully the human dimension of the Palestinian tragedy”. Exploring Genre in African Literature is the topic of the second panel, featuring South African author, photographer and filmmaker, Zinaid Meeran, alongside Nnedi Okorafor, award-winning author born in the United States and of Nigerian descent. Meeran was awarded the European Union Literary award for his debut Saracen at the Gates in 2009. About a curious exploration of living raceless in a country where just about everybody seems to have one, this debut was also shortlisted for the Sunday Times fiction prize in 2010. A professor of creative writing, Okorafor has received numerous accolades for her books, which are often characterized by African culture infused with reminiscent settings and memorable characters. This panel will be facilitated by True Love books editor and publisher Melinda Ferguson. Music by Durban duo Nhlanhla Zondi and Zulublue will kick start the evening presentation, while Molope’s book, This Book Betrays my Brother launches prior to the show.

On the evening of Human Rights Day, Thursday 21st March is the panel titled Perspectives in SA Writing, with a panel which features Elana Bregin and Damon Galgut, and facilitated by Siphiwo Mahala. Galgut’s In a Strange Room, a novel which follows the journey of an isolated South African traveler seeking a deep satisfaction in life, was shortlisted for several awards, including the 2010 Man Booker Prize and M-Net Literary Award. Bregin is well known for her award-winning young adult titles, which include The Kayaboeties and The Red-haired Khumalo, which all deal with the social realities of a changing South Africa. 

Under the title The Reporter as Writer, Jackee Batanda from Uganda and Aman Sethi from India, both novelists and journalists, feature in the evening’s second panel discussion. Together with the numerous awards for her fiction writing, Batanda also featured in the London Times alongside 19 young women shaping the future of Africa. A seasoned journalist working as a correspondent for The Hindu, a newspaper in India with a daily readership of about 2.5 million, Sethi has also contributed articles to various publications, around health policies in India. The evening’s musical act is the pair Mike Muyo and Tom Watkeys. 

Following the book launch of The Imagined Child (Picador) by festival participant Jo-Anne Richards, and a music performance by the band Nje, the presentation of prizes to winners of the schools short story competition will take place on Friday 22nd March. The first session titled Youth Literature, similarly puts a spotlight on young people, and features writers Elieshi Lema from Tanzania and BD Khawula from South Africa. Lema started off writing poetry before moving on to children’s books. Her first novel Parched Earth - A Love Story received an honorable mention in the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa and forms part of the curriculum in various universities. Based in Durban, Khawula’s inspiration to write stems from his love for his country. His debut novel Yihlathi Leli, won a silver award in the African Languages category at the Sanlam Youth Literature Awards. 

The second panel for the evening, Writing Transformation, features South African critical thinkers and writers Andile Mngxitama and Prof Sampie Terreblanche. While Mngxitama writes significantly around the philosophy and writings of late Black Consciousness leader, Steve Biko, Terreblanche’s focuses lies on the history of economic thought and policy matters in South and Southern Africa. 

The Saturday evening book launch is On Being Human featuring contributions by various writers and edited by Duduzile Mabaso (Black Letter Media). Music and song by Durban songbird Skye Wanda will precede the discussion Writing the Other, featuring the South African panel of Ashwin Desai and Jonny Steinberg. An activist intellectual, Desai is celebrated the world over, for his poignant articulation of stories about struggle, oppression and resistance. Award-winning author Steinberg, writes about experiences about everyday life in the wake of South Africa’s transition to democracy. His debut novel Midlands, about the murder of a white South African farmer, won the Sunday Times Alan Paton Prize in 2003. This panel discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Frederico Settler from the Philosophy department at UKZN.

The festival closes with a look at the pertinent issue with South African writers Shafinaaz Hassim and Kagiso Lesego Molope, in a panel titled Writing Gender Violence. Hassim, a writer, poet and sociologist and driving force behind Johannesburg-based publishers, WordFire Press, recently published a novel on domestic violence titled SoPhia in November 2012, while Molope’s third novel This Book Betrays my Brother raises many gender equality issues prevalent in South Africa, amongst them the perception that women who wear revealing clothing invite sexual advances. Molope's first novel, Dancing in the Dust, was put on the IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) list for 2006, making her the first Black South African to make the list. 

Publishing is undoubtedly one of the central elements in the development of a local literary culture. That said a notable event that has become a significant part of the annual Time of the Writer international writers’ festival, is the Publishing Forum.  Taking place on Wednesday, 20th March between 10h00 – 14h00 at the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, this year’s forum will feature a range of panels on salient issues within the publishing landscape. Topics discussed will cover the magazine industry, maximizing exposure in the world of digital publishing, converting your PhD thesis into a book and what publishers look for in a manuscript.

In addition to the nightly showcases at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, a broad range of day activities including seminars and workshops are formulated to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression. This includes the educator’s forum with teachers on the implementation of literature in the classroom, the community writing forum with members of the public interested in literature, visits to schools, and a prison writing programme.

Tickets are R25 for the evening sessions, R10 for students, and can be purchased through Computicket or at the door one hour before the event. Workshops and seminarsarefree. 

The full programme of activities, biographies, and photos of participants is available on www.cca.ukzn.ac.za. For more information contact the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816 or e-mail cca@ukzn.ac.za 

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), the 16th Time of the Writer festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), City of Durban, Adams Campus Books, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

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For Media Queries: 

Sharlene Versfeld/Kwazi Ngubane

Mobile: +27 (0) 83 326 3235/ (073) 442 9347

Tel: +27 (0) 31 811 5628

Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za or kwazi@versfeld.co.za

Flatfoot Dance Company's 10th Anniversary Season - Last Thoughts at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY celebrates its 10th anniversary year with a special season of dance theatre entitled Last Thoughts at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from March 13 to 17.

“Reaching 10 years as a professional South African dance company is a huge milestone for Flatfoot Dance Company!” says Lliane Loots, founder and artistic director of Flatfoot Dance Company. “It is a testament to our city of Durban who has been our home and to the people of eThekwini who have supported us and watched us grow; and to some rather amazing local and international artists, dancers, technicians, administrators and musicians who have been part our history. It is a gracious testament to all those who have seen fit to fund the work we do. I can’t say we haven’t been poised on a knife edge many times – and will be in the future – but this is a moment for all of us to collectively honour our achievement and to say thank you in honouring the many bridges we have walked on to get here.”

“For our 10th anniversary season we wanted to do something that really celebrated our geography; our beautiful ocean facing city of Durban, to honour some really amazing artists and guests who have worked with us in the past. We return to the amazing Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre where we, 10 years ago in March 2003, hosted our first season as a professional company”. 

“LAST THOUGHTS” offers the world premiere of two new dance theatre works made for the six resident Flatfoot dancers, Sifiso Khumalo, Tshediso Kabulu, Sifiso Majola, Jabu Siphika, Julia Wilson and Thobi Maphanga. 

The first work on the programme is “Ngichaze/Define Me” is a poetic and lyrical work created by guest choreographer Sifiso Kweyama. “Kweyama has made numerous dance works on Flatfoot these past 10 years, works that have travelled with Flatfoot all over the world including Cameroon and Holland, and so it felt right to invite him back to make this special piece of dance theatre for our 10th anniversary”. Says Loots;  Kweyama, though a Durbanite, is now working with Johannesburg based Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MIDM) and so this is also a long time celebration of Flatfoot’s working relationship and friendship with MIDM. 

