I heart Market Saturday, 7 September 2024 - Durban

Spring has sprung! This month’s  I heart Market at Northlands Primary School in Durban North, takes place on Saturday 7 September and features the Spring Sale, the second and final sale market of the year.

“If you love shopping for bargains and supporting local makers, this is the market for you—especially if you’re looking to get a head start on your Christmas shopping,” says Tanith Molliere, Manager of the Market. “These sought-after sale events are always well-attended because this is one of only two times a year where our vendors offer their amazing crafts and products at especially discounted prices.”

The I heart Market offers a carefully curated selection of exclusive, innovative, handmade, homemade, and locally designed products. Shoppers can expect to find a broad range of items, including unique crafts, art, fashion, jewellery, homeware, children’s goods, and upcycled treasures. Alongside the shopping experience, visitors can indulge in a mouth-watering array of food in the food court, as well as craft gin and beer in the garden.

“We’re always on the lookout for fresh talent to join our community of creators,” adds Tanith. “We encourage ‘makers’ with unique, self-designed, and locally produced items to connect with us. Whether a jeweller, ceramicist, chef, cook, designer or innovator, this could is an ideal opportunity for makers to introduce news creations at our market.” 

Makers and food vendors can apply to Tanith on this link : https://www.iheartmarket.com/apply/

For those with small children, there is a dedicated play area and a pram park, allowing adults to have a stress-free shopping experience. The School Hall has air conditioning, guaranteeing a comfortable visit rain or shine.  There are also designated areas for parking within the school grounds and precinct monitored by security guards.

-ends

JOMBA! Digital Open Horizons Pick Of The Platform Announced

The 26th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, which is currently running in Durban, announced its JOMBA! Digital Open Horizons “pick of the platform” awards for 2024 on Wednesday 28 August. The programme was screened on the festival’s YouTube Channel and is available for the remainder of the festival until 8 September here

The Digital Open Horizons platform invites digital submissions of original works from new and established dance-makers across Africa. These works which last 3 to 8 minutes, were reviewed by an independent jury and seven selected for this platform at the festival: Lacuna by Louise Coetzer (South Africa, Darkroom Contemporary), Echoes by Femi Adebajo (Nigeria), As the Mountain Stood Still by Dave Gardner/Jacques Batista (South Africa), Internal Struggles by Diana Gaya (Kenya), Yolk by Skyla Buchanan (SA/Cyprus),Moments by Marcia Mzindle (South Africa) and Blue Funk by Louise Coetzer (South Africa, Darkroom Contemporary)

The jury selected Yolk in first place, Echoes in second and Lacuna in third as the “picks of the platform”.

Yolk by Skyla Buchanan (SA/Cyprus)

Yolk was selected in first place for its “innovation, beautiful cinematography and interesting settings as well as its subject matter”. Filmed by Beatrice Mariani, and choreographed, performed, directed and edited by Skyla Buchanan a contemporary trained dancer, practitioner and choreographer working with a multidisciplinary approach to performance. 

Yolk is set against the oppressive heat of summer, and explores the link between womanhood and fertility - where the sense of being a woman is derived from a "bioessentialised" maternal instinct: “A woman with no children is a wasted potential of a womb, wasted space, wasted time, wasted life- the wasted yolk of a fresh egg.”

Echoes by Femi Adebajo (Nigeria),

Nigeria’s Femi Adebajo’s Echoes, performed by Adebajo and Janed Aduayom was awarded second place. This work was selected for its “interesting pace and rhythm as well as its use of location and space and his creation of tension and suspense.”

Adebajo is a creative multidisciplinary artist who focuses on exploring art as a medium of connection to the human mind. 

Echoes provides a creative representation of the concept of pressure and its influence on both the physical bodies and mental states of individuals. It aims to offer a powerful and artistic insight into the human experience, highlighting the effects of pressure and its significance in our lives.

Lacuna choreographed and performed by Mthuthuzeil November, directed by Louise Coetzer

In third place selected for its “wonderful play between dark and light, its use of slow motion and its cinematic sets” was Lacuna choreographed and performed by Mthuthuzeil November, directed by Louise Coetzer with videography: Oscar O'Ryan, and produced by Darkroom Contemporary.

Coetzer is a versatile dance artist also renowned for her multidisciplinary approach to performance art. Lacuna traces the unfilled spaces of the brutalist architecture enveloping the dancer. It is a cinematic study of light and shade, seen and unseen

The Festival offers a range of workshops, talks and performances and runs until 8 September. Tickets are available through Computicket.

All festival information is available on the festival website:  https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

-ends

Honouring Durban’s Wesley Maherry’s 15 years as Production and Technical Manager for JOMBA!

In a surprise citation and award ceremony on the opening night of the 26th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience on Tuesday 27 August, in Durban, the festival’s Technical and Production Manager, Wesley Maherry, was awarded a special citation in recognition of his fifteen years of committed service to the festival.

Wesley Maherry Production and Technical Manager for JOMBA! receiving the citation at the opening of the festival from Lliane Loots Artistic Director/Curator of JOMBA!, and  Ismail Mahomed, the Director of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Photo Val Adamson

“We often forget that live theatre cannot function without deeply motivated, organised and gifted people whose work is to technically serve the vision of the artists and make their work possible on stage. Long hours in dark theatres and endless admin, are some of the challenges. In this environment, the CCA and JOMBA! has been – and is – honoured to have Wesley Maherry in the role of Production and Technical Manager for JOMBA! and all its various offerings”, said Ismail Mahomed, the Director of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

JOMBA! is South Africa’s longest-running and most successful African contemporary dance festival. In 2022, JOMBA! was awarded the National Institute for Humanities & Social Sciences Award for Best Digital Creations. In 2023, JOMBA! received an accolade from Business Arts South Africa for the festival’s outreach and activism work. 

“Wesley’s specialised stage production and digital technology skills underline why JOMBA! remains so highly acclaimed in the creative industries. His work on the online digital delivery of the JOMBA! MASIHMABISANI dialogues and colloquium and, of course, the main JOMBA! festival in both Durban and at our JOMBA! @ The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, is unprecedented. Fifteen years speaks to a deeply committed support of artists and artistic spaces”, says Lliane Loots, the Artistic Director/Curator of JOMBA! “2024 heralds the 15thanniversary year that Wesley Maherry has worked for UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts and the JOMBA! Festival.”

Wesley works at UKZN’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre as a Production Manager. He is part of a very efficient but small team – headed by theatre manager Jackie Cunniffe - that keeps the Sneddon one of eThekwini’s preferred live theatre spaces. He has an undergrad degree in Drama and Performance Studies. In 2024, he graduated with an MA (through UKZN’s Drama Progamme) where he interrogated his lighting design practice with choreographers like Vincent Mantsoe and Lliane Loots. His MA began to look at how dance lighting can respond to the challenges and needs in Africa noting that most of the research around theatre and dance lighting is still only generated from Europe and America.

JOMBA! runs until Sunday 8 September in venues in Durban with a satellite event in Hilton and then goes to the Market Theatre in mid-September.

For more info go to jomba.ukzn.ac.za

-ends

uKhoiKhoi performs with legacy artist Robyn Orlin at JOMBA!

