Flatfoot Dance Company presents the Third Annual Summer Dance School this December

Media Release

Flatfoot Dance Company presents the Third Annual Summer Dance School this December

Flatfoot Dance Company is opening its doors again for their annual Summer Dance School. The three day intensive programme will take place from 10 to 12 December 2015 at their studios based on the Howard College Campus of UKZN starting at 9.30am each day.

The Summer School is aimed at pushing technical dance skills in the contemporary idiom and allowing dancers (still training and professional) to work in an environment with skilled choreographers, teachers and workshop facilitators. The training will use FLATFOOT’s own ‘African Release Technique’ that is a confluence of Graham, Hawkins, Horton and the American Skinner Release Techniques. “This is a chance for dancers to have great fun, get fit and open themselves up to a life changing dance experience.” says Lliane Loots, Artistic Director of Flatfoot Dance Company. The school is open for ages 12 up-wards and all levels of ability. Certificates of participation will be issued at the end of the programme.

 There are two levels of participation in the programme: A full three day programme from 9.30am to 3pm which costs R500 per person and a three mornings only technique class from 9.30am to 11.15am is R300 per person.

For bookings contact Clare Craighead on 0828756065 or email Flatfootdancecompany@gmail.com to secure a spot.  Payment must be made by Monday 7th December 2015.

Spaces are limited hence early bookings are advised. For more information and the programme visit www.flatfootdancecompany.webs.com,  follow @flatfootdanceco on twitter and like our pageonwww.facebook.com/flatfootdancecompany/

-Ends

African Art Centre Christmas Exhibition

Media Release 

African Art Centre Christmas Exhibition

The much-anticipated annual Christmas Exhibition showcasing the handmade beadwork, embroidery, telephone wire, clay and wood decorations of the African Art Centre opens on Thursday 29 October. 

This exhibition fulfils the Centre’s mission to facilitate innovative products through creative skills development initiatives which enable local crafters to generate sustainable income through their art. The African Art Centre development projects enhance the existing skills of crafters residing in urban, peri-urban and rural KwaZulu Natal communities, and bring to public attention the wares of new emerging talent.  This year the Centre presents exciting new work by young creatives currently being trained through the African Art Centre’s outreach Velobala Jewellery Design classes.  Weaving in telephone wire for the first time, Wonder Msane, Phumlani Mbhele and Phumlani Madela have produced a range of ornaments in the formation of stars, hearts and angels executed in specified colour combinations.

“We are thrilled to see young people absorb new skills so creatively!,” says assistant director, Nozipho Zulu.

The telephone wire decorations will be available alongside the beaded, embroidered and wood decorations produced by well-known African Art Centre crafters; Happiness Dladla, Dumsile Mathe, Thokozane Mathe, Agnes Mthembu, Mavis Jali, Augnatia Khanyile, Tholani Mchunu, Hlengiwe Mbhele, Mbaliyethu Mabuza, Ntokozo Mseleku, Mbaliyethu Mabuza and Sbusiso Maphumulo.  A wide range of products have resulted through a series of workshops facilitated by Leonie Malherbe, Busi Shinga and Nozipho Zulu. 

Hit the beach with African style

A novel feature at this year’s exhibition are uniquely African-designed beach towels, the result of a partnership between Mr Price Home and four African Art Centre artists,  Sibusiso Duma, Nonotobeko Jilajila, Mbali Mabuza and Timothy Mlambo.  The beach towels represent the varied skills of the artists; Timothy is the wood carver and creates wonderful mythical creatures, Sibusiso produces intricate paintings done in the pointillism style, Nonotobeko creates wonderful lino cut prints and Mbali is a deft hand at applique embroidery.

Early this year Mr Price Home hosted a workshop with the artists and a Mr Price Home designer. The artists produced their artworks which were adapted by the designer to suit the manufacturing restrictions of towel weaving.  

“Championing great design is important to us; it is who we are and what we do at MRP Home. This Colab under the auspices of our “Design doing Good’ program, will see a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every beach towel, being donated back to the African Art Centre in order to facilitate emerging artist development,” says Mr Price Home Merchandise Director, Yanni Vosloo.

This new range will be in Mr Price Home stores from the 12 November.

Music by Madala Kunene

Whether you seek affordable handmade Christmas decorations such as angels, stars, hearts, tea lights with African character, or other traditional and contemporary African art, usher in the Christmas season in African style at the African Art Centre for the opening of the Christmas Exhibition on Thursday 29 October at 17:30. The exhibition will be opened by a special performance by local icon Madala Kunene with his unique blend of jazz and Nguni folk blues.  The exhibition closes on the 24th December.