Kweyama’s work, “Ngichaze/Define Me”, sees the six Flatfoot dancers confront themselves in a deeply emotional work that looks into how society defines us. Kweyama’s much praised African contemporary style is fused with a lyrical poeticism that Flatfoot is often known for. Kweyama’s ability to weave together dancing stories and his reputation for being a “dancer’s choreographer” is again realised in a work that both challenges the dancers but which will also delight and enchant audiences. 

The second half offers Loots’s newest dance theatre collaboration with spoken word poet Ian “Ewok” Robinson. Poetically titled “Last Thoughts” like the season itself, this work is a type of zeitgeist moment of memory, history and future for both Flatfoot but also for all those involved in the work. Alongside the six resident Flatfoot dancers, this collaboration also features two of Durban (and South Africa’s) best breakdancers, Preston “Kayzo” Kyd and Byrone “Bizzo” Tifflin, both of whom have also done numerous collaborations with Flatfoot over the past 10 years.  Seamlessly fusing the BBoyz style of breaking with the lyrical flow and energy of Flatfoot’s inimitable style, Loots’s “Last Thoughts” is a type of Hip-Hop opera that takes time to honour the legacy of ambient influences like Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, and most importantly a long time working relationship with “Ewok”.

Loots’s award winning style of creating layered dance theatre also sees her continue her long time collaboration also with Durban filmmaker Karen Logan, who has created soulful video installations that give “Last Thoughts” an edgy feel and look. 

Referencing Ginsburg’s 1954 poem “Song” and his call to “return to the body where I was born”, Loots’s “Last Thoughts” is, finally her own unfailing belief in the dancing body as the only political truth that we can ever know. As she says, ““Last Thoughts” might seem like a rather dark title for a 10 year celebration but it echoes all sorts of recollections around personal and political rights and re-membering; and for me this is the missing governance and silent voice of our age”.

Flatfoot’s 10th anniversary season, “LAST THOUGHTS” runs from 13 to 16 March with shows at 7.30pm and on Sunday 17 March with a matinee at 3pm.Tickets cost R80 with discount for pensioners and students at R60.  Opening night, 13 March, is a special gala fundraiser with champagne and birthday cake after the show. Tickets for this gala cost R150 and all money raised will go towards supporting the dance education and development work being done by Flatfoot in Umlazi, KwaMashu, Newlands East, and Tugela Mouth.  Booking is through Computicket.

“Last Thoughts” is a proudly Durban celebration of the transformative power of dance, dance education and development and of Flatfoot Dance Company who have spent 10 long years creatively re-shaping their home city of Durban – not to be missed!

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CHANGE OF DATE - NLDTF Arts and Culture Presentation to the Film Sector at the Centre for Creative Arts, UKZN

Please note change of date for this.​

The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund advertised their call for applications for Arts, Culture and Heritage on 03 February 2013 with the closing date being Friday 12 April 2013.  The Arts, Culture and Heritage division wishes to make equitable distribution across the sectors that fall under their mandate.  Over the years that NLDTF has been in existence, the film sector has been an industry that does not seem to be aware of NLDTF funding.   NLDTF wishes to make a presentation to the sector and make them aware of the trust’s mandate as well as compliance requirements. 

The presentation details will be as follows:

Date: Friday 15 March 2013

Time: 09:00 – 12:00

Venue: Centre for Creative Arts Boardroom, Mazisi Kunene Ave, University of KwaZulu Natal

Contact: 031-2602506

All questions around NLDTF within the sector funding will be handled during the session. 

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AFDA Alumni and Students Shine with 24 Nominations at 2013 SAFTA Awards

AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) alumni and students have been nominated for a total of 24 awards in the 2013 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).

The annual SAFTA awards, which takes place on March 15 and 16, is the premier film and television industry awards under the custodianship of the National Film and Video Foundation. The award's main objectives is to honour, celebrate and promote the creativity, quality and excellence of South African film and television talent, and encourage entrepreneurship and the development of new talent in the industry.

“We are hugely proud that 20 of our graduates or alumni have been nominated in various categories, three of our current students have been nominated in the three student categories and one student has been nominated in a professional category.” says a delighted Garth Holmes, Chairman of AFDA.

The Alumni nominations include:

Amanda Lane for Best Director of a TV drama series - 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, 

Richard Lukunku for Best Actor in TV drama series for his role as Phaka in Mshika Shika, 

Xolile Tshabalalala for Best Actress in TV drama series for her role Noma in 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls.  

Brent Quinn (who is AFDA’s Head of the Film in Johannesburg) for Best Writing team of a TV drama series for Soul City, 

Tom Marais for Best DOP / Cinematographer of a TV drama series for Soul City, 

Quinn Lubbe  and C.A. Van Aswegen for Best Editor of a TV drama series– Hartland, 

Gerrida Venter for Best Production Design of a drama series for 90 Plein Street, 

Marna Heunis for 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls and Larissa Peters for Zone14.

Leroy Gopal for Best Actor in TV comedy Ses’Top La, 

Best Ensemble in TV comedy – Ses ‘Top La – Black Brain Pictures cc (Luke Rous, Tumi Masemola, Owen Swanson and Mandla Ndimande), 

Greg Heimann and Koen Kriel for Best DOP/Cinematographer of TV soap – The Wild, 

Thomas Gumede for Best Actor in a feature film - Otelo Burning, 

Trevor Calverley for Best Cinematographer of a feature film - Material, 

Jackie Lotz for Best Production of a feature film – Zama Zama, and 

Mia Zwiegers for Best Costume Designer in Zama Zama.

AFDAs 3rd and 4th year crew have also been nominated for best student films these include:

Miklas Manneke, (whose film Kanye Kanye is also up for a student Oscar), Jade Galbraith - AFDA Johannesburg for E-lectricity, 

Rudi Steyn, Martina Della Togna, Gianfranco Human (who is Dean of the new AFDA school in Durban), Sarah Muhoho – AFDA Cape Town for Lyfstraf, and 

Etienne Fourie, Robyn Oetle – AFDA Cape Town for Die Windpomp.

“This brings the AFDA student film nomination tally to 19 out of a possible 21 nominations over the past seven years, which AFDA has won five out of a possible seven times.” says Holmes. “We are all delighted that our student Kyle Stevenson (AFDA Cape Town) has been nominated for Best Short Film in the professional category for There Are No Heroes, a remarkable accolade for this young film-maker. We wish them all well and look forward to the Awards.”

For more information about AFDA contact Mandy Day on 021 448 7600 or mandy@afda.co.za or go on www.afda.co.za.

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AFDA Durban (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) to host Open Day

AFDA Durban (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and live Performance) to host Open Day

AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) Durban will host an Open Day on Saturday, 2 March from 10am to 12noon.

This is the third AFDA campus to open in South Africa and was officially opened  by Mayor of eThekwini Cllr James Nxumalo on February 11 with an enrolment of 63 students. 

The AFDA Durban Campus is situated in Glen Anil, Durban North, and boasts a strong line up academic staff drawn from the film and live performance industries. Franco Human, an experienced producer and film maker, is Dean, with film-maker Richard Green Head of the Film School, director, actor and playwright Rajesh Gopie, Head of the Live Performance School, and scriptwriter and film-maker Janet van Eeden, as production course administrator and script writing lecturer. 