South African live-looping band uKhoiKhoi will be on stage in a dance production by acclaimed choreographer, Robyn Orlin, to be performed for the first time in South Africa at the 2024 JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban, and at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

uKhoiKhoi

uKhoiKhoi, consisting of musician and composer Yogin Sullaphen and vocalist and performing artist Anelisa "Annalyzer" Stuurman, has been composing for and performing in Orlin’s stage productions since 2021. The band, together with dancers from the Johannesburg-based dance company Moving into Dance Mophatong, has toured extensively across Europe with these shows over the past 3 years.

 Orlin, a world-renowned and award-winning South African choreographer, is honoured as the 2024 JOMBA! Legacy Artist at the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts from 27 August to 8 September 2024 in Durban. Orlin’s work “we wear our wheels with pride, we slap your streets with color…we say ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820”, which pays homage to Durban’s rickshaw drivers, will be performed in South Africa for the first time during the 2024 JOMBA! dance festival.

As composers of the music in “we wear our wheels with pride…”, uKhoiKhoi forms an integral part of the performance. On stage, multi-instrumentalist Sullaphen and vocalist Stuurman, known for her blend of indigenous chanting and operatic styles, use a multi-layered approach to create the music with their distinctive Afro-electro sound. In real-time, they seamlessly layer electronic, acoustic and indigenous instruments, together with Stuurman’s vocals, resulting in a dynamic musical experience.

Recently, uKhoiKhoi has also been collaborating with Orlin on another one of her dance productions, “...How in salts desert is it possible to blossom...”, together with the Garage Dance Ensemble from O’Kiep in the Northen Cape. In June this year, they toured with this production across the south of France, with more performances scheduled in Italy and France towards the end of the year. Orlin says, “One day I hope ‘...How in salts desert…’ will also come to South Africa.”

In addition to the international performances with Orlin’s stage productions, uKhoiKhoi has since its formation in 2019 performed across South Africa at festivals, such as Mieliepop and Fête de la Musique, and at other live events.

uKhoiKhoi is currently working on a new album which is scheduled for release in 2025. This is in addition to their debut offering which was a self-titled 3-track EP, released in 2020, followed by their second EP “Nongqawuse”, released in 2022.

About the upcoming performances in Orlin’s dance production at JOMBA!, Stuurman says, “We are excited to perform ‘we wear our wheels with pride…’ for the first time in South Africa after having toured internationally with this production over the past few years. It is an honour for uKhoiKhoi to collaborate with a choreographer of Robyn Orlin’s stature.”

uKhoiKhoi will be on stage in “we wear our wheels with pride…” at JOMBA! in Durban at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on 7 and 8 September 2024, and at a satellite festival at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg on 11 and 12 September 2024.

Tickets for “we wear our wheels with pride…” at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre are available at Computicket, and for the shows at the Market Theatre tickets can be purchased from Webtickets.

-ends

Dancers from Bangalore (India) for this year's JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience

The UKZN Centre for Creative Arts' JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, which takes place from  August 27 to September 8, will feature two exceptional performances from India by the Bangalore-based dancer and choreographer Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy. These performances will be presented both at UKZN, Durban and at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg with the support of the Consulate General of India (Durban & Johannesburg), and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India.

The performances will be at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September, and at JOMBA! @The Market in Johannesburg on 11 and 12 September. These performances are part of a larger contemporary dance programme that includes workshops, panel discussions, and virtual screen dance presentations taking place at various venues in Durban, and followed by a condensed version in Johannesburg.

Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy.

Deepak Shivaswamy, trained in Yoga, and Indian martial art Kalaripayattu  has been developing pedagogy for contemporary dance since 2004. He is a significant figure in contemporary dance, exploring modern Indian identities and its evolving concept of home. His latest double bill, titled "Vasudaiva Kutumbakam," which also features choreographers and dancers Prashant More and Mirra, reflects this journey. The term, which translates to "the world is one family," serves as a guiding principle for his performances at JOMBA!. Shivaswamy explains, “This concept of universal kinship inspires our work, using dance as a universal language to connect and resonate with audiences globally.”

Weight of Time

Deepak Shivaswamy’s first piece, Weight of Time, challenges conventional notions of art's purpose. It invites audiences to let go of expectations and simply be present, savouring the performance as an experience in itself. His second piece, Mycelium Maatu, draws inspiration from the mycelium—a natural network of fungal threads that interconnect in intricate, organic patterns. This concept profoundly influences Shivaswamy’s approach to dance, encouraging a creation that mirrors the mycelium’s interconnected and evolving structure.

Mycelium Maatu

Among the exciting additions to JOMBA! 2024 are opportunities for audiences to engage directly with dancers and choreographers. These include special sessions where attendees can hear from the artists about their creative processes and works. On September 6, Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy will join JOMBA! curator Lliane Loots for an on-stage discussion following his performance, as part of the JOMBA! TALKS DANCE series. This conversation will offer deeper insights into Shivaswamy’s work and creative vision.

On Friday, September 6, Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy, alongside Prashant More and Mirra, will lead a free open workshop titled Aattam Idam: A Place for Playing. Scheduled from 4pm at the UKZN - Howard College Campus Drama and Performance Studies Dance Studio in Durban. This workshop is based on the concept of “PLAY.” It invites participants of all skill levels to explore dance and movement through creative and joyful expression. This is followed by another workshop on September 12 at The Market Theatre.

These workshops are offered free of charge to participants, but booking is essential as places are limited. The workshop is only open to dancers over 16 years. Book with e-mail thobimaphanga@gmail.com.

They will also present a closed workshop with Rudra Dance Company and ParamAtham Dance Theatre in Durban on Saturday 7 September,

Performance timings are 7pm on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, and at 6.30pm on 11 and 12 September at The Market in Johannesburg

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

Booking via COMPUTICKET for Durban, and by WEBTICKETS for Johannesburg.

Green Corridors, ETH Zürich and Kimberly-Clark Collaborate to Tackle “Nappy” Waste Crisis in Durban Informal Settlements

In partnership with Swiss University ETH Zürich and Kimberly-Clark, Green Corridors, the NPO dedicated to environmental and social initiatives in Durban, earlier this year embarked on a groundbreaking project to address the pressing issue of dumped disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) such as panty-liners, wipes and sanitary pads in informal settlements.

Amina Keneta (Supervisor AHP Collections) at Johanna Road informal settlement, shows one of the dedicated AHP bins that has helped to lessen the impact of improperly disposed hygiene products on the community, environment and public health. Pic by Val Adamson

“Disposable AHP’s which are designed to absorb fluid, are made from plastic and other materials, posing a significant environmental challenge due to their non-biodegradable nature,” explains Green Corridors Green Spaces Project Officer, Musa Shange. “Their improper disposal leads to environmental contamination and health hazards, including the spread of diseases. These products, especially nappies, also often cause blockages within sewerage systems, which can result in sewerage overflow and contamination of waterways.” 

This Green Corridors initiative, known as the Inhlanzeko Bin Project aims to pilot an AHP collections system to lessen the impact of improperly disposed hygiene products on the community, environment and public health. The project has been rolled out in Johanna Road and Blackburn Village informal settlements, with trained community liaison officers participating in educating and guiding residents.  In most informal and rural settlements, the ‘normal’ option for nappies disposal by residents is nearby open dumpsites.

