Deadline for Applications to Realness/Netflix Traineeship extended to 21 January 2022.

Due to a surge of interest from filmmakers from Africa and the Diaspora, the Realness Institute, in partnership with Netflix, has announced an extension for submissions for the 2022 Episodic Lab and Development Executive Traineeship (DET) programmes. Applicants will now have until 21 January 2022 to apply.

The Episodic Lab is aimed at developing story concepts by screenwriters from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria; while the DET offers African producers an opportunity to hone their story development skills. These programmes are designed for television and film professionals at an intermediate level.

Both programmes are intimately supervised and mentored by highly skilled and experienced Story Experts and Creative Producers, whilst also drawing expertise and advice from the Netflix team.

The 2022 Episodic Lab and DET take place online from 1 May to 31 July 2022. Each of the twelve selected participants (six per programme) will receive a monthly stipend of USD 2 000 for this period to cover living expenses, which will allow them to focus on the development of their story concept.

Exciting news for these programmes is that Thandeka Zwana, a DET participant from the inaugural 2021 edition, has joined the mentoring team as a Story Consultant. Working in the film industry on the continent since 2004, Thandeka has experience along the whole film-making value chain as a producer, line producer, script editor, and as development and production executive for numerous films and organisations.

Thandeka Zwana says “The programme was basically a course in brain gymnastics! It gave us the opportunity to open our minds to new ways of thinking and approaching development. From psychology to the history of storytelling, we were given tools to enhance the process and make development a lot more fun for both the executives and the writers that we work with. As African storytellers, we have a great responsibility to tell our stories in the best way possible and this course – the mentors and the guest speakers – did so much in helping us understand this responsibility and use it to make our craft better. It is a huge honour to be included in the team for 2022 and I look forward to cultivating stronger writers and stories.”

“We are thrilled to have received so many new proposals, with many requests from filmmakers to extend the deadline due to the proximity to the festive season and so many holidays,” says Elias Ribeiro, Executive Director of the Realness Institute. “So we encourage all interested to get their proposals in soon. We are also honoured to have Thandeka Zwana joining the mentoring team, who comes with a wealth of experience in development, production and distribution. We look forward to working with her to support the projects and writers to excel with their work.”

Realness Institute is a non-profit organisation that aims to empower Africans to tell their stories from their own point of view.

For information on eligibility and the application process please visit the following:

Episodic Lab: https://www.realness.institute/episodic-lab
Development Executive Traineeship: https://www.realness.institute/det

Further enquiries about the programme and application process can be directed to email submissions@realness.institute

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Green Corridors – go outside with your family this holiday in Durban!

Green Corridors, the NPO that cares for the glorious green spaces around Durban, offers some exceptional picnic sites and tourism experiences, all easily accessible for a socially distanced outdoor gathering with a host of activities during the Festive Season. 

Whether it is self-drive or fully guided on the Green Corridors Shuttle Bus, these are wide-open spaces to relax, play, adventure and have loads of fun – they’re ideal for the whole family, and only a short distance from Durban’s CBD.

These wonderful sites are not only perfect for day visits, but camping, too, is available. There is also the unique Green Corridors’ pop-up camping option that is stress free…and includes everything you need for a “glamping weekend” tents, stretcher, camp shower, catering tent and other equipment (with catering or self catering options).

Cycling from eNanda Adventure Park

ENANDA ADVENTURES

eNanda Adventure Park on the beautiful Inanda Dam has the prettiest picnic site and an adrenaline-inducing pump bike track. The site offers guided mountain biking, birding excursions, hiking trails and canoeing.  A lovely shaded lawn overlooks the dam where you can launch canoes to explore the waterways. 

eNanda Adventures offers camping right on the water's edge, as well as cabins. Boat launching permits can be also issued on behalf of Msinsi Holdings (which manages the dam), ideal for those wishing to launch here. 

Canoeing at Mnini Tourist Resort

MNINI DAM

Mnini Dam, south of Durban in the quiet, picturesque uMgababa area offers two superb sites for picnics, canoeing, fishing (large-mouth bass, tilapia) and some spectacular birding, hiking and MTB trails. 

Hiking with Thulas Adventures around Mnini Dame

The two tourism sites are Thulas’ Adventures, which also hosts pop- up camps, with or without catering), right on the water’s edge, and you enjoy guided nature and birding hikes, as well as cycle tours. The Mnini Dam Tourist Resort is tailormade for picnics, boat launching, fishing, birding, and hiking, with campsites and en-suite rooms available for hire as well as a well stocked bar and restaurant.  

Tubing at Mqeku

MQEKU PICNIC SITE

Mqeku picnic site in the exquisite Valley of 1000 Hills has a unique ‘bum-slide’ on its river, a sparkling clean tributary into the Umgeni. This crazy, fun slide ends in a serenely calm pool, where you can simply float on a tube. There are excellent walking trails here, and the local community will welcome you warmly, and take care of your every need. Braai facilities and camping are available.

Biking at isiThumba

ISITHUMBA

Isithumba in the Valley of 1000 Hills is fully kitted out with accommodation, hiking, MTB and cultural tours. Local guides with unparalleled knowledge and story-telling skills will bring to life the culture, rituals and customs of the Zulu people as you tour this quintessential rural Zulu village.

Exquisite sites around Molweni Valley on a hike

MOLWENI VALLEY

Lower Molweni  is a short drive into the Valley of 1000 Hills from Hillcrest and is a hikers, birders and nature-lovers paradise.  there is a network of community-developed nature trails that lead hikers through the spectacular rugged cliffs and forests of the area, just on the outskirts of the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. This reserve is a biodiversity treasure trove including 50 mammals, 253 bird, 35 reptiles, 150 butterflies, 273 tree and over 1500 plant species. Visit the Philangethemba Impact site with K&X Café and Ibongezi Crafters.

GREEN HUB

The GreenHub at Durban’s Blue Lagoon – offers some amazing eco-tourism activities – birding, hiking, canoeing and a visit to the fascinating Ezemvelo Beachwood Mangroves (on selected days). 

Green Corridors Shuttle bus at isiThumba

SHUTTLES OFFERED TO VARIOUS SITES

Green Corridors sites and tourism experiences are so easily accessible. The ultimate convenience is to hop on a  Green Corridors Shuttle Bus, which leaves from  Durban’s GreenHub on the Umgeni River (near Blue Lagoon) and takes guests on the following excursions:

·      Wild Enanda/Enanda Dam trip. It includes uMzinyathi Falls, the sacred Rastafarian Caves, a trip with Canoeing eNanda Adventures, and eNanda Mountain (lunch available at eNanda at your own expense). 