At the open day students will be shown around the warship-themed campus, given introductions to the curriculum and course work and on how to apply and there will be a chance to discuss potential job opportunities and career options in entertainment.  There will also be an opportunity to view students’ films and to meet and chat to current and past students.

Prospective students can contact Durban-based Marketing Officer, Milena Gevers for more information on milenag@afda.co.za or call 031 569 2252. For more info about the school go to www.afda.co.za

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Talent Campus Durban Calls for Filmmakers and Film Critics

Talent Campus Durban Calls for Filmmakers and Film Critics

Talent Campus Durban is looking for 40 of the most innovative voices of African cinema to take part in the 6th edition of this leading networking and developmental event held at the 34th Durban International Film Festival.

Talent Campus Durban seeks to provide selected participants with an opportunity to meet with international industry professionals and experts in various aspects of the filmmaking business through participations in a 5-day programme of masterclasses, workshops and industry networking events. The continent of Africa is a source of a myriad narrative which offers possibilities to be re-imagined, re-told, overlapped and adapted within numerous contexts. Under this year’s theme of “Memetic Africa”, Talent Campus Durban calls for African filmmakers to participate in this programme and be inspired by stories shaped by varying innovative patterns, ideas, customs, traditions, practices and skills that enforce the legacy of the African film context.

Talent Campus Durban also calls for participants for Talent Press, a mentoring programme for three African film critics in collaboration with FIPRESCI and Goethe Institut, which makes a welcome return in its second year. Talent Press mentors will offer their expertise to guide selected participants in the art of film criticism with access to all the screenings of the 34th Durban International Film Festival. 

The five-day programme also includes the 3rd edition of Doc Station, where three selected documentary projects submitted by accepted talents will be finessed and packaged for presentation within the DOC Circle pitching forum at the 6th Durban FilmMart. Applications for Doc Station are open to selected participants for Talent Campus. Mohamed El Amine Hattou of Algeria was one of the three Doc Station participants in the 5thTalent Campus Durban who, after presenting his project at Doc Circle, also had the invaluable opportunity to meet one-on-one with potential investors. Describing his experience, Hattou says, “Doc Station is a great opportunity to gain in maturity, networking, and dive into a promiscuous and professional African market. After my pitch on Doc Station, I had some positive and interesting feedback on my project. It was also an easy way to know about new funding and co-production opportunities. Durban Talent Campus is a unique way for African filmmakers to connect, meet and share their stories.”

Held in co-operation with the Berlinale Talent Campus, and with support from the German Embassy of South Africa, Goethe Institut of South Africa, and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Talent Campus Durban runs from 19 to 23 July 2013. Apart from the main event in Berlin, Talent Campus partnerships also take place at selected festivals in Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Tokyo and Sarajevo. Opportunities for participating talents are enhanced through Talent Campus networks and the Berlinale’s global information platform.

Application is open to filmmakers and critics who are resident in Africa. Applicants are encouraged to apply well before the deadline in order to submit their work samples timeously. Application can be done online on www.cca.ukzn.ac.za and applications close on 1st April 2013.

For DIFF and Talent Campus Queries +27 (0)31 260 1650 / 2506

Email both: talentcampusdurban@gmail.com / talent@ukzn.ac.za

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Talent Campus Durban is a partnership project between the Durban International Film Festival in cooperation with the Berlinale Talent Campus and the Berlin International Film Festival, and is supported by the German Embassy in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut, and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Apart from the main event in Berlin, Talent Campus partnerships also take place at selected festivals in Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Japan and Sarajevo. Opportunities for participating talents are enhanced through Talent Campus networks and the Berlinale’s global information platform.

The Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the City of Durban. Durban FilmMart is a partnership project between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival.

Issued on behalf of the Durban International Film Festival by:

Sharlene Versfeld/Kwazi Ngubane

Durban FilmMart Project Snapped up by Three International Film Festivals

Durban FilmMart Project Snapped up by Three International Film Festivals

A film, which was one of the officially selected projects in the 2011 Durban FilmMart (DFM), a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), recently enjoyed its World Premiere at the Gotebord Film Festival in Sweden and has been snapped up by two other major international film festivals.

Imbabazi: the Pardon, produced and directed by Rwandan film-maker Joel Karekezi, was one of the features that was selected for the 2011 Durban FilmMart, where the film was also awarded the CineMart Rotterdam Lab Award at the DFM, which provided the up and coming producer with accreditation, accommodation and transportation to attend the Lab, an incubator for producers of new projects which ran concurrently with the 2012 International Film Festival of Rotterdam.

Imbabazi: the Pardon had its USA premiere at the San Diego Black Film Festival in January and this month will enjoy its Los Angeles premiere at the prestigious Pan-African Film Festival.

Clearly Karekezi is a young film-maker to watch. With a diploma in film directing from Cinecours Canada, he has fast garnered accolades, awards and notice for his work. In 2010 his short film The Pardon won the best short film award at Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), California. In 2012 he had a second project, The Mercy of the Jungle, in the DFM, which was awarded the Canal France International (CFI) Award for the Most Promising Project with a prize of 5000 Euros. 

Imbabazi: the Pardon tells the story of the Tutsi Genocide through the friendship and separation of two protagonists and carries a deep reconciliation message. 

“As an African and Rwandan director, I am proud to have helped bring this story to a wider audience.” explains Karekezi, who is himself a genocide survivor. “I was honoured to work together with my team through pre-production, production and post-production to bring this story to life. I hope that audiences will embrace the message of hope and forgiveness that is at the heart of the film.”

 “Over the past three years, we have seen how the Durban FilmMart has provided important stepping blocks for film projects.” says Toni Monty, of the Durban Film Office. “The process of creating film is long and arduous, and it is vital that emerging film-makers and projects are given the creative space to be able to develop their ideas and vision in the right kind of environment. Joel has clearly grasped at all the opportunities presented to him to develop this film. So we are truly pleased to see this, one of our selected projects, make it through to multi-festival festival releases. ”

The 4th edition of Durban FilmMart takes place from 19 – 22 July 2013 during the Durban International Film Festival (18 – 28 July) and is open for documentary and fiction project submissions.  The closing date for project submissions is the 15 February 2013. 

For more information on the Durban FilmMart and to submit a project visit www.durbanfilmmart.com

For further enquires and submission correspondence contact info@durbanfilmmart.com

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February 10, 2012

Issued on behalf of the Durban FilmMart by:

Sharlene Versfeld / Kwazi Ngubane

Versfeld & Associates

031-8115628/ 083 326 3235

sharlene@versfeld.co.za / kwazi@versfeld.co.za

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 a valued opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on latest industry trends. www.durbanfilmmart.com

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 SMME’s in the region.   www.durbanfilmoffice.com

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with special focus on Africa; it includes development programmes such as Talent Campus Durban. 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

SA Arts Journalism Awards - Call for Entries

SA Arts Journalism Awards - call for entries

The National Arts Festival and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) are calling for entries to the South African Arts Journalism Awards.

The awards will be presented for the first time in 2013.

Festival CEO Tony Lankester says: “The awards will recognise journalistic practice across all media platforms - print, online and broadcast.” He added that the arts sector “needs robust, healthy, insightful and articulate commentary and criticism from the media to keep it moving forward”.