For additional information, please contact the African Art Centre on 031 303 4634, or visit at 94 Florida Road, Morningside.

-----Ends----

Call for Projects for 2016 Durban FilmMart

Media Release

Call for Projects for 2016 Durban FilmMart

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) has opened submissions for projects for the 7thedition, which will take place next year.  It is important to note, that the deadline for submissions has been being shifted earlier to December 14, 2015 to allow for the selection committee to have more time to assess projects, and for more time to create opportunities for marketing and promotion of the projects and film-makers at the DFM.

A joint project of Durban Film Office, the eThekwini Municipality’s industry development unit, and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), the DFM aims to raise the visibility of African cinema, stimulate production on the continent, and facilitate project collaboration between African filmmakers.

The DFM has become an integral part of the fast-growing South African film industry and since its inception in 2010, has helped facilitate more than 90 African co-production projects, many of which have subsequently been produced as acclaimed films.

Selected DFM projects will undergo a two-day packaging and mentoring programme followed by two days of one-on-one meetings with a panel of film financiers, buyers and distributors.

The programme is open to full length feature and documentary films with Africans in key creative roles (writers, directors and producers) that are looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents and funders. A selection committee will review all submissions for consideration, and will select 10 fiction feature and 10 documentary feature projects that are in development to participate. African filmmakers, from writers to directors, are encouraged to submit their projects by 14 December 2015.

“We would like to encourage African film-makers to take advantage of the opportunity to submit their projects to the DFM, as we have seen how valuable the programme is to helping filmmakers get their projects off the ground.” says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty. “The networking with film-makers from around the globe at the DFM also provides opportunities for film-makers to grow their networks further afield. Over the years we have seen many alumnis secure further funding grants for their films, and their works screened at film festivals around the world. It is really a great springboard for developing projects.”

Film-makers must note that it is important that all projects must have both a producer and director attached to them.

To find out more about the DFM 2016, project submission criteria and how to submit your project, please visit www.durbanfilmmart.com

For further enquires contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com or call   +27 31 311 4243

-ends

3934 - Cannes-born script-writer expert Sari Turgeman gives a masterclass at the DFM 2015.

3962 - Film-maker Mohammed Siam pitching his film Amal to the panel at the 2015 DFM.

Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award

Media Release

Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award

The annual award, supported by the European Union, is now in its fifth year. Named after Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje (1876– 1932), it recognises the life and vision of this highly respected political and social activist. As in previous years, Volume V of the series will anthologise the three shortlisted poems along with some 60 other poems on the longlist, which are written in an assortment of South African languages, including English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Sesotho, Xitsonga and isiZulu.

The longlisted poets to be included in the 2015 Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Anthology were: Jim Pascual Agustin; Karin Andersen; Carel Aäron Anthonissen; Caroline F. Archer; Saaleha Idrees Bamjee; Fadwah Booley; Steven Bresler; Sindiswa Busuku- Mathese; Arthur Benjamin Cloete; Eckhard Cloete; Leonard Entienne Cloete; Margaret Clough; Christine M Coates; Corné Coetzee; Genna Gardini; Sunelle Geyer; Shawn Greyling; Kerry Hammerton; Suenel Holloway; Morwamphaka Maisela Sello Huma; Musawenkosi Khanyile; Lara Kirsten; Thandanani Christopher Mabaso; Katise Mawela; Mokoena Mlondolozi; Thabiso Michael Mofokeng; Tsietsi Mokhele; Che Kgahliso Moshesh; Moses Mtileni; Madoda Ndlakuse; Pamela Newham; Mzu Nhlabatsi; Sizakele Nkosi; Zukisani Nongogo; Lazola Pambo; Francine Simon; Annette Snyckers; David C Steyn; Gisela Ullyatt; Athol Williams; Sue Woodward and Frank Wright.

The hard work undertaken by this jury behind the scenes to select 63 poems out of the 472 entries received was imperative to the creation of a well-curated anthology.

The longlist was compiled by a jury of three distinguished South African poets: Johann de Lange, Goodenough Mashego and Joan Metelerkamp.

From the longlist of poems selected by a jury of distinguished South African poets, senior judge Dr. Mongane Wally Serote, winner of the prestigious Golden Wreath Award, has selected the three finalists for this year’s Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award.

In no particular order, the three shortlisted poems are:

• Jim Pascual Agustin, for Baleka, What do You Know of Tenders and Thieves? Or Cockroaches for that Matter?

• Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese, for A Portrait of a Mother and Indiscretion

• Athol Williams, for Streetclass Diseases 

The winners will all receive cash prizes.