·      Mqeku Tubing and Bum Slide, where you’ll visit the Valley of a 1000 Hills, enjoy the amazing views en route…then just ride the bum slide, take a tube ride or chill in the shady picnic site (bring your own picnic lunch). Mqeku Picnic site is exquisite.

·      Durban’s Waterfalls (bring your own picnic lunch). You’ll travel from Paradise Valley Falls to Kloof Falls to uMzinyathi Falls – perfect for keen photographers, nature lovers and water babies. 

·      Mnini Canoe and Hike Trip, ideal for birdwatchers and peace seekers - lunch available at eNanda at your own expense. This is a leisurely day, drifting along the Mnini Dam shores, or hiking through the deep river gorges. 

·      Green Corridors’ GreenHub is centrally located on the banks of the uMngeni River, known locally as Blue Lagoon, offering a walk-in centre for information, eco-education and tour bookings, with bicycle and canoe hire available.

The Shuttle Bus transport, guides and any entrance fees are included in the R400 per person - minimum of four persons for the tour to run. 

All sites have a nominal entrance fee - camping and activity fees vary from site to site, helping to drive the local tourism economy in these areas.

Bookings are essential and can easily be made on +27 (31) 322 6026 or email frontdesk@greencorridors.afric

For more information go to : https://durbangreencorridor.co.za/

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Flatfoot Dance Company in Earth Rhythms at KZNSA Gallery

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY  in partnership with the KZNSA, presents …EARTH RHYTHMS

@ KZNSA GALLERY, Durban

Durban: Join FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY for two performances only at Glenwood’s iconic KZNSA Art Gallery in Durban on 10 and 11 December at 6.30pm.

In a family friendly celebration of rhythm, joy and the sheer delight of the dancing and moving body, FLATFOOT will take you on a journey of magical explosive dance that celebrates how rhythm connects us all. Choreographed in a sharing of skills and styles by the full company; Lliane Loots, Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika, Mthoko Mkhwanazi, Sbonga Ndlovu, Siseko Duba, Ndumiso Dube, and Zinhle Nzama, this performance also features celebrated Durban poet Ongezwa Mbele as her rhythmic spoken words weave a connection between dance, music and the healing time and tides of the ocean. 

FLATFOOT's Sbonga Ndlovu in full flight - photo by Val Adamson

EARTH RHYTHMS is a delightful showcase of FLATFOOT’s unique - award-winning - contemporary dance style mixed in with a bit of popular street dance that will bring a smile to your face.

In honouring the holiday season, this partnership with the KZNSA is a dine, wine, shop and dance happening– doors open from 5pm so you can do some early evening Christmas shopping at BUZZART21, grab a bite to eat and settle into your seats for the 6.30pm show start! The show is one hour.

 The venue is Covid compliant and no mask, no entry! Each performance has a limit of x100 audience members only – book soon to avoid disappointment. No walk-ins/at the door sales - all tickets MUST be prebooked and paid for in advance.

COST: R100 per ticket (under 13s: R80)

Bookings made via flatfootdancecompany@gmail.com

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Realness Institute Opens 2922 Submissions: Episodic Lab & Development Executive Traineeship in partnership with Netflix

22 November 2021: Realness Institute, a non-profit organisation which aims to empower Africans to tell their stories from an unapologetically African point of view, is excited to announce the opened submissions for the 2022 Episodic Lab and Development Executive Traineeship (DET) in partnership with Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service. Submissions open today (22 November 2021) on https://realnessinstitute.awardsplatform.com/  and close on 14 January 2022.

This follows the overwhelming interest in the inaugural editions, having received 425 submissions for the 2021 Episodic Lab and 79 applications for the 2021 DET.

The Episodic Lab is a development programme that gives screenwriters from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria an opportunity to develop their original story ideas, in any genre. The participants have the opportunity of pitching these incubated stories to Netflix executives  at the end of the programme.

The DET, which is open to applicants from across Africa and the Diaspora, is aimed at mid-career industry professionals who are looking to enhance their skills as story consultants. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the story development process, and will be exposed to a more nuanced approach in the support of writers whilst simultaneously holding writers accountable for their creative work. DET participants will work alongside creative producers and story experts in the development of their concepts and series pitch decks. They will also engage with international and local guest speakers every week for the duration of the programme.

While there is no guarantee that any proposal will be developed further by Netflix, it is a unique opportunity to interface at key milestones with the Netflix executives, and be afforded the opportunity to pitch. 2021 Episodic Lab alumnus Kudi Maradzika (Zimbabwean-South African) pitched an idea for a comedy-drama that has been selected for further development. Provisionally entitled Bad Influencer (co-created with Justin Oswald) Maradzika is now starting to turn her attention to next steps, which include Writers’ Room planning.

Kudi Maradzika

“This is an incredible opportunity and I’m grateful to the Realness and Netflix Grow Creative teams for helping make young writers’ dreams a possibility. The Episodic lab is tough but pushes you to be your best. I’m a better writer for it,” says Kudi Maradzika.

The 2022 Episodic Lab and DET are set to take place online from 1 May to 31 July 2022.

Each of the twelve participants (six per programme), will receive a monthly stipend of USD 2,000 during the incubation period. This is to cover living expenses as they focus on their concept development while being mentored.

Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development and Partnerships at the Realness Institute

Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development and Partnerships at the Realness Institute says, “What we have witnessed from the first Lab and Traineeship is that there is a deep desire for Africans to create their own narratives. This bodes well for a growing audience, based in Africa and abroad. We are so pleased to be a major player in lighting the fire of our amazing continental creatives. Also to hear from last year’s participants how they have been able to transplant everything they learnt in the incubator into their current work and other projects, as well as the impact we had in their lives and creative process.”

Allison Triegaardt, Netflix Manager for Grow Creative Africa

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Realness Institute for the 2022 edition of the Episodic Lab and Development Executive Traineeship (DET). The development, nurturing and support of talent pipelines gives new voices a chance to be heard. This is key for Netflix as we contribute to the growth of the film and TV industry and honour our commitment to the African creative community,” says Allison Triegaardt, Netflix Manager for Grow Creative Africa.