The awards will identify excellence, expertise and creativity. In doing so, they will promote the practice of arts and cultural journalism, strengthen its national profile and celebrate its importance, range, diversity, fluidity and vitality.

Gold and Silver awards will be made in the following categories:

- Reviewing

Reviews of theatre, music, visual/plastic arts, dance, literature, film, comedy or any other arts and culture phenomenon.

- Features

These may include interviews and profiles, behind-the-scenes stories, arts-related investigative journalism or other forms of arts and culture reportage in any medium.

- Opinion pieces

Comment, analysis and provocation – in any medium – relating to specific artistic disciplines, the arts sector more broadly or arts-related policy and business stories.

Professor Chris Thurman has been invited by the organisers to convene an independent panel of judges who, apart from the above categories, may also choose to nominate recipients for the following awards:

- Best New Voice

- Special Contribution to Arts Journalism

- Best New Media Exponent

- Arts Photography

- Special Merit Award

"Business and Arts South Africa continues to support a better understanding of the arts, and advocates an arts culture in our society. Rigorous and innovative coverage of the arts is crucial in the argument highlighting the value of the arts to all South Africans. It is for this reason that we are excited to be partnering with the National Arts Festival on these Awards," says BASA CEO Michelle Constant.

Winners will be announced during the course of this year’s National Arts Festival and a range of cash prizes will be awarded. Additionally, one journalist will be awarded the opportunity to travel to the vibrant Amsterdam Fringe in September, from where they will report on South African productions being presented at that Festival as part of the World Fringe Alliance showcase.

“There are times we need to be challenged, times we need to be applauded, and times we need someone to hold a mirror up to us just as our artists hold a mirror to society. These awards will seek out those journalists who practice their craft with integrity and who stimulate debate and passion in their readers, viewers and listeners. They are a celebration of excellence and of passion, and we are delighted to partner with BASA in bringing them to life," elaborates Lankester.

Competition rules and other important information can be found on the Festival’s website at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.

ABOUT THE AWARDS:

Entries

The following submissions procedures must be adhered to:

- The deadline for entries is Friday 8 March 2013

- Those submitting written work may enter one or more article(s) totalling no more than 3000 words.

- Those submitting audio or video material may enter either a compilation of clips or a single programme/instalment, no longer than 25 minutes in duration. The presenter, the producer, sound/visual editor and other members of the production team should be clearly indicated.

- Photographic material should be limited to a portfolio of 15 images.

In all cases, entries should be accompanied by a brief letter of motivation in which the entrant specifies which category(ies) he/she is entering, provides some background to his/her work and indicates the context of publication or broadcast of the material submitted: date, time (if applicable), title, publication/station/channel/website. Material may only be submitted if it was published or broadcast in the 2012 calendar year. Judges reserve the right to request the entrant to provide proof of publication or broadcast.

Electronic submissions are preferable. Applicants may submit material as an e-mail attachment sent to: artsjourn@nationalartsfestival.co.za. Alternatively, hard copies may be posted to: National Arts Festival, PO Box 304, Grahamstown, 6140 provided that they are postmarked no later than Friday 8 March 2013.

Finalists will be announced in April in Johannesburg, with Gold and Silver and other category winners announced in June in Grahamstown.

The judging panel for the awards comprises:

Chris Thurman (Convenor), Andre le Roux, Fred Khumalo, Shado Twala, Adrienne Sichel, Ryland Fisher, Victor Dlamini, Avril Joffe, Gwen Ansell, Pitika Ntuli.

The judges’ decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

About the National Arts Festival: The National Arts Festival, now in its 39th year, has proved its sustainability and has grown to be one of the leading arts festivals in Southern Africa. Its objectives are to deliver excellence; encourage innovation and development in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists; and build new audiences.

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government, Department of Arts and Culture, City Press and M Net.

NOTES FOR EDITORS 

About Business and Arts South Africa NPC:

Business and Arts South Africa NPC is an internationally recognised South African development agency which incorporates the arts into, and contributes to, corporates' commercial success. With a suite of integrated programmes, Business and Arts South Africa NPC encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts. Business and Arts South Africa NPC was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of government and the business sector, to secure the future development of the arts industry in South Africa, through increased corporate sector involvement. Established as a Non Profit Company, Business and Arts South Africa NPC is accountable to both government and its business members.

-ends

Lakin Morgan : BASA: info@basa.co.za

Sizzling Salsa on Durban's Beachfront

The heat is on as Salsa hits the beachfront this Sunday

Feel the Heat with Durban's much-talked about salsa band, Manteca at Suncoast's Beach Promenade on Sunday, February 10 at 3pm until 6pm.  The vibrant, 12-piece Afro-Caribbean band will perform in a fun-filled, salsa-inspired mini-festival featuring dancing, dance lessons and sizzling sounds as part of Suncoast's Valentine's entertainment line up. 

The fest  is free and audience members can join in the fun and learn the basic steps of this exciting dance form with beginner and intermediate classes by a Cuban dance instructor. Professional dancers from local salsa dance schools will be taking to the dance floor in demos too .    

Manteca features vocalists Liana Allegra Barciela and the legendary Sam Marais from KZN, Raul Rodriguez from Cuba and Kelly Burrows from Madagascar, award winning Durban pianist David Langely, Durban's own Mark Momple on bass, another Durbanite Jonathon Judge and Johan van der Molen from Holland on saxophones, local jazz trumpeter Daniel Sheldon, and percussionists John Drace from California and Alberto Chemane from Mozambique

The band plays a classic salsa repertoire from New York, Puerto Rico and Cuba, plus their own adaptations of jazz and funk classics.

For more info contact Daniel on

daniel@beat-route.co.za

or call 082 622 6902.

The World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition

The World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition: Durban Exhibition Centre

South Africa’s most exciting pet event, The World of Dogs & Cats Pet Exhibition makes a welcome return to the Durban Exhibition Centre from 22 to 24 February.

This much-loved family event, which was first held in Durban in 1996 is packed full of interesting exhibitors as well as fun demonstrations and displays all aimed at encouraging responsible pet ownership. Expect to see a variety of dog and cat breeds as well as pets with a difference such as hedgehogs, lizards, fish, snakes, rats, mice, hamsters, frogs, spiders, iguanas rabbits and birds  and all sorts of other interesting furry-, scaly- and feathery- companions.

There are over 60 exhibitors featuring everything needed to ensure the optimum well-being of one’s pet from nutrition and diet, kennels and bedding, accessories such as toys and games to pet fashions, transportation and health products. Experts in all these areas will be on hand to discuss visitors’ needs and offer advice. Dog and Cat Breeders and clubs will also be on hand to provide helpful information on owning a particular breed, and a number of animal rescue organisations will be on hand to offer advice on adoption. 

Two demonstration arenas will feature events showcasing various dog breeds in a Best of Breed competition including youngsters with their puppies as well as obedience, agility, dog jumping and flyball competitions. There is a nail-biting 60-Pole Weaving Challenge for dogs, a delightful dog-carting display, a Police Dog Display, Dancing with Dogs, an SA Guide Dog Display and a Canine Good Citizen display and the popular canine survivor competition.

For cat-lovers, WODAC is once again delighted to be hosting the 2013 WODAC National Cat Show with many different breeds of felines being featured with only one winner the coveted title of National Winner.