Specialized nappy bins have been provided in selected locations, ablution blocks and creches in these settlements. The bins have been managed by the three part time employed community members in each community. They encourage residents to dispose of nappies safely, collect, check and weigh the bagged contents from the bins, and remove the bags to temporary storage containers, for weekly collection by CSW contractors and disposal at registered landfill sites. 

The “nappy” bins are being trialled at the two settlements, and different methodologies for fostering change in disposing behaviour are being tested. This included providing incentives and training community field workers to conduct caregiver meetings, home visits, and creating online caregiver networks.

:Amina Keneta (Supervisor AHP Collections), with Nontuthuko Ncopheni (Field Worker), Martin Mekkattu Master’s student from the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zürich (Switzerland), and Okuhle Mdutshane (former Field Worker in the  Johanna Road Informal Settlement.

Three Swiss Master’s students, supervised by Dr. Marc Kalina from the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zürich, have been responsible for designing and implementing the collection system. The locations for the bins were mapped out by Engineering student Timo Stutz. Another engineering student Dominik Huber, planned and helped design and install the network of bins and their management for his Master’s thesis. While a third Master’s student, Martin Mekkattu, has been responsible for optimising and evaluating the implemented collection system.

As community engagement and education plays pivotal roles in driving behaviour change, the programme has trained local fieldworkers, over a couple of years, who conduct home visits and host meetings to raise awareness about the importance of safe AHP disposal. 

Communication tools such as WhatsApp messages, posters, and videos are being used to reinforce the message and engender personal responsibility.

Results show more than 1,000 kg of AHP waste collected monthly per community, with 93% purity of collected AHP waste.

“While challenges persist in applying integrated and effective waste management systems in Durban’s informal settlements, this Green Corridors project marks a positive step towards mitigating the AHP waste crisis in our informal settlements, alongside drives towards redesign for re-usable AHPs,” says Shange.  “We hope that by providing a well-managed case study with solid data, it lays a foundation for informing future strategies for safe and environmentally-friendly AHP waste disposal.”

For more information or to become involved in the Green Corridors AHP project contact Musa Shange, musa@durbangreencorridor.co.za

 More info about Green Corridors:  https://durbangreencorridor.co.za/

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge Southern Regional Saturday 3 August

A smiling Shayamoya shone at the KZN Southern Regional as they defended their title in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge that took place at King Edward High School in Matatiele on Saturday 3 August.

In a flamboyant display of sensational netball, Shayamoya Area Secondary School dominated from the very first whistle of their nine game path to victory. In the concluding game, they met host school King Edward High School, this is the second year in a row that the two teams have taken each other on in the regional final.

The defending champs took 12 seconds to open up their account in an exhilarating game of aerial onslaughts, exceptional groundwork, thrilling intercepts and sure-fire passes that constantly fed their forwards. The towering and agile attackers, Asiphe Manyaba, Esethu Mbele and Snegugu Gamede had a fantastic day in the circle pocketing 26 goals in the final against King Edward. The local team fought hard against the visitors but only managed to net 6 goals.

Leading up to the final, the Kokstad based school played in seven round robin games, followed by a semi-final and then the all-important regional final. The crowd favourites had a total of 159 goals and only allowed their opponents to slip in a total of 39.

The path to the finals, Shayamoya finished the round robin stage on top of the log with 21 points and seven wins. King Edward ended in second place on 16 points followed by St Monica's Diocesan School and Mthatha High School on 10 points. In the first semi-final Shayamoya met Mthatha where the final score was 17 – 5 to Shayamoya, and in the second semi-final King Edward played neighbouring school, St Monica’s with the home team taking the win 14 –

The next regional heads to St Henry’s Marist College for the Durban Central Regional on Saturday 25 August, followed by the Highway Regional taking place on Saturday 31 August at Hillcrest Hi

Matrics participating in the netball, also have the opportunity of winning a bursary that is valued at R74,000 through eta College in Durban.

Those unable to make it courtside, can catch all the games on SuperSport Schools website or App.

Finals Result

Shayamoya Area Secondary School 26 vs King Edward High School 6

Semi-Finals Results

Shayamoya Area Secondary School 17 vs Mthatha High School 5

Kings Edward High School 14 vs St Monica's Diocesan School 6

Round Robin Results

1 Shayamoya Area Secondary School, 2 King Edward High School, 3 St Monica's Diocesan School, 4 Mthatha High School, 5 Kokstad College, 6 iXopo High School, 7 St Thomas Residential School, 8 Bergview College

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge North Coast Regional

A triumphant host school, Hoërskool Richardsbaai were crowned champions in the North Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge on Saturday 13 July.

The locals met visitors, Empangeni High School’s team in the concluding game of the day.  Empangeni had the centre pass and from the whistle eagerly moved the ball around in the attempt of crafting their first attack, but the savvy home team were wise to their gameplan and intercepted, sending the ball down to their sturdy and steadfast goal shooter, Jané Taljaard who netted the first point of the game 35 seconds in. 

Empangeni didn’t let the early turn around get to them, and whisked the ball to their adventurous Goal Attack, Amanda Shelembe who bravely lofted a 2 pointer that neatly slotted into the net, going a point ahead. The two teams game plan was obvious, Richardsbaai soldiered the ball up quickly to Taljaard who wasted no time firing in her attempt, usually from just under the net. Empangeni were more flamboyant in their play, whizzing passes around the center of their court as their attackers settled up ahead. Once they advanced, they weren’t shy in giving Shelembe the space to try land her looping 2 pointers. 

Going into half time, only one point separated the two, with Richardsbaai being ahead on 7 to Empangeni’s 6 points. In the second half, agile captain for the home side, Anneke Louw ignited her team with four phenomenal aerial intercepts that encouraged her players to change gears. Between Taljaard and Goal Attack, Tiana de Beer for Richardsbaai, they knocked in 6 shots taking their final score up to 13, while Empangeni only managed to net 3 more shots, two of which being magical 2 pointers slipped in by the crack shooter Shelembe, taking their score up to 11 in total. 

This is the third time Empangeni High School has featured in the regional final’s medal game, earning a silver in 2019, and gold in 2022, with an impressive second place this year. While Richardsbaai featured twice, improving on their silver from last year, to hoisting the trophy this year. 

In the third-place game, Eshowe High School took on the second team from Empangeni, with the score finishing on 15 – 13 in favour of Empangeni High. 

The next regional takes place at Creston College on 27 July with teams from the area participating in the South Coast Regional. August has three tournaments, followed by two tournaments in September and the last one wrapping up the year in October. 

For more info like the challenge’s Facebook page sparkznfast5s or follow on Instagram sparkznnetball

Results

1 Hoërskool Richardsbaai, 2 Empangeni High School, 3 Empangeni High School’s Seconds, 4 Eshowe High School

Pool results

Pool A

1 Hoërskool Richardsbaai 12 points; 2 Empangeni High School Seconds 9 points; 3 Tholokuhle High School 6 points; 4 Felixton College 1 point; 5 Eshowe High School Seconds 1 point

Pool B

1 Eshowe High School First 10 points; 2 Empangeni High School 9 points; 3 John Ross College 7 points; 4 Hoërskool Richardsbaai Seconds 3 points; 5 Nkombose High School 0 points

ENDS

France heads to the Durban FilmMart - Africa’s Top Film Industry Event

Durban, South Africa: The Durban FilmMart (DFM) has firmly established itself as one of the most important meeting grounds to conduct the business of film on the African continent. After the renewed and extended co-production agreement between South Africa and France entered into force in 2023, a delegation of 12 film professionals from France and Reunion Island driven by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) will make its way to the DFM, taking place from 19 to 22 July, to network with South African filmmakers and begin discussions around possible co-productions for the future.