For information on eligibility and application process please visit the following:

●      Episodic Lab - https://www.realness.institute/episodic-lab

●      Development Executive Traineeship - https://www.realness.institute/det

Further enquiries about the programme and application process can be directed to email submissions@realness.institute.

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SA Short film Deliver Me in competition at Cairo International Film Festival

Paper Cranes Collective and Ctrl Alt Shift are proud to announce that their first collaboration, Deliver Me, will have its international premiere at this year’s Cairo International Festival (26 November - 5 December) where it will take part in the Official Short Film Competition.  Directed by Cape-Town based Jannous Aukema (Until The Silence Comes and The Jaguars Daughter), the film was conceived, filmed and edited during South Africa’s LockDown level 4. Made for under R20,000 and a four-man crew, the project is a unique take on the documentary storytelling format. 

“We are honoured and very pleased to have our project Deliver Me, screen at such a prestigious festival such as Cairo International Film Festival, a festival that plays such a key role not only in the continental festival calendar, but also is a significant on the international festival landscape,” said Durban-based Mitchell Harper, Ctrl Alt Shift producer of the film. “ We are excited and to be the only Southern African film in the festival’s competition. The journey of the film has been amazing given it’s scale and I think a testament about the success of films that have collaborative nature, along with its unusual approach to story-telling and financing will hopefully readjust many to how we approach not only filmmaking, but help shift our understanding of what trials many go through in a bid to survive everyday life.”

Co-produced by companies in Durban and Cape Town, Deliver Me is a 28 minute film, a poetic meditation on the migration of a Malawian man, who has come to South Africa to find a future for himself and his family. We follow Paul Mwase through the evening streets, restaurants and suburbs he navigates as an Uber delivery bike rider, during the coronavirus hard lockdown in Cape Town, South Africa. We come to see that he is a man driven by love for his family, whom he remains in contact with through his cellphone, his digital lifeline to those he has left behind. His work and the conditions he toils in are solitary. In many ways Paulʼs journey as witnessed in the film is a signifier not only of the struggles of isolation in an unknown place, but more generally of the lonesome months of a world pandemic. 

The film will be have its screening on the 28 November and will be available on digital platforms, and  is available on the African continent  throughout the festival period.

To find out how to watch Deliver Me, go to The Cairo International Film Festival

Durban’s Lower Molweni Begins to Ramp up its Tourism Offerings

Four organisations in Durban, have been collaborating to support and develop the exquisite Lower Molweni Valley for local and international tourism, in an effort to stimulate and drive the community’s economy in a setting that has high tourism potential.

Lower Molweni  is a short drive into the Valley of 1000 Hills from Hillcrest and is a hikers, birders and nature-lovers paradise. Now Durban’s Green Corridors, with its vision to see communities thrive in balance with the habitats around them, is working together with the local organisations: Kloof Conservancy, Philangethemba Impact, and 1000 Hills Community Tourism Organisation, to develop eco-tourism initiatives that create local employment and business opportunities and at the same time protect the environment. 

A welcome break during a hike atop the granite waterfall, with muffins and juice catered for by K&X Café with rugs and cushions created by the Ibongezi Crafters.

These organisations, which have varying mandates, have pooled resources and ideas with Green Corridors: The Kloof Conservancy, aims to promote environmental awareness and conserve the area’s natural habitats; Philangethemba Impact, is a collaborative empowerment programme between the social outreach ministry of St Agnes Anglican Church in Kloof, and the neighbouring Molweni Valley community, and 1000 Hills CTO, is the local community tourism organisation promoting tourism in this area. 

Currently, in this area there is a network of community-developed nature trails that lead hikers through the spectacular rugged cliffs and forests of the area, just on the outskirts of the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. This reserve has is a biodiversity treasure trove including 50 mammals, 253 bird, 35 reptiles, 150 butterflies, 273 tree and over 1500 plant species.

Much work is being done by partners on the ground including the community of Lower Molweni Trust around various new and exciting tourism opportunities, including a 1.4km zipline, which is planned to be the longest in South Africa, experiential and cultural tours around the local community, and Pop up Camping - Green Corridors’ unique portable camping experience which can move from site to site.

For local community members, microbusinesses have started up, as a result, providing employment opportunities and are expected to grow as interest in the area increases. Businesses include trail clearers who cut paths and remove alien plants from the trails; litter and waste controllers, a catering business K&X Café and Ibongezi Crafters based at the Philangethemba Impact site – the start point of the nature trails. Local trail guides are being trained and mentored by experienced Green Corridors nature guides.

“We aim to develop local tourism opportunities and help stimulate community-based economies, through our vision to connect people to the planet,” says Duncan Pritchard, of Green Corridors. “The support of tourism in this area plays a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term conservation of this incredibly beautiful part of Durban. This is all achievable by integrating socio-economic needs with conservation needs, and by working hand in hand with local organisations and the communities in and around the area.”

“Our overall goal is to create hope and tangible outcomes for the people in this area,” says Siphiwe Gumede of Philangethemba Impact. “Adding an adventure aspect to the offering like the zipline, will help to draw people to the area, and stimulate the various small businesses that rely on tourism.”

“Central to what we do is to promote the area to support businesses operating in this exquisite environment here in the Valley of 1000 Hills,” says Jennifer Gregory, of the 1000 Hills Community Tourism Organisation. “Key to this is ensuring the environment lives up to the promise, so part of that is to have local buy-in and interest in what is being planned, to maintain its natural beauty.”

Hikers at Lower Molweni

Paolo Candotti, Chairman of the Kloof Conservancy says, “This is a really exciting collaboration for us all, as we work together to find the solution to the social and environmental needs of the people in this area. As we collaborate to find workable and sustainable ways to develop the tourism offerings, we are always open to sharing knowledge and welcoming other organisations and partners who are interested.”

All trails are guided. For more information or to book contact: +27 (0)31 322 6026/7 +27 (78) 726 4890 or email frontdesk@greencorridors.africa

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I heart market makes welcome return to Moses Mabhida Stadium 27 Nov 2021

I heart market makes a welcome return to Moses Mabhida Stadium on 27 November

Finally, as the world begins to slowly open up, the much-loved I heart Market makes a welcome return to the lawns outside the Moses Mabhida Stadium to begin trading on Saturday 27 November.