Other highlights include the South African dog-dancing champions - Xandre Dearden with Finn her Border Collie - who will be representing SA at  the International Crufts Dog Show in England in March this year. A Celebrity Challenge which sees local celebs trying their hand at taking dogs around an agility course – to much hilarity and laughter – all for a good cause as all money raised is matched by the organisers and donated to the Wodac sponsored animal charities represented at the show.

The World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition provides an avenue to learn more about different dogs, cats, reptiles and other fascinating creatures and the joys as well as the responsibilities of being a pet-owner.

Tickets prices are R50 for adults and R25 for children under 12, with children under 2 free on the Friday, and over the weekend R60 for adults and R25 for children with under 2's  free. Tickets are available at Computicket and at the door  at the Durban Exhibition Centre. For more information go to www.dogscats.co.za or email dogscats@iafrica.com. Follow on Facebook or Twitter @WODAC.

AFDA FILM NOMINATED FOR STUDENT OSCAR

AFDA FILM NOMINATED FOR STUDENT OSCAR

Kanye Kanye, a fourth year student’s film is the AFDA- (the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Student Short Film.  Kanye Kanye is a romantic comedy that deals with a forbidden love affair between two young township teenagers.  The film is directed by Miklas Manneke whose 3rd year film Electricity won a number of awards in 2012.

“The wonder of film is the ability to change the world by creating another.” says Miklas Manneke, who is thrilled with the nomination. “It is an honour for everyone involved in the making of Kanye Kanye, to be selected on this international platform to represent AFDA film school as students at the beginning of our careers, especially considering the high standard of the Student Oscars. It is great to know that my voice has had an impact on an audience and that I could bring a drop of enjoyment to the world from a South African point of view.”

Kanye Kanye won 9 AFDA GOLD Awards at the annual awards including sound design, visual effects, editing, production design, costume- make-up- and styling, screenplay, directing, acting and cinematography.   

“Kanye Kanye is a reflective short film by a student director and team whose attention to detail has made it a work of art which will resonate world-wide.” says Gina Bonmariage, Postgraduate Course Director AFDA Johannesburg.

The Academy Student Awards are held in Los Angeles in June at the Academy of Motion Picture and sciences building,  the same building where AFDA received their first OSCAR award in 2006 for best foreign student short film Eleleni. 

Kanye Kanye has also been nominated as the AFDA candidate for best fiction film for the CILECT (International Film School Association) Awards, along with the AFDA Cape Town documentary Crumbs in the documentary category and the third year Cape Town animation Like Clockwork in the best animation category.

“Although the Oscar award is by far the most prestigious of all student awards, the CILECT Award is possibly one of the most difficult awards to win as it is contested by over 100 of the world’s top film schools, “ says AFDA co-founder and CILECT executive board member Garth Holmes, “but our congratulations to all the films that have been nominated – it’s a rare honour and we look forward to the results in the near future.”

-ends

Vieux Farka Toure - Hendrix of the Sahara for Durban Concert and Free Workshop

Vieux Farka Toure - Hendrix of the Sahara for Rainbow Restaurant

The Alliance Française de Durban and the French Institute of Southern Africa presents one of the world’s rare musical talents and guitar virtuosos Malian-born Vieux Farka Toure at the Rainbow Restaurant on Sunday, January 20 at 3pm. The eKhaya Multi-Arts Centre in KwaMashu will also present a workshop and press conference on Monday, January 21 from 11am.

Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Vieux Farka Toure was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of the late legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Toure.
Ali Farka Touré came from a historical tribe of soldiers, and defied his parents in becoming a musician. When Vieux was in his teens, he declared that he also wanted to be a musician. His father disapproved due to the pressures he had experienced being a musician. Rather, he wanted Vieux to become a soldier. But with help from family friend the kora maestro Toumani Diabaté, Vieux eventually convinced his father to give him his blessing to become a musician shortly before Ali passed.

Vieux was initially a drummer / calabash player at Mali’s Institut National des Arts, but secretly began playing guitar in 2001. Ali Farka Touré was weakened with cancer at the time that Vieux announced that he was going to record an album. Ali recorded a couple of tracks with him, and these recordings, which can be heard on Vieux’s debut CD, were amongst his final ones. It has been said that the senior Touré played rough mixes of these songs when people visited him in his final days, at peace with, and proud of, his son’s talent as a musician.

Vieux’s self-titled debut album was released by World Village in 2007. On this first album, Vieux pays homage to his father and follows Ali’s musical tradition, giving new versions of the West African music that is echoed in the American blues. On his second album, Fondo on Six Degrees (2009), Vieux branched out and presented his own sound: while remaining true to the roots of his father’s music he uses elements of rock, Latin music, and other African influences. 

In June 2010, Vieux performed at the opening concert for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. That month Vieux also released his first live album, LIVE. Then in 2011 Vieux released his 3rd studio album, The Secret which features South African-born vocalist Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks on electric slide guitar and jazz guitarist John Scofield. 

In April 2012, Vieux released The Tel Aviv Session (Cumbancha), a collaborative project with Israeli superstar Idan Raichel dubbed ‘The Toure-Raichel Collective’ that has been hailed by fans and critics alike as a masterpiece and one of the best collaborative albums in the history of international music, drawing comparisons to Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder’s legendary Talking Timbuktu album. 

“We are really pleased to be hosting one of the world’s top guitarists at the Rainbow Restaurant here in Durban.” says Sarah Doignon, Director of The Alliance Française de Durban. “Vieux is an exciting young voice of Africa that is described as rare and innovative whilst humbly paying homage to the past. We believe the concert will be a great opportunity for music lovers to indulge in the emotive rhythms of West African inspirations.”

His live performances are highly energized and Vieux is known for dazzling crowds with his speed and dexterity on the guitar, as well as his palpable charisma and luminous smile, both of which captivate audiences from all countries in spite of any language barriers (though Vieux does speak 8 languages).

Vieux will also be conducting a workshop at eKhaya Multi-Arts Centre in KwaMashu on Monday, 21 January at 11am. The workshop will be approximately two hours in duration and is free. Besides demonstrating his guitar skills and talking about his musical influences, Toure will also address the very current issue of musical censorship in his native Mali where, in the north of the country, Tuareg and Islamist insurgents have taken control. The Islamist faction of Ansar Dine has imposed strict Sharia Law including bans on music - even the music of Malians like Toure senior and junior.

Anyone wanting to attend the workshop should book with Kwazi Ngubane on 0734429347.

The Rainbow concert starts at 3pm on Sunday, January 20. Doors will conditionally open at 1pm, dependent on the completion of a sound check by the band. Besides Toure on guitar, the group also features Mamadou Sidibe on bass guitar and Tim Keiper on drums and calabash.

Tickets for the concert are R50 at the door and can be pre-booked by phone on 083 706 2294 or 083 4638044 or by email at bandwagon@artslink.co.za.