“This is a very exciting time for filmmakers, as the benefits of co-productions are really enormous,” says Emmanuelle Denavit-Feller, Regional Head of New Media, Film and Music at IFAS. “The fact that a year after the entry into force of this new agreement, we have some serious conversations taking place, is a testament to the will of the French industry to pursue and develop discussions with the South African audiovisual industry including development organisations, film commissions, government structures, individual producers, and other film professionals, that could help pave the way for future productions.”

“As we know, the business of film creates large, small, and micro business ecosystems that not only support the economy, but it also acts as a holistic driver for growth, inclusivity and capacity building. This initiative aims to help the French delegates to scout, network, and build relationships within the local film industry, fostering cross-country collaboration, co-productions and new shared stories to tell.”

In driving French-South African collaboration forward, the DFM will also host a ‘Co-Production Focus: France’ session that focuses on co-production opportunities and more broadly on the support schemes proposed by France to international players. The panel will comprise of French delegates Rémy Jacquelin, President of Paradoxal, an audiovisual production company, Morad Koufane, Director of International and Young Adult Fiction at France Télévisions, and Céline Leclercq, Head of the Co-production, Cooperation and World Cinema Department at the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), as well as South African industry experts, Terrence Khumalo, Project Monitoring & Evaluation Manager at the NFVF, and Ramadan Suleman, Producer and Founder of Natives at Large.

The delegation will also participate in panels where 20 animation, documentary, and fiction film projects will be pitched to other potential co-producers, sales agents, broadcasters, and film funds at the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum. Here they will give feedback on the public pitches and also take one-on-one meetings with the filmmakers.

“We are really pleased that such a high-level delegation will be representing the French film industry at the DFM,” says Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute. “Over the past 15 years, the DFM  has seen the tangible results of the robust engagement that emanates from the market, and we believe that the delegation will be stimulated by the quality of projects and the stories that are being developed on the continent.”

Additionally, IFAS is supporting pan-African talent through DFM's Jumpstart programme, a dynamic incubator that equips aspiring filmmakers with skills in scriptwriting and project packaging, and aims to empower them to tell their stories with authenticity and impact. This initiative is hosted in collaboration with Produire au Sud, the film industry market of Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, France.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and Institut français in Paris, with IFAS and Alliance française in Durban, as part of a strategy for the international export of cultural and creative industries. It also benefits from the support of the Reunion Island Film Commission.

For more information about IFAS go to www.frenchinstitute.org.za

For more information about the Durban FilmMart go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za

 -ends

IFAS to host High-Level French Film Industry Delegation in South Africa

This July, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) is bringing a highly esteemed delegation of twelve audio-visual professionals from France and the Reunion Island to South Africa under the banner of “New Shared Stories”. This is an endeavour to assist them to scout, network and develop relationships with the local film industry and stimulate cross-country collaboration and co-productions.

“In June 2023, an extended co-production agreement between South Africa and France entered into force. It is a unique agreement for France as it includes audiovisual co-productions. It is designed to encourage the creation of new content and narratives by expanding and stimulating co-productions between the two regions. It is a crucial step forward for new shared stories to be invented and for reciprocal investment and partnership,” says Ambassador of France to South Africa, Mr. David Martinon. 

This delegation follows a successful partnership between IFAS, the NFVF, and IDC which supported a visit of a South African delegation to the Series Mania Forum in France – the biggest series market in Europe, where the outcomes of this focussed effort led to successful business and networking opportunities for future audio-visual collaborations.

“The visit to South Africa has been built on the success of this, and together with local and French partners, we are excited to host twelve professionals who bring with them a variety of interests and expertise,” adds Mr. Martinon. 

In Cape Town, the delegation will visit Cape Town Film Studios, meet industry professionals, visit key locations, and attend the premiere of the film Pierre de Coubertin: An Olympic Life– about French educator Pierre de Coubertin, father of the modern Olympic Games.

Following this, the delegation will visit Durban to attend the Durban FilmMart, the annual business hub of the African film industry, and the Durban International Film Festival which celebrates its 45th edition this year and will also have a French Focus.

At the DFM, the delegation will participate in panels on animation, documentary and fiction film project pitches in the market’s Pitching Forum. In addition they will visit locations, network, and take business meetings with various other South African and African professionals, audiovisual agencies and commissions in attendance at the market.

The delegation includes:

Mounia Aram, who is President of Mounia Aram Company, specializes in entertainment and cultural exchange, develops innovative productions, and manages distribution as an agent.

Mathieu Ageron is the Deputy Managing Director, Co-Founder and Producer of Nolita which produces series, documentaries, dramas, music videos, and films for various platforms and channels.

Lynn Bou Malham is Head of Development of Federation Middle East Africa Caribbean (MEAC) a subsidiary of Federation Studios that creates and generates IPs from these regions, and produces high-end local films, TV series, and documentaries.

Emmanuel Eckert is Deputy Purchasing Director at Mediawan Rights, a leading audiovisual group in France and the second largest in Europe, with almost seventy production companies in 7 territories.

Frédéric Fiore is President of Logical Pictures Group which produces and co-produces, finances, and distributes films, series, documentaries, and commercials in France and internationally.

Michaël Gabrion is Producer at Gaumont Film Company, a French production and distribution company for feature films, television series, and animation programmes founded in 1895.

Benjamin Guéniot is a writer-director from Reunion Island with 15 years' experience of making TV series, commercials and short films in Reunion Island and Madagascar. Since 2023 he has been the founder of Storyto Films, an audiovisual and film production company.

Rémy Jacquelin is President of Paradoxal an audiovisual production company. He was responsible for theatrical distribution, international sales and the financing at Gaumont for ten years, and in charge of acquisitions of feature films and series at TF1 from 2000 to 2012. He joined Malberg Pictures and oversaw programme distribution and co-production and financing.

Morad Koufane is Director of International and Young Adult Fiction at France Télévisions a public broadcasting group, France's No. 1 media company. His unit is responsible for acquiring foreign series, co-producing international series, and producing young adult series for the French market. 

Céline Leclercq is Head of the Co-production, Cooperation and World Cinema Department at CNC (French National Centre for Cinema and Moving Images), a public administrative body responsible for devising and implementing French government policy in the fields of cinema and other moving image arts and industries, in particular audiovisual, video and multimedia, including video games.

Jérémie Palanque is Associate Vice-President and Producer of Woooz Pictures which is particularly interested in creators and stories from the world, through international co-productions.

Abel Vaccaro is a director and a producer from Reunion Island who is currently the managing director of Wopé, a short films, documentary and institutional productions company focused on showcasing content from the island.