“After 20 months of pandemic realness, we are so happy to announce that the I heart Market, which provides trading opportunities for 80 small businesses, is returning for festive season,” says Anna Savage, owner of the market. ”And we are delighted to be back on the lawns of the Stadium, a popular and convenient central spot for all.”

“I heart Market is all about supporting small local businesses and so you will never find any imports or mass manufactured products,” enthuses Anna. “We pride ourselves in finding interesting and exciting products produced by our local creative community. So expect to find old favourites – from homemade pastries, local cheeses and olives, locally designed and produced clothing, home furnishings, accessories,  unique silver jewellery, and some exciting new additions, with loads of Festive Season inspirations,  and so much more. All made with love. We are so looking forward to welcoming our loyal traders and customers back.”

The festive markets begin on 27 November and take place on 4 and 11 December, and 8 January from 08:30 to 14:00. Entrance if free and dogs (on leashes) are welcome. There is secure underground parking at the Stadium.  COVID protocols will be observed.

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Action in Autism Market Day – Saturday 20 November 2021

Media release

Action in Autism Market Day – Saturday 20 November 2021

Action in Autism will host a Summer Market at the Action in Autism Centre in Park Hill, Durban North on Saturday, 20 November from 9am – 2pm.  

The students of Action in Autism’s skills transfer and business hub, have been hard at work preparing for the market.   This project not only provides a focus for their learning and studies in the areas of administration, consumer and business studies, gardening, food production and craft, but also serve as a fundraiser for the organisation.  “Market Day means to show other people outside the Action in Autism Centre what we can accomplish when we work together as a team, and not just as individuals,” says Michelle Edmonds, a 22 year old autistic student. Her fellow student, Bruce Baloyi, interjects to ensure those attending know that the Market runs from 9am to 2pm.

The Market Day is a bi-annual event at which the Shahumna students showcase their work and products created in the Business Hub and is the practical component of their Business Studies curriculum. In addition, the Market serves as an event for networking and connection not only for Autistic people and their families, but also for the neighbourhood and surrounding community, as well as local business. “Market Day highlights the capabilities, talents and is a culmination of our students’ accomplishments throughout the year,” says Ashvir Dalu, manager of the Shahumna Centre. “It is also a time that we all get to relax and have fun in an embracing environment.” The intention for the Market is to create a day of family togetherness that is inclusive and welcoming of autistic people and the broader community, that will bring in much-needed funds and resources for Action in Autism, says Centre Director, Kirsten Miller. 

The Shahumna skills and business hub is just one of Action in Autism’s many projects. The organisation’s other flagship projects are its Early Intervention Centre that provides early intervention and therapy to those children whose families cannot afford the high cost of private services, and the Assessment and Therapy Wing, that provides assessment and therapy services. Emma Hunt, a Park Hill resident and a student at the Shahumna Centre, speaks of the Market as a wonderful opportunity for autistic people to interact with people both on the spectrum and outside of the spectrum. “We can all have fun together in one space instead of separating ourselves from each other,” says Emma.

Emma Hunt and Thabiso Ndlovu.j

Visitors to the market can expect to find baked goods and teas prepared by the students of the Business Skills Centre, a range of quality gelato flavours from The Italian Corner, pre-loved clothing, plants, a jumping castle, games and kiddies’ treats. Action in Autism extends a welcome to the surrounding communities to enjoy a day out with Autistic people, and to browse, have a cup of coffee and purchase one or two Christmas presents.   The organisation is using this as an opportunity to showcase its services and to create partnerships with individuals and organisations who would support the organisation and the programmes offered. 

Action in Autism welcomes any sponsorship/donation for the Market Day.  Action in Autism is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) with an 18A Tax Exemption status. This means that a donation to Action in Autism is tax deductible (Tax Act 58 of 1962). If you would like to attend the Market, or to make a donation, to book a table to trade, support a child at the centre, or for more information about the services offered by the organisation, please call 031 563 3039, email info@actioninautism.org.za, or visit the website at www.actioninautism.org.za. 

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Cover photo Kaveer Lutchman, Malita Mandlate and Bruce Baloyi

Action in Autism Fundraiser - award-winning film The Reason I Jump

Action in Autism:

Fundraiser Film: The Reason I Jump - Cinema 3, Gateway, Umhlanga

Sunday 21 November, 16h45

Action in Autism will host a special screening of the award-winning film The Reason I Jump based on the book by Japanese Naoki Higashida, who is Autistic, and was thirteen at the time of writing. This will be a fundraiser for the organisation which supports Autistic people and their families through the provision of services and resources, on Sunday 21 November at 16h45 Cinema 3, Gateway, Umhlanga.

Through his writing Higashida maps the experiences of being Autistic and translates these experiences for a neurotypical readership – the hyper-focus, the destabilisation, the social difficulties as well as the unique joys and benefits of thinking in a way that is neurologically a-typical. The internationally celebrated book was first published in Japanese in 2007 and later translated into English, the process supported and publically endorsed by the renowned novelist David Mitchell, who has an Autistic son.

The cinematic version of The Reason I Jump, created by film-maker Jerry Rothwell, won  the Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary at Sundance in 2020.  It is brought to Durban through an exciting partnership between Videovision Entertainment and Action in Autism. The screening of this powerful documentary aims to raise much-needed funds for Action in Autism’s two flagship projects, the Early Intervention and Therapy Centre, and the Shahumna Centre, a skills transference and business hub for adults with Autism and related neurological conditions. “The intention of The Reason I Jump, as both a book and a film,” writes Adrian Horton in The Guardian in a review from 9 January, “is explicitly didactic, a missive to explain one person’s neuro-divergent experience and broader call to expand one’s imagination of human cognition.”

Action in Autism’s vision is for Autistic people and all people with disabilities to be accepted, respected and valued as members of the community. “This fundraiser speaks to who we are,” says Liza Aziz, Action in Autism’s Chairperson and the parent of an adult Autistic son. “It empowers and teaches people about a world of which they know very little.” Videovision Entertainment has supported the organisation since its inception in 2005, and continues to work as one of the partners that ensures opportunity for Autistic people through events such as this screening.”

“In the film Rothwell examines the lives of five young people who live with Autism spectrum disorder, and is a perfect tool to educate people on Autism, so we are delighted to continue our association with Action in Autism since its founding, and to support the exemplary work done by Liza Aziz and the Action in Autism team,” said Sanjeev Singh, Videovision Entertainment’s Director of Distribution and Acquisition.