-ends

BRIDGES – AN EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY @ DURBAN ART GALLERY

BRIDGES – AN EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE DURBAN ART GALLERY

Bridges, the exhibition of photographs by documentary photographers South African Andrew Tshabangu and Ren-Paul Savignan from Reunion Island, currently on at the Durban Art Gallery has been extended to January 27, 2013.é

The exhibition which is part of the France/South Africa Season, has as its focal point of the work spiritual and religious practices in South Africa and Reunion Island, and represents a 15 year collaboration between the two artists. The artists spent time researching and documenting in both countries. The presence of a rich diversity of religious practices is common to both locations. On Reunion Island, due to a long history of inhabitation by people of diverse ethnicities, a complex range of religious beliefs is found. The focus in South Africa has been the many ways in which Christianity is interpreted and experienced by Africans.

Savignan, who was born in Le Port in 1970, began his career working in a ‘fast lab’; after two years of workshop studies he started his own laboratory and his works are regularly exhibited on Reunion Island and internationally. Tshabangu was born in Soweto, in 1966, and currently teaches photography at the Alexander Community Art Centre and is represented by Johannesburg gallery MOMO.

The photographers agreed to a unique and interesting approach: they would always take photographs at the same time and place. In visiting each other’s countries the artists were able to connect with their respective history and culture as well as revising their awareness of their own.  “Reunion Island can be considered as a laboratory of the meetings of civilizations,” says Savignan, who observed that the diversity of religious beliefs connected people rather than divided them, with many islanders embracing more than one belief system without prejudice.

“The religious ceremony is a critical vehicle through which the community and the individual communes with the creator and with nature,” says Tshabangu. “In this body of work, I am portraying Christian practices from an African perspective and expressing the passion for a brand of faith steeped in both the Western Christian doctrine and African religions. This brew of spirituality is rooted in the heart of African communities.”

BRIDGES comprises eighty black and white photographs selected from thousands of images captured over the years. Together they explore and document that most fundamental of human needs: the expression of spiritual longing through communal ritual. 

 For more information contact Jenny Stretton on 031-3327286 or email jenny.stretton@durban.gov.za

CODED - A NEW SA FILM BEGINS ITS JOURNEY

This week, Origin, one of Durban’s most popular nite clubs, pumped and oozed as “audio-induced” dancers took to the floor in the promotional film currently being shot in Durban for a new South African sci-fi film, Coded.

Coded is co-directed by award-winning Durban-based film-maker Richard Green and Matt Nefdt. Green well-known for his work on films such as District 9, Spud and more recently with The Long Walk to Freedom is also one of four producers including Gavin Humphrey who wrote the imaginative, other-worldly and techno-trippy script. 

“Coded has three different types of revolution” explains Executive Producer Anthony Stonefield, “A movie storyline describing free citizens revolting against consumerist enslavement, the pioneering usage of wrap-around (3D) audio within a feature film, and, the manner in which the audience will “plug into” the movie—using an internet connection and earphones—and become immersed within its medium.”

“The movie will be brought to audiences where technology first-adopters have already moved: to a private video-on-demand environment on PCs, tablets and smartphones connected to the Internet, in addition to traditional four-wall movie theatres.”

“The story is set in the near future where new subliminal advertising technology has heralded the rise of sinister corporations that carry out mass surveillance on consumers; tracking their every move, collecting, collating and analysing their data. “ explains an upbeat Gavin Humphrey who makes his debut as a scriptwriter on this film. “A subliminal mind-control organisation, is on the forefront of this commercial revolution, using a secretive pattern recognition technology they have created “The Grid”, a network of key social influencers, bloggers, media personalities and event promoters, all tagged with sub-harmonic technology that allows them to be tracked and ultimately controlled. Key to this organisation's master plan is the shifting craze, an underground party scene, where shifters use audio narcotics to achieve altered states. Dayne is a notorious shifter and designer of digital drugs and a key node on the Grid. Plagued by tone deafness and which he feels prevents him from mastering the art of audio design, Dayne isn’t about to be a pawn in anyone’s game.”

“New generations will spend increasing proportions of their lives in ever more immersive, networked and interactive media environments—both seductive and useful.” Says Stonefield. ”This course of human evolution is inevitable.  The critical unknown is to what extent our children will become masters or slaves of such artificial reality.  Whoever controls the Grid controls reality itself.”

“In the real world, this mass social experiment in neurochemistry has already begun.  CODED casts a light on the types of moral and emotional swings and balances that increasingly characterize the live of the internet-worked generation.  It is a reflective movie for a modern generation whose reality is already shattered and up for grabs.”

“Coded is a project we have seen grow from strength to strength over the past few years.” Says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office. “It is an exciting and innovative new story that is sure to take the SA youth market and the world by storm. I am very proud that this project has been born in Durban by Durban, and cannot wait to experience it on the big screen. This new concept of filmmaking goes hand in hand with the Durban Film Offices objective to establish Durban as a digital innovation hub and will stand testament to the awesome opportunities that new technologies offer to the world of filmmaking. Congratulations to the creative team for their perseverance in bringing this story to life.”

Coded’s promo reel is being shot this week in Durban at two different locations.  Pre-production is scheduled for the second half of 2013 with principal filming taking place around August/September 2013.

For more info go to

http://codedmovie.tumblr.com/

-ends

Award-winning Doccie - Dear Mandela - Theatrical Release

DEAR MANDELA by Dara Kell & Christopher Nizza – Theatrical premiere

The multi-award-winning South African documentary, Dear Mandela has its theatrical release in Cape Town tonight at the Fugard Theatre before being screened at The Bioscope in Johannesburg over the long weekend from December 14 to 19.

This hard-hitting, remarkably vivid and lucid view of South Africa’s first post apartheid generation as they come of age in a nation of unfulfilled promises and increasing government repression of political activists has scooped several awards since its premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in 2011. IThis film directed by Dara Kell and Christopher Nizza has gone on to win the Grand Jury Prize and Best Documentary at 2012 Brooklyn Film Festival, Best Documentary, Montreal int’l Black Film Festival, Golden Butterfly Award, Movies That Matter Film Festival as well as a nomination for the African Academy Award for Best Documentary.

For more info about the screenings or to book go to www.thebioscope.co.za or call 011-0397306.  For more info about the film go to www.dearmandela.com.

AFDA Announces Core Staff for its New Durban Campus

AFDA, the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, which opens its third campus in South Africa, in Glen Anil in Durban in January 2013, has announced the appointment of some of its core senior staff.

Heading up the Live Performance School is the respected, multi-talented award-winning playwright, director and actor Rajesh Gopie. His counterpart in the Film School is award-winning, film director and producer Richard Green. Janet van Eeden, also an award-winning scriptwriter and educator has been appointed Head of Academic coursework and assessment.

The Dean of the Durban Campus is experienced producer and film-maker Franco Human, who currently the head of the producing department of AFDA Cape Town and the Undergraduate course director. 

“Accepting this position as head of live performance is a bold step for me.” says Rajesh Gopie, whose professional career up until now has been as a “sole agent” in the tough world of live performance, “But this heralds an exciting new phase in my life and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and growing a new generation of live performance practitioners.”

Richard Green, the Durban-based director/producer, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the mix. Green has a string of well-known films to his name including Spud, District 9, Otelo Burning with his most recent being assistant director on Anant Singh’s Long Walk to Freedom, which is currently in post-production.

Janet Van Eeden, who is currently doing her PHD in English at UKZN, has written 12 screenplays and 6 stage plays. In 2011 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award for the northern/southern regions as a Columnist for The Sunday Independent. Van Eeden, like the founding members of AFDA Garth Holmes and Bata Passchier, believes that the story/ narrative is everything to the success of making films.