IFAS will further be supporting the development of pan-African talent through DFM’s Jumpstart programme, a vital incubator dedicated to providing aspiring filmmakers with essential tools and techniques for scriptwriting and project packaging hosted in partnership with Produire au Sud, the film industry market arm of Festival des 3 Continent, in Nantes France. Four projects from the continent have been selected to benefit from Jumpstart in 2024.

A French focus also features at the Durban International Film Festival, and includes documentaries and films such as Dahomey, All We Imagine as Light, and Four Daughters, co-produced with producers from around the globe.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Institute, with IFAS and Alliance française in Durban as part of a strategy for the international export of cultural and creative industries. It also benefits from the support of the Reunion Island Film Commission.

For more information about IFAS go to www.frenchinstitute.org.za

 For more information about the Durban FilmMart go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za

For more information about the Durban International Film Festival go to https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/

-ends

Creatives Focus on Climate at Durban FilmMart

Durban, South Africa: In a major film industry collaborative effort Climate Story Lab South Africa, Doc Society – Climate Story Unit, STEPS, and the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA) presents the Climate Focus at this year’s Durban FilmMart which takes place from 19 to 22 July.

Climate Focus promises stimulating sessions to seek tangible approaches to communicate the climate-crisis through film with panel discussions, hands-on dialogues around potential impact strategies to effect change through film, brainstorming sessions, and networking opportunities for film industry participants creating content for this secto

Emily Wanja, who is Director of African Programmes at Doc Society - Climate Story Unit, says, “This climate focus at DFM is part of Climate Story Unit’s commitment to support transformative storytelling that advances a climate just and biodiverse future by storytellers, impact producers, and movement builders. Collectively we can envision, experiment and share how an abundant world for all could look like. DFM provides an opportunity to strengthen partnerships across the information ecosystem on the continent for this work to thrive.”

Filmmakers and activists, in an invigorating panel titled Don’t Stop Talking About Climate Chaos! discuss the role creatives play in sounding the alarm on the climate crisis, and inspiring effective action, including the building of African climate movements. Nasreen Al Amin (Climate Story Lab Lagos), Kudzayi Ngwerume (UMI Fund), Pete Murimi (BBC Africa Eye), Simeon Letoole  (Human Rights Activist) and Kumi Naidoo on video (Activist and former Director of Greenpeace) feature with moderators Anita Khanna (Human Rights Media Trust/Uhuru Productions) and Emily Wanja (Doc Society - Climate Story Unit).

In the session titled Partnerships and Pathways to Reach Audiences, the need for collective focus and political will to effectively address climate change is unpacked and paralleled with the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa, where miscommunication, denialism, and fake news hindered efforts to change behaviour and create impactful solutions. The progress in reducing HIV/AIDS-related deaths was achieved through collective efforts. The panel will address how the climate crisis needs a similar collective effort from all sectors including filmmakers through innovative partnerships with funders, broadcasters, and alternative distribution models, decentralised to unlock impactful audience reach.

Nadine Cloete (NFVF), James Smart (Nation Media Group), Pete Murimi (BBC Africa Eye), Noel Kok (NEWF), Nonto Sibanyoni (Sunshine Cinema), Theresa Hill/Tiny Mungwe (STEPS) and Cindy Makandi (Tunga Afrika) feature here with Miki Redelinghuys (Climate Story Lab ZA) as moderator.

In practical tool-kit styled approach the session Impact Strategy in Action, aims to equip impact producers with the insights necessary to create effective impact strategies. The panel will explore key issues such as identifying target audiences, setting measurable goals, leveraging partnerships, and maximising impact through media and outreach efforts.

Tiny Mungwe (STEPS) moderates this session which features Emily Wanja (Thank You For The Rain Impact Producer), Rumbi Katedza (Transactions Director) and Anita Khanna (Temperature Rising Co-Director).

Well-known impact producers and strategists Liani Maasdorp (Climate Story Lab ZA), Emily Wanja  (Doc Society), Nasreen Al Amin (Climate Story Lab Lagos) and Tiny Mungwe feature on the panel in the Impact Hackathon moderated by Miriam Ayoo (Global Impact Producers Alliance). Here one of the Africa Labs Showcase projects which has been working with mentors during the DFM, will participate in a high-energy, interactive session to unpack the impact potential of the film.

Aspiring impact producers will also have an opportunity to connect with GIPA members at a session at the DFM, to find out more about joining GIPA which nurtures the work of the unique, often overlooked, but powerful community of impact producers.

In a practical session Who’s Watching Our Films?  Alternative Distribution Mapping, Doc Society - Climate Story Unit, CSL ZA, STEPS, DOCA, TUNGA Afrika partner in a session moderated by Cindy Makandi (Tunga Afrika) to ignite an initiative they have started to help film industry professionals to unlock both existing, new and effective distribution pathways to ensure stories reach the people they are meant for. In this session they will map out alternative distribution avenues that extend beyond conventional routes. The goal is to create an open-source model that filmmakers can use to discover viable distribution partners across the continent.

Award-winning impact producer Anita Khanna, (Uhuru Productions), says, “It's shocking how little attention is being given to the biggest threat humanity has ever faced, but we know as activists that this is often because people face many challenges that are more immediate to them. If we can use our artistry and our campaigns to, at the very least, keep people fully informed of what the climate emergency means to them, and at most, get people motivated to organise around climate demands, then we will see some serious movement. It's a thing that artists have done in the past, around vital social matters, we need to be doing it now, on steroids.”

For more information about the Climate Focus at DFM in Durban go to https://climatestorylabza.org/dfm-2024/

For more information on the DFM go to https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/

-ends

Compelling Line-Up of Films for Encounters South African International Documentary Festival

The 26th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, which takes place in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 20 to 30 June, features a compelling line-up of films from around the globe that promise to spark debate, stimulate conversations, and shed new light on controversial subject matter.

From the Congo to Kenya, USA and Europe, Lebanon to Japan with gripping tales of resilience to thought-provoking explorations of contemporary issues, these films reveal a rich tapestry of global storytelling and celebrate the power of documentary cinema to inspire, inform, and ignite change.

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État

The multiple award-winning Soundtrack to a Coup d'État, is a riveting documentary that delves into the complex relationship between music and political upheaval. Directed by Johan Grimonprez (Belgium/France/The Netherlands) jazz and politics are intertwined in this depiction of murky international interference in decolonisation and the Cold War.  It’s 1960 and against the background of jazz sounds of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Nina Simone, a wave of decolonisation movements tear through Africa, and the struggle for civil rights marches on in the USA. Beat by beat, Grimonprez traces Patrice Lumumba’s rise to become Congo’s first democratically elected prime minister—and the meddling forces that conspired his assassination. Deeply researched, the film interweaves archival records, home movies, unheard speeches by Lumumba, and memoirs by Congolese activists and writers with the story of the Black jazz legends who defined the era. Pulsating with the energy of the period, this masterpiece of documentary filmmaking is a chilling indictment of the colonial impact on Africa. 

Moving to East Africa and keeping with the thread of international interference, the Kenyan film Our Land, Our Freedom directed by Zippy Kimundu, is a highly charged conversation about stolen land that follows a woman’s attempt to reclaim ancestral land. What begins as a search for her father’s remains soon turns into a tense national issue surrounding British colonialism, freedom fighters, and an unjust reality. It is pure grit, determination, and a genuine love for her people that keeps her going, pushing her to provide for those who did so much for her country yet received so little reward for their sacrifice. 