Tickets are  R120 and can be booked by calling 031 563 3039 or emailing info@actioninautism.org.za.

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Snakes in the City Team Encounters Intriguing World of Snake Mating and Fighting Rituals

Snakes in the City Team Encounters Intriguing World of Snake Mating and Fighting Rituals 

Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett - stars of Snakes in the City - the internationally acclaimed National Geographic Wild series, are feeling “lucky”. Not the same way an average person would feel lucky. But lucky nevertheless. And the reason? They arrived a month earlier than usual in Durban to film the next season, which means they are here for snake mating season, and along with that, the intriguing rituals and fighting associated with it. 

Snakes in the City TV star Siouxsie Gillett at a recent capture, with 3 entwined male Spotted Bush Snakes that were fighting to mate with a female that escaped.

“Usually we begin in October/November when the weather has warmed up and snakes are more active, which is post-mating season. Now, because we are here earlier, we are coming across some rather amazing sights,” explains Siouxsie Gillett, a qualified herpetologist. “This is a time of the year that you are likely to see more than one snake together – as they are usually solitary creatures. Often people see two or more snakes together and think it may be snakes mating – but it is more than likely two males fighting for dominance.”

“The world of snake mating and reproduction is quite a fascinating one,” says Simon Keys. “For example, female snakes produce a strong scent to attract males, leaving a scent trail so males can find her. And during the mating season could attract a whole mass of snakes who have followed her scent, who all end up fighting for her. Quite a scary sight for an untrained eye!”

“Intriguing too, is that the male snake has spent the winter in hibernation not eating, and is hungry, but would rather mate at this point than find food!” says Siouxsie. “Surprisingly, some species like our famous Black Mamba will combat in a non-violent way for the female, by attempting to dominate the other male by almost entwining around, and laying on top of the other male, often misunderstood as two snakes mating.”

“Most female snakes lay their eggs and leave them. Some snakes (pythons - including the Rock Python - and King Cobras) incubate their eggs, and King Cobras even build a nest for them! Some even give birth to live young like Adders.

“So now’s the time to watch out for the fighting and mating, and soon for the babies to be out and about. And we are happy to come help out to remove them and place them in a safe natural environment.”

Simon and Siouxsie are available to capture and relocate snakes free of charge whilst filming the series. All filming is done using strict SA Government CoViD-19 guidelines and regulations. The caller, with permission and depending on the conditions of the call-out, may end up in the TV series

The Snakes in the City hotline for snake removals is 063 234 6932.

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New Transcontinental Expedition for Kingsley Holgate Team

New Transcontinental Expedition for Kingsley Holgate Team

With international travel restrictions easing after 20 months of Covid-19 lockdown, South Africa’s renowned Kingsley Holgate exploration team have revealed the launch date for their new, year-long transcontinental expedition.

Called the Defender Transcontinental Expedition and departing on 27 October from Cape Agulhas, it promises to be one of their most challenging geographic and humanitarian journeys to date: a 30,000-kilometre expedition through 30 countries from the southern tip of the African continent to the most northern point of Europe and then on to the mystical Isle of Anglesey in Wales.

“All adventurers will agree, it’s time to move again,” said well-known explorer and author Kingsley Holgate, who, with his experienced team, has already completed 39 gruelling expeditions to every country on the African continent and beyond, many of them world-firsts.

“This expedition has been almost two years in the making and significantly, it will be our 40th since 1992. In April last year, after months of preparation, we were about to set off on a humanitarian ‘journey of purpose’ from the UK to South Africa as part of the global launch of Land Rover’s new Defender. But then, along came Covid-19 and put all those plans on hold. 

“So, optimistically, we decided to turn things around and add even more adventure to the route. This expedition will be the first Hot Cape to Cold Cape journey in recent years from South Africa’s Cape Agulhas to Norway’s Nordkapp in the Arctic Circle, which is the most northern point of Europe that can be reached by vehicle. It will certainly be a world-first for the new Land Rover Defender. 

“That’s just one goal. All our expeditions have the principle of ‘saving and improving lives through adventure’, so we’re keeping the journey-of-purpose theme and right from the start, will conduct humanitarian work to assist 300,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. To offset the expedition’s carbon footprint and help combat climate change, the journey will also be linked to the establishment of spekboom thickets and tree planting along the route.”

From Egypt, the expedition will cross the Mediterranean to Greece and tackle demanding terrain on its northerly journey through Eastern Europe, Russia, Finland and Norway to reach Nordkapp. 

The route then turns south through Sweden, Denmark and Western Europe, before finally crossing the Channel into the UK and ending on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, where human occupation dates to the time of the Druids, and where the first Land Rover design was sketched in the sands of Red Wharf Bay by engineer Maurice Wilks in 1947.

The core Holgate team will be using two expedition-kitted P400 Defenders for the entire journey, with other crew members joining along the way in their own vehicles. The two Defenders are already well-travelled, having completed the Holgate’s 80-day, 16,000-kilometre Mzansi Edge Expedition last year that tracked the entire outline of South Africa, delivering humanitarian aid to remote communities during the height of South Africa’s lockdown.

“We’re not setting out to break speed records on the Hot Cape to Cold Cape section of the journey, so it’s not going to be a straight-line dash,” explained expedition leader Ross Holgate. “We’re going to seek out demanding driving conditions and tough 4x4 routes to reach iconic geographic points of interest and really put the 21st century technical capabilities of the new Defenders through their paces. 

“There are going to be some extreme challenges. The route through central and east Africa will be at the height of the ‘big rains’, so we’re expecting very wet and muddy conditions for days on end. Crossing the dry and hot Sahel and Nubian Desert through the Sudan and into Egypt will also be very testing for both man and machine. There are also geopolitical issues to face, especially in Ethiopia and the Sudan. And then, there is the route through eastern Europe to Norway; that’s going to be an all new, incredibly diverse and stimulating experience for our Africa-based expedition team, whose last transcontinental journey was from Cape Town to Kathmandu in 2018.

“Yes, it’s not an ideal time to travel across the globe but with the entire expedition team now fully vaccinated, we have to do it to get out from under the Covid-19 cloud. So many people in Africa are in desperate need of humanitarian relief and many others are craving a good, old-fashioned Land Rover adventure story after so many months of travel restrictions.”