Franco Human, is excited about the possibilities the new school will offer students and the film and theatre industry in Durban.  Human, who has been with AFDA for 10 years, started at the Johannesburg school as production co-ordinator and later took up a position as a junior lecturer in the producing department before moving to Cape Town. He has produced many short films, theatre musical productions, a celebrity campaign for M-Net and the SABC, a television series for CTV and an Afrikaans horror feature film as part of his Masters of Fine Art degree (which played to rave reviews), to name a few.  He has worked with the lifestyle show “Expresso” on SABC 3 and you may just recognise him as “the guy in the green shorts” doing Zumba and has other funky moves.  

Other core staff include junior lecturers Damien Tomaselli and Stuart Strydom. Tomaselli, has an Honours degree in Media and Communication Studies and Dramatic Performance and has worked as a performer, editor and producer across both theatre and film genres. Strydom graduated cum laude from the Durban University of Technology with a Bachelor of Technology (Video) and has extensive experience in video and sound editing.

The Production Design Lecturer is Sam Kelly, who worked for UK’s Channel 4 and BBC for a decade before running her own production company in Cape Town for four years. She now resides in Durban where she says she realized that the art department is her passion as her main interest lies within character analysis and how that gets interpreted into film.

The Co-ordinator and Administrative Assistant post will be held by Jessica Singh, who has a BA Degree in Communication Science  & English and is currently studying towards her Honours in Communication Science.

“We are really pleased with the strong core staff contingent we have appointed.” says Chairman of AFDA, Garth Holmes. “All these positions have been filled with people who have both academic and practical industry experience on many levels, and we trust that they will bring a dynamic and hands-on approach to the learning processes at the school. Students can always draw their information from a myriad sources, but being taught and guided by people who have worked in their respective fields, adds a richness to the experience of learning that no book or website can match.”

The school’s academic year starts on February 4th, 2013. For more information about AFDA contact Milena Gevers on  milenag@afda.co.za or call  031 569 2252.

Victory for Anant Singh - Durban Film Industry Set to Benefit

NATAL COMMAND: ULTIMATE VICTORY FOR SINGH

November 29, 2012

Yesterday the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down judgement in favour of Anant Singh’s Rinaldo Investments in the matter of the purchase of the Natal Command site on the Durban beachfront. Singh has emerged victorious after an epic legal battle that has spanned more than eight years.

The Constitutional Court in its unanimous, comprehensive judgement by the full bench of the eleven judges of the Court, also dealt with the standing of Giant Concerts saying, “The inference that Giant was merely toying with process, or seeking to thwart a propitious public development because it had been made available to someone else, is therefore one the Court is entitled to draw. The consequence is that Giant lacks standing, since its interest remains incipient and has never become direct or substantial.”

Singh, currently in London, commented, “We welcome the decision of the Constitutional Court.  We are vindicated by the judgement which endorses the fact that due process was followed in the transaction.  The long legal process has delayed the project which would have a positive impact on the economy of the City and Province.  We now look forward to proceeding with the exciting opportunities that this development brings to the region in the film, media and entertainment sectors.”

The proposal for the project, together with concept drawings for the film studio complex were presented to the City nine years ago wherafter it was presented to City’s Exco and was subsequently unanimously approved by a full sitting of the eThekwini Council and endorsed by the Provincial Authorities.

Representing Singh and Rinaldo Investments were Sudhir Pragjee (Videovision Entertainment’s Director of Business Affairs), attorney David Levin of Nicolson Stiller and Geshen, and Advocates Peter Olsen SC and Andrea Gabriel SC.

Summarising the judgement, the Constitutional Court said:

Today the Constitutional Court delivered a judgment dismissing an appeal against a decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

In 2003, through a law allowing a municipality to sell land by private sale rather than a public tender, the Ethekwini Municipality sold prime property on the Durban beachfront to Rinaldo Investments (Pty) Ltd (Rinaldo) as part of its plan to promote Durban as an international destination for film production. Rinaldo is a property-holding company ultimately controlled by film-maker Mr Anant Singh. The applicant, Giant Concerts CC (Giant), objected to the proposed sale and the Municipality rejected the objection.

Giant asked the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg to set aside the sale. The High Court decided in favour of Giant, holding that the decision was unlawful, procedurally unfair and unreasonable. It declared the agreement between the Municipality and Rinaldo void.

On appeal, the Supreme Court of Appeal reversed the finding of the High Court. It found that Giant had failed to establish legal standing to challenge the decision to sell the land to Rinaldo since it had not shown a sufficient interest in the subject matter of the dispute. Giant claimed to act in its own interest in terms of section 38(a) of the Constitution.

In a unanimous judgment for the Constitutional Court, Cameron J noted that Giant did not claim to act in the public interest or on behalf of a group or association or anyone who was not able to bring proceedings themselves. It therefore had to show standing on the basis of its own interest alone. The Court affirmed that constitutional own-interest standing is broader than traditional common law standing. A litigant must nevertheless show that his or her rights or interests are directly affected by the challenged law or conduct.

The Court concluded that even on a broad approach to standing, Giant did not show that it had interests that were capable of being directly affected. This was because Giant never demonstrated that it had any serious commercial interest in the venture. In fact, Giant had failed to establish anything more than a hypothetical or academic interest. The Court found that Giant had no standing.

It held that when a party does not have standing, it is not necessary to consider the substance of the dispute, unless there is at least a strong indication of fraud or other gross irregularity in the conduct of a public body. There was nothing of the kind in the case before it. The appeal was therefore dismissed with costs.

-Ends

For more info on this contact Nilesh Singh

Nilesh Singh

031 2046050

nilesh@videovision.co.za

Brand New isiZulu Radio Station Goes Live on Nov 22

VUMA 103 FM: IKHAYA LENTOKOZO – THE HOME OF HAPPINESS!

A brand new, authentically isiZulu, 24 hour commercial music radio station, Vuma 103 FM, featuring both inspirational and gospel music and an incredible host of KZN presenters, will go commercially live on November 22. With a large broadcast footprint extending across Greater Durban, Pietermaritzburg and surrounds, this exciting new entrant onto the KZN radio airwaves is set to surprise, delight, entertain and inspire listeners with its uplifting, unique and celebratory brand of radio. With music, listener-interaction, entertainment, news, weather, traffic and sports, Vuma 103 FM will be a compelling new radio-listening alternative for the proud people of KZN.   

VUMA 103 FM is poised to attract listeners who resonate with its inspirational brand of music and content, lifestyle, family and celebration, companionship and general wholesome values which so many in KZN embrace and live by. Vuma’s authentic isiZulu grounding will enhance its appeal to those who are proud of their isiZulu culture, language, heritage and status. “VUMA’s mandate is unique in KZN,” says Station Manager Phindi Gule. “We will be broadcasting in 90%  authentic isiZulu and 10% English (never Zunglish), as for a long time there has been a strong indication that an isiZulu renaissance is underway in our Province, and so we have chosen to use authentic language geared to engender a sense of pride and identity within our communities.” 