How these poems have been placed, and the overall winner, will be announced at an event hosted by Poetry Africa at 18:00 on 17 October 2015 at Rivertown Beerhall. The anthology will be launched at earlier on the 17 October at 15:00 at 8 Morrison Street.

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

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

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

-ends

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

Poetry Africa Durban Poets

Poetry Africa Durban Poets

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) is very proud to note that the 19th edition of Poetry Africa will feature 9 homegrown Durban poets in this year’s 24 strong lineup.

The Durban participants are: 

Africa Dlamini, Celiswa Majali, Khanyi Shusha, Kwazi Ndlangisa, Matt Vend, Nokulunga Dladla, Nosipho Magcaba, Thando Fuze, Tshebeletso Mohale.

“We are very proud that the city of Durban has produced 9 poets in this 19th edition of Poetry Africa, almost half of this year’s programme. This is truly a testament to our city’s tremendous talent and artistic integrity as well as to the city's developmental programmes focused toward poetry, literature and the arts.” - Guy Redman, Head of Department: Libraries, Heritage, Arts & Culture, eThekwini Municipality.

The Centre for Creative Arts is proud to welcome back to the Poetry Africa stage four previous prelude poets; Khanyi Shusha, Kwazi Ndlangisa, Nosipho Magcaba and Tshebeletso Mophale. 

The annual Prelude Poets programme calls out to the Durban’s creative and undiscovered poets to take part in the festival, the entrants are given the opportunity to audition before a panel of judges and once selected, take to the main stage to showcase their hidden talents to audiences at the country’s premier poetry festival at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre each night to perform as a prelude to the main programme.

The Poetry Africa festival, now in its 19th edition, takes place from 12 to 17 October 2014. The festival brings together some of the world’s finest poets and musicians to Durban, with artists from the African continent and beyond.

For more information on our 2015 Poetry Africa festival participants please visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University KwaZulu-Natal), the 18th Poetry Africa is funded by the City of Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter. 

GENERAL ENQUIRIES: 
Phone: +27 (0)31 260 2506/1867
Fax: +27 (0)31 260 3074 
Email:   cca@ukzn.ac.za 

-ends

[see attached file: Khanyi Shusha 05.jpg] [see attached file: Matt Vend 07.JPG] [see attached file: Kwazi Ndlangisa lr 01.jpg] [see attached file: Nosipho Magcaba 02.jpg] [see attached file: Nokulunga Dladla 02.JPG]

Durban film-makers' project selected for Sorfond Pitching Forum in Oslo, Norway

Media Release

Durban film-makers’ project selected for Sørfond Pitching Forum in Oslo, Norway

Hhola Hhola, a film which was a feature project at the inaugural Durban FilmMart (DFM) in 2010, has been selected for the prestigious Sørfond Pitching Forum in Oslo, Norway this year.

Produced by Julie Frederikse and directed by Madoda Ncayiyana of Vuleka Productions, based in KwaMashu in Durban, this is one of only 8 projects selected out of 130 applications from all over the world.

The Sørfond Pitching Forum, hosted by the Sørfond Norwegian South Film Fund, which has as its mission to fund films from developing countries, is held from 14 October during the Films from the South Festival in Oslo.

The aim of the Sørfond Pitching Forum is to give international producers the opportunity to present their projects to potential Norwegian co-producers, with the aim to enter into a co-production agreement and apply for support from Sørfond in March 2016. 

Directed by Ncayiyana and produced by Julie Frederikse, Hhola Hhola is a story about dreams, ambitions and standing for what you believe in. “The new film is a relevant and poignant story of a young boy who dreams of being a celebrity and gets mixed up with a conman in an effort to free his mother from jail.” explains Frederikse. “What is also eye-catching about the film is the setting that is not often seen in African films. It is not poor and dusty Africa, with children holding a begging bowl, at least figuratively. Hhola Hhola is about tech-savvy urban Durban people, especially youth, who don’t have computers but run their social and economic lives on their cellphones. It is also about the notion of celebrity that young people are so taken with all over the world; the main character’s journey is to get past superficial ideas of winning fame and fortune so as to believe in himself and express what is really inside him. The film also delves into contemporary culture and identity, depicting the relevance and importance of it these factors,” she says.

“This is an significant opportunity for the film, and for Madoda to make his second feature film, to follow up Izulu Lami,” says Frederikse, “Approximately 1.6 million Euro will be granted for production support from 2015 to 2018 through an international cooperation between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, with the Norwegian Film Institute and the Films from the South Foundation jointly in charge of the administration of the fund. Sørfond grants up to 130,000 Euro per film.”