African symbolism remains a key focus of this latest Holgate expedition. As always, their well-travelled traditional Zulu calabash has prime spot in the Defenders and will collect seawater from where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet at Cape Agulhas, the expedition’s mid-point at Alexandria in Egypt on the Mediterranean, and the Norwegian and Barents Seas at Nordkapp. It will be symbolically emptied into the Irish Sea at the expedition’s endpoint at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, Wales.

Four iconic ‘isivivanes’ (stone cairns) will be built at key points along the expedition route: Cape Agulhas, Alexandria, Nordkapp and Anglesey. 

The expedition will also be carrying a new Scroll of Peace and Goodwill from the southern point of Africa to the northern point of Europe and on to the United Kingdom, which will collect hundreds of messages of support from citizens of 30 countries for a new and more hope-filled post-Covid world.

Follow the expedition on Facebook : KingsleyHolgateFoundation

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Durban Link for European Film Festival - Fernando Pessoa, celebrated Portuguese Poet

Local Durban link to Portuguese film at European Film Festival 

One of the films showing at the 8th European Film Festival,  which is online and free between 14 and 24 October, is the Portuguese film The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis – which has an interesting connection to Durban. 

It’s a beautifully shot black and white film, based on the novel by Jose Saramago, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998. The character - Ricardo Reis -  is a persona created by Fernando Pessoa, and Pessoa's ghost is a central part of the film.  Fernando Pessoa was one of the greatest of Portuguese poets and is, not everybody knows, an alumni of Durban High School – there is a bust of Pessoa in the Durban CBD.

Film Synopsis for The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis: 

Fernando Pessoa, one of the greatest writers of the Portuguese language, established a gigantic parallel universe creating a series of heteronyms to survive his loneliness of genius. Nobel laureate of literature José Saramago wrote this novel about one of these heteronymous characters, Ricardo Reis, a fictitious author, with unique personality and style, who returns to Portugal, after 16 years of exile in Brazil. 1936 is the year of all danger, Mussolini's fascism, Hitler's Nazism, the terrible Spanish civil war and Salazar's Estado Novo in Portugal, but this is all a delicate backcloth to Ricardo's dalliances with women and his mysterious encounters with the ghost of Fernando Pessoa.

"The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis is a unique and magnificent work by José Saramago, but if there is another way of telling this novel, equally unique and magnificent, it is this film unravelling by veteran director João Botelho.Botelho's screenplay and direction is crucially supported by João Ribeiro's beautiful black and white cinematography, fostering a unique aesthetic-narrative construction for the telling of this story.’ . Carolina Alves, C7nema

Reviews

In a perfect filmology of sensations, the small gestures, looks, intimate close shots, tell us of memories, thoughts, and secrets in a visually poetic manner that is transcendent of text or dialogue. Carolina Alves, C7nema

Botelho films exquisitely between light and shadow, with a visual richness reminiscent of the best of French impressionism and a tempo that sways the senses.  Seville Festival

This film adaptation treats characters and circumstances with a solemnity reverent to the Nobel prize-winners book, enveloping the celebration of the word with a framework that is close to meta-language. Marcello Muller, Papo de Cinema

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more on the free online festival of 18 new films and to access the screenings.

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Film and Discussion Event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month



Film and Discussion Event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the moving Irish film The Bright Side, about a stand-up comedian diagnosed with breast cancer, will be screened online and free at the European Film Festival from 14 to 24 October.  In partnership with CANSA, the festival will also host a free online discussion event on 19 October.  

In The Bright Side we see how the main character’s friendships are challenged, softened and open her shut-down heart.  Director of the film Ruth Meehan says ´This film is inspired by a combination of Anne Gildea’s honest and irreverent account of her journey through cancer and my own personal experience of the surprisingly life-enhancing cathartic power of loss and grief. It is dedicated to warrior women everywhere!’

Ruth will feature in a special discussion with local warrior woman Anthea-Lynn Lewis entitled The Bright Side – surviving the journey.  Anthea is a three time breast cancer survivor and Global Hero of Hope now working with children and teenagers as a CANSA TLC (Tough Living with Cancer) coordinator.  Anthea notes: ‘I am all about celebrating life, and living each day to the fullest. I am all about spreading Hope’.

Anthea-Lynn Lewis - a three time breast cancer survivor and Global Hero of Hope now working with children and teenagers as a CANSA TLC (Tough Living with Cancer) coordinator.

The disucssion will be moderated by South African actress, author, film producer and activist Rosie Motene.

Focusing on personal journeys and survival strategies, the discussion will be moderated by South African actress, author, film producer and activist Rosie Motene. This special Live Zoom event takes place at 18.00 on Tuesday 19 October. To watch the discussion, click on the link on the Online Discussions page, and to watch the film click on Films on the website  www.eurofilmfest.co.za .

National Geographic Wild’s Snakes in the City starts filming next season in Durban

It’s heating up and the rains are here... which means snakes are waking up from their winter slumber and are hungrily heading out to forage for food. No need to panic though. Snakes in the City stars, Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett are back in Durban and all set to respond to calls to rescue, remove and relocate snakes as they film the next season of National Geographic Wild’s internationally acclaimed reality series.

After ten months back in the UK, where the couple are based, Simon and Siouxsie are ready to get cracking on this season’s filming. “We love being in South Africa, and with our passion for snakes and reptiles, it is always a delight to be out and about helping to rescue and relocate them. Every day presents us with new adventures and challenges as we go about doing what we love and landing up in some unbelievably strange positions and in unlikely places to find our slithery friends. Most of all we love educating people and changing their attitudes about snakes, showing that they play an important role in the environment. We hope we are saving the reptile population one snake at a time,” they say.

Siouxsie Gillett loves being in SA to film Snakes in the City

“Snakes in the City continues to grow in popularity and we are thrilled that it has such a wide global reach. The diversity of the snake population, harmless, venomous and everything in between, along with the wide variety of locations in Durban, and  Simon and Siouxsie’s quirky, passionate and dedicated approach makes for compelling viewing,” says Graeme Duane, Creative Director: Earth Touch, the Umhlanga-based production house that produces the series. 

Simon Keyes ready for action and back in Durban to film the next season of Snakes in the City

The dynamic team is available to capture and remove snakes from properties in and around the greater Durban area, north to Tongaat, south to Illovo Beach, and inland to Botha’s Hill, subject to availability. The season will be filmed within strict South African government specified Covid-19 guidelines and regulations. There is no charge for a call-out, and the caller, with permission and depending on the conditions of the call-out, may end up on the television series.