Black Box Diaries 

Of particular interest are two fascinating films from Japan: In a raw, riveting, and singular work, playing like a procedural thriller for social media, Black Box Diaries (Japan/USA/UK) directed by journalist Shiori Itō bravely investigates a case of sexual violence perpetrated against her—to bring her powerful, politically connected assailant to justice. As she pieces together evidence, she exposes the paralyzing roots of patriarchy in Japan. Her brave story is a reminder of how far the world still has to go in believing women, and the trauma of survivors. Her quest results in a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's outdated judicial and societal systems. The film won the Human Rights Award at CPH:DOX in Denmark.

Johatsu – Into Thin Air

Then the beautifully photographed film - Johatsu – Into Thin Air directed by Andreas Hartmann and Arata Mori explores the phenomenon of people who disappear known as Johatsu or “the evaporated” in Japan where around 80,000 people vanish every year. Most are found or return home but thousands simply disappear. We meet people who have chosen to do this and those looking for them, as well as the people who help them so they can reset their lives in places where no one knows them. Johatsu provides an intimate window into the lives of those who have decided, for one desperate reason or another, that they need to start anew.

Hollywoodgate

In true “eyes-on-the-ground” and breathtakingly edgy filmmaking, Egyptian director Ibrahim Nash'at scores a major coup in Hollywoodgate (Germany/USA) when he is granted permission to document the transition of Afghanistan to Taliban rule after the US withdrawal in 2021. The Taliban took over one of the USA’s CIA bases with infrastructure of containers bearing the name "Hollywood Gate" filled with weapons enabling them to equip a new combat unit. Over a year, Nash'at follows the development of this unit and provides an authentic inside glimpse into the Taliban's rapid rise to power. 

Encounter screens “two must see” films that audiences might have missed:

Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano

Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, directed by Cyril Aris (Germany/Lebanon), is a heartwarming and lucid documentary. After a massive explosion devastated the port in Beirut in August 2020, a determined crew of filmmakers continued their project in an effort of resistance. Amidst the city's destruction and an economic crisis during COVID-19, this family of artists finds meaning and purpose through the transformative power of cinema.

The Mother of All Lies

The Mother of All Lies (Morocco/Egypt) is a poetic, captivating, and cathartic exploration of the lies and memories of director Asmae El Moudir’s family, surrounding the Casablanca Bread Riots of 1981. The period of repression known in Morocco as the “Years of Lead” is hardly discussed. Narratives of trauma, loss, and love are recovered here through exquisite re-enactments played by handmade figurines, sculpted by El Moudir’s father and dressed by her mother, placed in a scale model of her neighbourhood.

Cinemas that will screen the 2024 Encounters’ line-up:

In Cape Town - Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, The Labia Theatre

In Johannesburg - The Zone @ Rosebank, The Bioscope Independent Cinema 

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

Encounters is Supported and Funded by: 

The City of Cape Town, Bertha Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, the University of Cape Town and the Centre for Film and Media Studies, Mail and Guardian (Media Partner), Al Jazeera Documentary, UWC The Centre for Humanities Research, Known Associates, Refinery, Institute Francais, Goethe-Institut of South Africa, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Heineken Beverages, DOK.fest Munich, German Films, Documentary Filmmakers Association, South African Guild of Editors, anima, Pressure Cooker Studio.

-ends

Joy Sapieka - Joy Sapieka & Associates 

joyls@mweb.co.za 

joysapieka0@gmail.com 

Sharlene Versfeld 

sharlene@versfeld.co.za 

JOMBA! dance residency 2024

A new residency that focuses on the development of young women in dance has been announced as an exciting new addition to the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience which takes place in Durban from 27 August to 8 September 2024.  The 7-day residency runs during the festival and aims to encourage and support women in dance. 

“Over the years we have observed that there are fewer female dancers working professionally in the contemporary dance space, and so we identified a strong need for more female-focused dance development to be done in Durban,” explains Dr Lliane Loots, Artistic Director of JOMBA!, which is hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN).

This year the residency offers space for 6 female dancers aged between 18 and 30 years who have some dance training and now seek to push their skills and make their mark in the dance world as professionals. 

The JOMBA! residency will be led by Gaby Saranouffi (Madagascar/South Africa). Pic Val Adamson

The JOMBA! residency, led by Gaby Saranouffi (Madagascar/South Africa), will focus on further developing the dancers’ technical abilities, as well as include workshops around forging a professional image and work ethic that will aid in preparing these young dance professionals for future work opportunities.  The dancers-in-residence will have access to the full festival programme and have the opportunity to meet and engage with professional companies that are visiting the festival.

The selection process will be done through auditions in the form of a contemporary dance class with some improvisation on Saturday 6 July at 10am at the Flatfoot Dance Studio (UKZN). Dancers-in-residence will be expected to be available for the full 7-day duration (26 August – 1 September 2024) with the outcomes of the residency presented at the JOMBA! YOUTH OPEN HORIZONS platform on Sunday 1 September 2024.

There are selection criteria that include that dancers must be older than 18 years of age, and must reside in eThekwini (Durban) or surrounds. While the residency and festival are offered free of charge to those who are successfully selected, participants must supply their own transport and food needs.

To apply send a (no longer than) two-page CV to Thobile Maphanga: thobimaphanga@gmail.com by Monday 24 June by 4pm.

For full details of criteria, what is required on the CV and more info about the process go to https://bit.ly/JOMBAResidency2024

 -ends

Creatives Collaborate in Third Space for local audiences and National Arts Festival

The National Arts Festival (NAF) and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) with The Embassy of France to South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, present Third Space, a series of collaborative creative dance artworks at this year’s festival that celebrates its 50th edition from 20 to 30 June 2024.

Mozambican choreographer Janet Mulapha working with FATC

The project involves creative residencies accompanied by a series of workshops hosted by local arts organisations and guest choreographers, scenographers, and dancers, within three communities in Duncan Village in Eastern Cape, George in the Western Cape, and Emakhazeni in Mpumalanga.

“The project is an endeavour to renew audience interest- and stimulate dance-makers' creativity in the contemporary dance space in South Africa, while investing in high artistic values, facilitating cultural exchange between African countries and ultimately supporting local artists in rural and peri-urban areas” says Sophie Boulé, cultural attaché and deputy director at IFAS.

She adds, “contemporary dance is a sector of excellence in South Africa that is well recognized in France and has been supported by IFAS for nearly thirty years.”

The three new dance creations coming out of these residencies will be showcased first within the local communities, then at the National Arts Festival in June 2024 as part of the curated programme, with plans to help facilitate these being presented in other African countries, as well as marketed to international festivals.

“The Third Space is the possibility for something new to emerge, it’s a space for meetings  across social groups and function, it's about being and making together,” explains NAF Artistic Director Rucera Seethal. “As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of the National Arts Festival, in the 30th year of democracy, our Third Space project is an opportunity for us to take stock of where we are, create works from unlikely encounters, and take bold steps together which hopefully ring loud during but also far beyond this year’s Festival”.