While VUMA 103 FM’s content will consist of 70% music on its airwaves, aimed at really keeping listeners entertained and close to their radios throughout the day, listeners can also expect to be kept updated and informed on hot topics and current talking points. “VUMA is a sophisticated, positive, inspired, adult, contemporary music radio station,” says Chief Operating Officer, Nolan Vernon. “The presenters, some of whom are well-known through the wonderful legacy of KNI radio, and also through other community and commercial radio networks, as well as others whom will come as a delightful surprise to our listeners, have been hand-picked to appeal to a wide range of people within the context of our values and vision. Our presenters themselves are reflective of who we are as a radio station, and what we stand for in terms of our positive values, and strong sense of upliftment, within the realm of KZN.”

The station’s main shareholders are KNI and One Gospel TV Channel, who came together nearly three years ago with a vision for a new, inspired radio brand for KZN. The music lists will be drawn from popular inspirational and Gospel music, both local and international. Week days and Saturdays will be committed to a variety of shows packed with music, interesting information, news, sports, current affairs and interactive talk shows; and Sundays will be devoted to inspirational song and praise. 

‘The birth of Vuma 103 FM is the beginning of a new chapter that is being co-written by KNI and One Gospel” says Reverend Abe Sibiya, Executive Chairperson of Vuma 103 FM and of One Gospel TV, “It is a chapter that we look forward to and embrace with great excitement as we embark on what promises to be a most meaningful journey ahead, both for those within the station, with old friends, listeners and companions from KNI, and also for our new listeners across the Province.”

‘Our vision for Vuma is that it will be a station of joy, strength and comfort for all,” says Siziwe Chili, board member of both Vuma 103 FM, as well as KNI. “The station embodies the vision of a dedicated collective of people who all have a desire to create a cohesive, meaningful community within KZN through a common interest in inspirational messaging and values. We look forward to seeing the positive impact we will have on the lives of so many people.”

VUMA 103 FM has attracted some top presenters who are already well established and well-loved on the air waves.” Senzo Myeni and Siya Malinga are both on board,” says Gule.  “We also want to appeal to the ladies and make sure that women’s issues are addressed and debated, and to this end we also welcome Sister Kay, Leleti Khumalo and Phindile Kweyama. One of our sports presenters is Nomfundo Khaba, who has a fervent taste for boxing and soccer as well as a passionate array of other sports interests too. She certainly breaks the mould!” 

Others in the line up include personal trainer and sports fanatic Mike Nzimande, the cool sophisticated Thabani Mbatha, the colourful and entertaining Felix Hlope with his wise cracks and witty observations, and actor Sthembiso Sibisi who loves both arts and sports. One can also enjoy the suave tones of Dumisane Buthelezi, news and views from Phumlani Nkwanyana, late night chats with Protus Mkhize and  sweet open-hearted conversations with Ndoni Radebe.  Completing the line up is Nhlanhla Makhanya and Thabo Mzimela; with a wealth of experience behind them to make the listeners feel at home. 

Located in the easily-accessible precinct of Umhlanga New Town Centre, just opposite Gateway, VUMA 103 FM’s station boasts beautiful premises with state of the art studios and equipment, and the first and latest broadcasting software of its kind in the country. The professional setup will assist the on-air teams and presenters in delivering slick, engaging and super-sonic music and programmes geared to appeal to listeners across the KZN region. 

The Vuma 103 FM creative team also has a whole range of unexpected and exciting concepts in store for listeners too. “We are keen to break new ground with VUMA and offer an unusual mix of programmes that caters to the diverse taste of our listeners,” explains Gule. “For instance, we will introduce a short morning session with a well-known imbongi to get the day started in a positive and uplifting way.  We also plan to be out and about and visible at key events, whether they are sports or cultural events, family occasions, or celebrations, so that people can meet us and get to know us. We believe in a healthy, grounded life style; with the emphasis on what is wholesome and fresh without us being pushy or high-handed. Vuma will use the airwaves responsibly and gather in the flock of listeners who believe in family values, joyous entertainment and positivity.” 

“Our listeners are people who are always looking for reasons to feel motivated and inspired,” adds Vernon, “people who see themselves as influencers and who are passionate about their lives, who will subscribe to having a personal, meaningful listener-relationship with Vuma 103 FM. We are really a radio station which is “For the people of KZN, By the people of KZN.” 

With a solid foundation of listener-support already in place within KZN, as a result of the inspired broadcasting of KNI Community Radio over the past decade, Vuma 103 FM is in a privileged place. “Most people or organisations, who aspire to build something for a positive purpose, spend their entire existence striving to create a meaningful legacy. In the case of Vuma, we are fortunate to already have our legacy, forged by KNI Radio, and now it is up to Vuma 103 FM to build on that, to honour that, and to take it forwards into a new era of broadcasting!” says Vernon.

Vuma’s geographical reach covers greater Durban, and also extends beyond Pietermaritzburg, encompasses Greytown, Ballito on the North Coast and reaches down to Scottburgh on the South Coast.  

VUMA 103 FM goes commercially live to air on 22 November on the frequency 103 FM. This innovative, fresh, energetic and inspired radio station invites everyone who wants a little light and laughter to enter their lives to tune in, share, and celebrate a new era in radio for KZN.

Ends

AFDA Film Festival

AFDA ANNULA FILM FESTIVAL

Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban

23, 24 and 25 November 2012

Each year AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) hosts an annual film festival which showcases more than 50 new third year graduates and fourth year honours (post graduate) students’ films.  The festival is a unique opportunity for graduate students to attract and experience an audience in a public cinema environment.

The festival is held at Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau in Johannesburg (Rosebank) and Cape Town (Cavendish) on November 23 and 24 and for the first time in Durban at the Gateway’s Cinema Nouveau on November 25.

“Although it’s a fun and exciting event for everyone concerned, the festival is unique as it uses a audience response rubric directly aligned to the learning inputs and modelling process that AFDA utilizes.” says AFDA Chairman Garth Holmes. “This gives students the experience of the visceral emotional response of the audience – a key learning moment in terms of learning to identify and develop audiences for the future”.

This year will also see the festival go online for the first time – a pilot process driven by the AFDA digital innovation laboratory and two of its key participants Wicus Labuschagne and Jeffrey Rusch.

“We’re constantly sharing and tweeting about experiences, pinning videos for our friends and some might argue that our digital footprint is becoming as much of an identity as the brands we wear on our clothes” says Labuschagne.

The AFDA Online Festival website www.afdafestival.com which allows people to interact with the films they see at the Cinema Festivals.  The AFDA Online Festival website will also showcase film that you can’t watch at the Cinema Festival. Second year films, fourth year documentaries and even a few first year films will be included online.

The online festival will be run for a week after the Ster Kinekor festival and there will be activities prior and during the festival from 25 to 30 November.  

The film festival in Johannesburg begins at 11h45 to 23h00 on Friday, November 23 and 12h15 to 22h00 on Saturday, November 24; in Cape Town from 11h30 to 23h00 Friday, November 23 and 10h30 to 22h00 on Saturday, November 24 and Durban from 10h00 to 20h00 on Sunday, November 25. There are a total of 24 hours of fascinating short films to take in.

Tickets for Johannesburg are R20 per screening, Cape Town are R15 per screening and Durban’s screenings are free. (Donations, however are welcome which will go to Vision Mission - Ster Kinekor's  CSI initiative to assist youngsters in underpriveleged communities by identifying and helping those with visual problems nationwide.)

For the programme, trailers and behind the scenes info for the festival go to www.afdafestival.com