If you spot a snake in your home, workplace or neighbourhood, call the Snakes in the City hotline on 063 234 6932.

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EbonyLife and Sony Pictures Television announce ÀLÓ, a brand-new African writers initiative

EBONYLIFE AND SONY PICTURES TELEVISION ANNOUNCE ÀLÓ – A NEW AFRICAN WRITERS INITIATIVE

EbonyLife and Sony Pictures Television (“SPT”) have announced ÀLÓ, a brand-new writers initiative offering a unique platform for writers of African heritage.

The word “ÀLÓ” is from the Yoruba language and translates as ‘once upon a time’. Just like with those words which have opened countless stories for hundreds of years, this is the beginning of an exciting journey to discover the best authentic African story ideas which will inspire and resonate with viewers across the globe.

The ÀLÓ Initiative website will open for fixed periods beginning this Friday (24th) when writers can submit their television scripts and story documents, which will then be reviewed and shortlisted by the ÀLÓ team which is comprised of creative executives from both EbonyLife and SPT. 

Entrants can reside outside Africa but must be of African heritage, born in any of the continent’s fifty-four countries or have proven citizenship as a native of the country, or be first generation children. The initiative is open to professionals, freelancers as well as up-and-coming writers, and there are no limitations to the story ideas or scripts. Any theme or story is welcome, but submissions must pay homage to Africa’s unique cultures, diversity, heritage and people.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to enter into a series pilot development agreement with SPT and EbonyLife under the ÀLÓ Initiative to create and write a pilot script. Once completed, the projects will be pitched to major international broadcasters for their consideration. 

Mo Abudu, Chief Executive Officer, EbonyLife Media, says, "I am really excited about our growing partnership with Sony Pictures Television; from our deal for three scripted series, to our first-look agreement, and now the ÀLÓ Writers’ Initiative. The name of this initiative inspires me, as we chose a word which holds so much personal meaning for me. I am particularly thrilled about the Writers’ Initiative because it is in line with our continent-wide vision to harness and grow our creative economy. It is focused on global storytelling that is authentically African and that gives African writers access to the biggest international broadcasters in the world.  It is a dream come true for me.”

Nina Lederman, EVP Global Scripted Development for Sony Pictures Television, says “The ÀLÓ initiative is born out of SPT and EbonyLife’s shared passion for great storytelling. We know from our many, many conversations developing this initiative with Mo and her team at EbonyLife that there are countless stories from across the African continent yet to be told. We hope that this provides a unique platform to writers of African heritage with a story they want to bring to the world."

The ÀLÓ Initiative will first open for submissions between September 24th and November 5th 2021, with a further six-week period to be confirmed at a later date. Internationally, the initiative it is open to submissions from the US, Canada, the UK and EU, Australia and New Zealand, and Africa. It hopes to expand to include further regions for future submission periods. 

Full terms and conditions and eligibility criteria can be found on the ÀLÓ Initiative website here https://www.alowritersinitiative.com

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About EbonyLife Media

EbonyLife Media, headed by CEO Mo Abudu, is Nigeria’s premium media conglomerate comprising EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films, EbonyLife Studios, EbonyLife Creative Academy and EbonyLife Place (a luxury entertainment resort). EbonyLife Media believes in creating original and inspiring content that showcases a pioneering and progressive Africa. The content is strongly rooted in Africa and connected to a global audience, through a shared identity and common values. EbonyLife Media’s vision is to be the most influential storyteller of a new Africa.

About Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly-owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.

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European Film Festival 2021: virtual and free of charge

Media Release

European Film Festival 2021: virtual and free of charge

Following the success of last year’s virtual European Film Festival, the 2021 edition will take place predominantly online from 14 to 24 October. 

A selection of 18 films from Europe, 13 of which have been directed by women, will be screened free of charge, providing a window onto what is fresh and new in the film industries of the respective countries. Four new participants – the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland and Ukraine – will complement those from last year: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with the return of Portugal.

 This is reflected in the theme of this year’s festival, Healing Journeys.  Healing – be it mental, physical, spiritual or societal – is vital to the human condition, to our humanity, to our existence.  This applies in both South Africa and in Europe, where despite our different contexts and histories, there exists common experience and a mutual need for healing.

 The films on show will present, through the lenses of European filmmakers, a snapshot of experiences of re-establishing oneself after sometimes traumatic and possibly cathartic experiences. They deal with journeys that include organic growth, transition, and processes of self-discovery.  Many include a healthy dose of humour, bringing some possibly much-needed laughter into our lives. Much of the humour is of a more cerebral nature … films that make you smile and think at the same time. 

Essentially, these films present stories of hope, humanity and thought-provoking intrigue, show-casing new work by some of Europe’s most accomplished filmmakers alongside exciting new talent. 

“We are deep into our second year of confronting the threat of Covid-19, both in terms of our lives and our livelihoods. It has been difficult … everyone is affected. This year’s European Film Festival has been inspired by overcoming difficulty and challenge. Its theme, Healing Journeys, seems rather appropriate for our times. I take this opportunity to invite you – irrespective of whether you are a repeat or a first-time viewer –to join us on this year’s exciting cinematic, and healing, journey,” says   EU Ambassador Riina Kionka.

The Films:

Here is a brief look at the 2021 line-up of films, nearly all of which have won awards, with the newer films also certain to do so. 

Austria

A woman needs a new kidney, but is her husband ready to donate?   Michael Kreihsl’s Risks and Side Events is a lively comedy about marriage, hypochondria, friends, architects, secrets, and taking risks.  

Belgium

Jan Verheyen and Lien Willaert’s film Save Sandra is based on the true and highly topical story of a girl diagnosed with a rare muscular disease, and her father’s fierce battle with the pharmaceutical industry to gain access to medical treatment, raising ethical and societal questions in the process.

Czech Republic

Agnieszka Holland’s politically charged drama Charlatan takes us inside the conflicted life of a non-conformist herbalist, exploring his unshakeable commitment to his calling, the illicit relationship with his assistant, as he perseveres first under Nazi then Communist regimes in Czechoslovakia.

Denmark

The 2021 Oscar for Best International Feature Film went to Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, in which four jaded high school teachers embark on a risky experiment to maintain a constant level of intoxication throughout the workday. Mads Mikkelsen is at his scintillating best in this mature blend of comedy, tragedy, and human behaviour. 