Built on this concept, the Third Space Project brings together three arts organisations in South African communities to collaborate with African choreographers and set designers in creating a work: Gompo Community Arts Centre (East London), KUBU Collective (George) and Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (Emakhazeni).

Gompo Community Arts Centre in a the new dance work “Golden City”

Coming out of the Gompo Community Arts Centre, the new dance work “Golden City” is choreographed by Mozambique’s Panaibra Gabriel Canda, one of the most influential choreographers in Africa with over 25 years of international experience.  He works with scenographer Elton Rafael David, a practising photographer and Digital Media Creative also from Mozambique, as well as the young and talented South African visual artist Bahle Menziwa, from Duncan Village.  These three artists have created a new work with Gompo Arts Centre affiliated dancers Yonela Tana Gobingca, Phumzile Zakaza, Simvuyele “SimzADV” Hala Kamva Muti, Owen King, Unathi Xenti, Nosphiwo “Nickita” Kungeka and Sibongile “Queen Bee” Stevens.  

KUBU Collective - Lilian Maximillian Nabaggala (Choreographer), Jaime-Lee Hine, Amy-Kay Klassen and Lynette du Plessis (Front)

From George in the Western Cape, new dance work “Bond-Edge” features creatives and dancers from the KUBU COLLECTIVE working at The Market Community Theatre under the facilitation of local creative producer Heloïne Armstrong. The Collective is a multidisciplinary creative ensemble of performance and visual artists, writers, theatre-makers, technicians, and arts administrators. Ugandan choreographer and 2022 Pina Bausch Fellow, Lilian Maximillian Nabaggala, and Tanzanian multidisciplinary scenographer, digital artist, and Prince Claus mentorship award recipient, Arafa C Hamadi have been working with . The KUBU COLLECTIVE dancers Lynette Du Plessis, Jaime-Lee Hine and Amy-Kay Klassen on this new production.

FATC in rehearsal for their new dance work “In(Visible)”

The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative is an independent dance company based at the Ebhudlweni arts centre in Emakhazeni, Mpumalanga. Dancers from the company Kaldi Makutike, Promise Mosoma, and Promise Magopa have worked with Mozambican choreographer Janet Mulapha and South African Jenni-Lee Crew to create the new dance work “In(Visible)”.  From Mozambique, Mulapha has an international profile as well as a long relationship with the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative, while South African scenographer Jenni-Lee Crewe, is currently a senior lecturer in scenography at the Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies at the University of Cape Town.  

Dates for the local performances are:

KUBU COLLECTIVE: George – 1 June at 7pm. . For more info contact Heloïne Armstrong - heloinearmstrong@gmail.com

FATC: Emakhazeni – 9 June at 1pm. For more info contact  Tshego Khutsoane - tshego@forgottenangle.co.za

GOMPO: Duncan Village –23 June 1pm.  For more info contact Wandile Ntlanganiso - wandilefinearts@gmail.com

Dates for National Arts Festival are:

The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative -  20 and 21 June

Gompo Community Arts Centre – 27 and 28 June

KUBU COLLECTIVE – 29 and 30 June

Show times and bookings for all three shows at the Festival can be made at https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en?title=&programme_type_id=10&genre_id=&date=

Hard-hitting SA documentary MOTHER CITY to open Encounters 2024

Encounters South African International Documentary Festival renowned for its commitment to showcasing diverse voices, insightful perspectives, and compelling narratives has announced the South African film Mother City directed by Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert as the opening film in a line-up of local, African, and international films that are making waves or garnered critical acclaim at festivals worldwide. The fest takes place at venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 20 to 30 June 2024.

Sparking transformation, the beautifully observed film, Mother City is a deeply human and often heart-breaking look at the politics of urbanism. The filmmakers follow activists of the Reclaim the City movement over six years as they make Cape Town’s abandoned spaces their home, and use it as a base from which to lobby for the needs of the working class.

In a classic David versus Goliath battle between passionate activists and politics and property power, Nkosikhona (Face) Swartbooi and his peers take to the streets, the courts, the fancy dinner functions, parliament and the homes of the people in power to get their voices heard. They travel to Barcelona to meet the Mayor who has successfully turned Barcelona’s housing crisis around, searching for solutions to the ever-growing housing crisis in Cape Town.

The film offers an opportunity to walk in the shoes of the oppressed and dispossessed, to understand the real struggle for people needing homes closer to work, education, and recreation and are not simply banished to the outskirts of urban areas. It grapples with the rights for access, and fairness to be able to actively participate in an urban economy. It lays bare the struggles of people who are often vilified and “othered” for trying to rightfully claim a space to live with their families. 

“Mother City has been selected as our opening film, as it represents the heart of what documentary film-making is about,” says Festival Director Mandisa Zitha. “Dedicated, tenacious, and vociferous in its approach to following a group of activists over a long period, to capture their challenges and frustrations, and indeed their successes. It speaks to the power of film in exposing the arduous journey so many in this world have to embark on to effect change. It is also a universally powerful story of the triumph of the collective.” 

“I have always thought of Mother City as a love letter to the city I call home and love very deeply,” explains Miki Redelinghuys (Plexis Films) documentary filmmaker and impact producer. “But love can also be painful in as much as it is beautiful. This film is an expression of many diverse lives observed through our lens and we hope our audience leaves inspired with a vision for building a shared democratic South Africa. We are extremely grateful that we have been able to share this story.”

Pearlie Joubert, acclaimed investigative journalist who’s spent years as a news producer for ITV, Sky News and the BBC adds, "When Miki and I started filming Mother City, we dreamt that our film would shift permanently, the way one million visitors to Cape Town see this city and her policies. Now so many years later, we have only witnessed how politicians and property developers have formed and cemented an impenetrable wall keeping the poor out and away. Mother City is our ode to how “gatvol” we are of this status quo."

Mother City is produced by Kethiwe Ngcobo, Pearlie Joubert, and Miki Redelinghuys and will have its World Premiere at the Sheffield Doc Fest in the UK in June before its African premiere at Encounters on 20 June.

The following cinemas will be screening the 2024 Encounters’ line-up:

In Cape Town - Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, The Labia Theatre

In Johannesburg - Ster-Kinekor Rosebank Nouveau, The Bioscope Independent Cinema 

Encounters is Supported and Funded by: City of Cape Town, Bertha Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa,  University of Cape Town and the Centre for Film and Media Studies, Mail and Guardian(Media Partner), Al Jazeera Documentary, Known Associates, Refinery, Goethe-Institut, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Heineken Beverages,  Documentary Filmmakers Association, German Films, South African Guild of Editors, anima, Pressure Cooker Studio

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

-ends

Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge Is your team up for a Challege? Durban: Sunday 23 June

Clubs, organisations, schools or corporates keen to walk or run in the Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge still have time to enter a team for this year’s event that takes place on Sunday 23 June, finishing on the Hollywood Bets Kings Park Stadium’s outer fields.

Bulk entries for the challenge close at midnight on Friday 7 June, with individual online entries closing as the clock strikes 12 on Sunday 16 June. Teams entering 10 or more people, will need to touch base with the Race Office to get instructions by emailing the Race Office on kzn@spar.run.

There is a special day organised specifically for bulk entry collections where the "head prefect" or team leader can go along and collect their crews race packs on Thursday 20 June.