France

Starring Gérard Depardieu and Déborah Lukumuena, Robust is an outstanding feature debut by Constance Meyer about an aging film star and a young security guard responsible for watching over him.  Despite their differences, life has shaped them in ways more similar than they thought, and their unlikely friendship becomes a search for authenticity, laden with intrigue and humour. 

Germany

In Mr Bachmann and His Class the ever-patient teacher uses unconventional methods to inspire his young citizens-in-the-making with a sense of curiosity and appreciation of the complex social and cultural realities of their worlds.  Maria Speth’s life-affirming documentary beautifully highlights what a quietly spectacular process education can be.  

Ireland

Ruth Meehan’s The Bright Side is a moving and uplifting story about a stand-up comedian diagnosed with breast cancer.  Armed with cynicism and blackly comic jokes, her exit strategies are upended when she encounters four powerful women whose unsolicited friendships challenge her, soften her and ultimately blow open her shut-down heart.

Italy

On the face of it, the brightly paced comedy Parents vs Influencers, directed by Michela Andreozzi, seems to focus on the world of social media and influencers, but the heart of it is about change and resistance to change. And father-daughter relationships!  And family!

Lithuania

A high-seas jump from a Soviet ship to a US vessel in an attempt for political asylum goes horribly wrong.  About an ordinary man who became a symbol for freedom-seeking refugees everywhere, director Giedrė Žickytė’s The Jump takes us on a stranger-than-fiction journey that reaches all the way up to the White House.  

The Netherlands

Antoinette Beumer’s My Father is an Airplane is about a woman’s poignant search for the puzzle pieces of her past, a journey that raises questions about parental boundaries, the risks and dangers of childhood as well its joys, and of what it means to be loved and understood.  

Poland

Never Gonna Snow Again is writer/ director Malgorzata Szumowska’s exquisitely off-beat story about how a masseur and hypnotist gains acceptance and stature in a wealthy gated community, touching on class, immigration, and global warming. 

Portugal

With magnificent black and white cinematography, João Botelho’s The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis brings to screen José Saramago’s novel about a fictitious author’s homecoming, his romantic dalliances, and his mysterious encounters with the ghost of Fernando Pessoa.  

Spain

Icíar Bollaín’s gem of a romantic comedy Rosa’s Wedding concerns a woman making radical changes in her life, and this includes a surprise wedding, much to the dismay of her family. A film about self-empowerment and gaining independence.

Sweden

Run Uje Run is an biographical music dramedy about the way life takes turns you could never have imagined.  Henrik Schyffert’s directorial debut features musician and actor Uje Brandelius playing himself in this unusual and darkly witty indie drama about appreciating what you have.

Switzerland

Writer-director duo Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond’s, My Little Sister is an intimate, personal tale about sibling love in which a sister gives her all to support her ailing twin brother, and inspires herself at the same time. A powerful look at the bonds both breakable and unbreakable in family. 

Ukraine

Kateryna Gornostai’s Stop-Zemlia anchors its open-ended narrative around an introverted schoolgirl and her classmates in this sympathetic portrait of the tidal forces of teenage-hood. A deeply personal story about self-discovery and the patience it requires.  

United Kingdom

In Aleem Khan’s ground-breaking feature debut After Love, Joanna Scanlan puts in a phenomenal performance as a white, English Muslim convert uncovering secrets after the death of her husband, while exploring complex themes of loss, cultural identity and reconciliation. 

Special Co-Production Presentation 

Oscar nominee Jasmila Žbanić’s  Quo Vadis Aida? is an extraordinary co-production between nine European countries, in which a UN translator is caught between doing her job and trying to help local inhabitants and her own family when the Serbian army takes over the small town of Srebrenica.  

Please note that the films are geo-blocked for viewing in South Africa only.  For film synopses, trailers and how to watch, please visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za

The European Film Festival 2021 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and 17 European embassies and cultural agencies in South Africa:  the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, Diplomatic Representation of Flanders, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut, and Italian Cultural Institut. The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa and coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

India-based Dance Company for JOMBA!

Media Release

JOMBA! Collaborates with India-based The Pickle Dance Foundation

Calcutta-based dance organisation, the Pickle Factory Dance Foundation, will showcase eight especially curated short dance films at this year’s online JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, which takes place online from 24 August to 5 September.

The Pickle Factory makes up the Indian Crossings Platform of the programme and come to JOMBA! thanks to support from the Durban Indian Consulate’s Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre. These films, express an evocative interpretation of the festival’s theme ‘border crossings’, and speak to the zeitgeist of contemporary Indian dance making and its relationship to film and screen.

Their programme titled I m / Material curated, especially for JOMBA! 2021 presents a series of dialogues between the mediums of dance and cinema created by artists from / in India. The dancers and filmmakers negotiate various material and embodied spaces through movement, opening up tensions and textures between natural and man-made environments, elements and expectations. The relationships between the dancing body, the camera and the surrounding contexts are diverse, fluid, and complex - reflective of a country, like India, where socio-cultural borders are never static, and traditional and contemporary sensibilities often occupy the same time/space.

The work has been co-curated for JOMBA! by Vikram Iyengar and Kunal Chakraborty. Iyengar is the Founder and Director of Pickle Factory Dance Foundation and is an arts leader and connector based in Calcutta, India and working internationally. He is a dancer-choreographer-director, curator-presenter, and arts researcher-writer. Chakraborty is a filmmaker who is closely associated with People’s Film Collective, a cultural and socio-political group in Calcutta in various capacities ranging from organizing international film festivals to screening films for children amongst other organisational activities. He is currently the Project Manager for Pickle Factory Dance Foundation.

Dance films include works and collaborations from Lubdhak Chatterjee, Dr Pompi Paul, Hediyeh Azma, Sumedha Bhattacharyya, Preethi Athreya, Sharan Devkar Shankar, Gia Singh Arora and Mukta Nagpal, Bimbavati Devi, Kankana Singh, Suman Sarkar, Souvik Banerjee, Thiyam Maurice, Niharika Senapati, Pippa Samaya, Nikita Maheshwary, Frédéric Lombard and Surjit Nongmeikapam.

Subscribe to the JOMBA! Youtube channel and watch The Pickle Factory films free and online on 4 September at 7pm: https://www.youtube.com/Jomba_Dance

For more information and for the full programme go to: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

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