For more info visit the race’s website, www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban

ENDS

I heart Market Saturday 1 June: 9am - 2pm Northlands Primary School, Durban North

Even though Durban barely has a winter, it’s time to stock up on those winter woollies, delicious comfort foods and holiday treats at the stylish artisanal I heart Market, on Saturday, 1 June, 2024, from 9am to 2pm at Northlands Primary School, Durban North.

This popular market, is a creative retail space where passion meets purpose. Here KZN “makers” come together to showcase their craft in a meticulously curated celebration of creativity, offering an array of exclusive, premium goods crafted by passionate individuals across various disciplines. 

“Think once off collections, small batches, and one-of-a-kind treasures you won't find in big malls - delicious artisan food, funky clothing, jewellery, kids clothing, doggie treats or couture.” says the manager of the market, Tanith Molliere.

“We pride ourselves in providing a platform for meaningful connections. Chat directly with the makers, get to know the stories behind their brands, and talk about new ideas and inspirations. So as customers meander through the stalls and invest in one-of-a-kind treasures, they can take pride in knowing that their support fuels the growth of our talented local creative community.”

Moliere and her Market team are passionate about developing and uplifting the local creative scene and entrepreneurs, and invite entrepreneurs who are launching a small, creative business, but are a little nervous to go full scale, to consider trading at the Market. Makers and Food Vendors can apply here: https://www.iheartmarket.com/apply/

There is a dedicated play area for small children, and a pram park, allowing adults to have a stress-free retail experience. The School Hall has air conditioning, guaranteeing a comfortable visit rain or shine.

There are areas for parking within the school grounds and the precinct is monitored by security guards.

For further details email info@iheartmkt.com.

-ends

Celebrating Africa Month with Zoetheseed Luthuli Museum, Groutville Friday 24 May

Celebrated Durban songstress Zoetheseed is set to wow audiences this Africa Month with a live concert at the Luthuli Museum, Groutville on Friday 24 May at 7pm.

The concert is presented by Concerts SA in collaboration with iSupport Creative Business, with funding support from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (South Africa) - Mzansi Golden Economy, as part of ‘30 years of Democracy: A Celebration of African Music and Heritage’, a live music concert series with the underlying philosophy of Ubuntu, ‘I am because you are; you are because I am’.

Durban-based Zoetheseed, who trained at the world-renowned Music Department of the University of KwaZulu Natal, is a professional vocalist, composer and songwriter, and music educator.

Hailing from a Swazi background this dynamic performer incorporates her mother tongue in her original songs, and has performed with some local and international jazz great including SAMA award-winning Nduduzo Makhathini (RSA), Salim Washington (USA), Andile Yenana (RSA), Ernest Dawkins (USA), Neil Gonsalves (RSA). She has also participated in many festivals including  the Joy of Jazz, Essence Festival, Durban Jazz Festival and Imbokodo Jazz Festival.

“My inspiration to perform comes from incredible female vocalists like Gloria Bosman, ma’am Busi Mhlongo, Sibongile Khumalo and Rachelle Ferrell,” enthuses Zoetheseed who has also had the opportunity to be a drummer in the popular all female jazz band Heels Over Head that was nominated for the MTN 2011 SAMA awards, for best jazz album.

Dr. Salim Washington (USA) described her as having a “beautiful sound and energy” and that her “voice has the clarity and power of such superstars as Celia Cruz and Clementina De Jesus, Aretha Franklin, but not really like any of them,definitely her own sound.”

Catch Zoetheseed in concert at the Luthuli Museum, Groutville. Doors open at 6pm and the concert begins at 7pm. Tickets are R50  available on Webtickets or at the door.

For more information contact info@isupportdoyou.com

-ends

Jazz, Music and Dance in Celebration of Africa Month at Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

Concerts SA in collaboration with Zimboni and iSupport Creative Business presents Afro-Jazz band Bantu's Clef, which headline a night of music along with guest performers Ikusasa Lethu at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music University of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday 29 May as part of Africa Month celebrations.

The concert is funded by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (South Africa) - Mzansi Golden Economy, as part of ‘30 years of Democracy: A Celebration of African Music and Heritage’.

Bantu's Clef

Hailing from a dynamic musical crossroads, Bantu's Clef weaves together the rich tapestry of Afro-Jazz. Led by the masterful Mozambican guitarist Milton Chissano and the soulful South African tenor saxophonist Leon Scharnick, the band brings a unique sound that is both deeply rooted in tradition and invigoratingly fresh.

Their music is a captivating exploration of Bantu rhythms, the lifeblood of sub-Saharan African music. These infectious grooves form the foundation upon which Chissano and Scharnick, along with their band members, Doc Vezi on electric bass and José Albert Chemane on drums, layer improvisational flourishes and sophisticated harmonies, all expressed through the universal language of Jazz.

Expect a riveting performance featuring a blend of original compositions, where the band pushes the boundaries of the genre, alongside treasured works by Mozambican and South African composers. Bantu's Clef promises a journey that will transport you to the heart of Africa, all while keeping you on the cutting edge of contemporary Jazz.

Ikusasa Lethu 

Vibrant dance and music ensemble Ikusasa Lethu founded by Dr Patricia Opondo, is comprised of African Music and Dance students from UKZN. This dynamic group that has the pulse of the country running through its blood, has captivated global audiences wherever they have performed or conducted workshops including in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Seychelles, Thailand, Uganda, and of course right at home in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Grahamstown, and East London.

Tickets are R110, R80 (pensioners) and R50 (students) and can be booked through Webtickets or through zamat1@ukzn.ac.za. Doors open at 5pm and concert starts at 5.30pm.

For more information contact info@isupportdoyou.com

-ends

Busiswa, Kings of the Weekend and The Kickstands for Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium: Sunday 23 June

Save some energy to celebrate in the finishing area at Hollywood Bets Kings Park Stadium outer fields, after participating in this year’s Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge on Sunday 23 June.

SPAR KZN has organised a fantastic line up of entertainment for runners with three acts penned to perform – dynamic duo The Kickstands, songstress Busiswa and Kings of the Weekend DJs SPHEctacula and Naves.

The Kickstands

Kicking off the after-race merriments, The Kickstands take to the stage with the dynamic duo of lead singer Ross Charles and lead guitarist Josh Swanson. Their infectious vibes have been tearing up stages since 2010, and they are renown as a top-notch opening act having warmed up the crowd for many a major act. The Kickstands covers a multitude of genres from Funk, Soul, Classic Rock to Folk.

Busiswa

Featuring after the local ban is songstress Busiswa. Hailing from the Eastern Cape, the singer, songwriter and performer combines her poetry with energising, irresistible beats. Making musical waves both at home and across the borders, she has collaborated with both African and American musicians, including American singer Beyonce Knowles Carter on the song My Power from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack. Her tracks have featured in hits like the Black Panther and "Lahla" was used in the American dance film Honey 3.

Kings of the Weekend

Wrapping up the event, Kings of the Weekend will rock out the festivities. Comprising of DJs SPHEctacula and Naves, the two performers are rumoured to be party starters and huge crowd pullers. Their beats will begin shortly after the much-anticipated lucky draw give away.

To enter and be a part of this year’s SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, visit www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban/

 ENDS