The feature was first presented at the Durban FilmMart five years ago, when it was in its early development, then entitled Mobile Muti. Since then the film has received development funding from the National Film and Video Foundation in South Africa, the Durban Film Office and the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission. Additional support for a top international script doctor came jointly from Produire au Sud of Nantes, France and the Durban Film Office and International Relations Office of the eThekwini Municipality. As co-writers of the script, Ncayiyana and Frederikse worked with Argentinian-French-English script doctor Miguel Machalski, whose recent credits include acting as script consultant as part of Binger Filmlab on La Tierra y la Sombra by Colombian director Cesar Augusto Acevedo’s debut feature, which won the Camera D’Or and two other awards at Cannes 2015. 

Ncayiyana’s award-winning debut feature film Izulu lami was also co-produced by Vuleka Productions and opened the 30th annual Durban International Film Festival in 2009. A co-founder of Vuleka, he was awarded the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission’s Simon “Mabhunu” Sabelo Award for Directing in 2014 and the eThekwini Mayor’s Achievement Award for his work in South African and international film, TV and theatre, and his contribution to Durban’s cultural scene.  

Julie Frederikse has experience in producing feature film, short film and television programming, and is also director of Vuleka Productions, co-founded in 1993. She has developed and co-written Ncayiyana’s second feature film, Hhola Hhola, and will produce it together with top African film producer Anant Singh’s Videovision Entertainment (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom).

Says Sanjeev Singh, Videovision Entertainment’s director of Acquisition and Distribution, “We have been tracking the film through its evolution from Mobile Muti to Hhola Hhola in its present form. Madoda brings a gritty sensitivity to the project and together with Julie producing, they will create a unique and impactful film.”

 “The eThekwini Municipality has supported the development of this project since its early inception because as a City, we understand that it is difficult to make your first major feature but even more difficult to make your second feature film.” says Deputy Mayor Cllr Nomvuzo Shabalala “Madoda Ncayiyana is one of the City’s great talents and it is of critical importance that we support such talents to help grow our local industry. The opportunity now offered to Vuleka Productions is also testament to the success of the City funded Durban FilmMart and the impact it can have on our local filmmakers.”

‘We are really thrilled that this film is gaining traction in development,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office which jointly hosts the Durban FilmMart with the Durban International Film Festival. “Film projects take time to develop, and go through many interventions and networking in order to come to fruition, and pitching forums such as these, create opportunities for the film to finally get into production.  The Durban Film Office has believed in Hhola Hhola from its early inception and we wish Vuleka all the best as they travel to Norway to pitch this really wonderful film to the forum.”

For more information about Hhola Hhola visit the websitewww.vulekaproductions.co.za, for more information about the Durban FilmMart go to www.durbanfilmmart.com

-ends

18th Poetry Africa Schools Poetry Writing Competition

18th POETRY AFRICA

SCHOOLS POETRY WRITING COMPETITION

DEADLINE: 19 September 2015

The Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), with principal funding from the City of Durban invites all students to submit their poems as part of the 19th POETRY AFRICA Schools Competition.

Poetry Africa is committed to nurturing a culture of reading and writing poetry, especially among the youth of KwaZulu-Natal. The festival invites primary to high school learners to take up this exciting opportunity of submitting material for the poetry competition which is held in conjunction with the festival. The poems can be written in either English or isi Zulu and since there is no topic, writers have the licence to get creative. The Festival will accept up to two poems per learner; - illegible entries will not be considered. 

Poems must be submitted either by hand at the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA), UKZN, Howard College Campus, Mazisi Kunene Avenue, Glenwood, Durban, 4001 or via email to poetryafrica@cca-ukzn.co.za or by fax to (031) 260 3074 - deadline is 19 September, 2015.

The Poetry Africa festival, now in its 19th edition, takes place from 12 to 17 October 2015 in Durban.

Winners will read their poems on the main stage of the Poetry Africa festival on the evening of 16 October. Prizes will be awarded by Adams Booksellers and the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN).

Entrants must ensure that the following information is on the front page of all submissions and that all pages are numbered:

Full name and surname.

School Name.

School Contact Details. (Email / Phone/ Address)

-ends

Media enquiries:

Sharlene Versfeld 

Versfeld & Associates

sharlene@versfeld.co.za

August 30, 2015

Multi-award winning doccie The Shore Break to have cinema screenings in Jozi and Camps Bay before becoming available on DVD and online

Media Release

Multi-award winning doccie The Shore Break to have cinema screenings in Jozi and Camps Bay before becoming available on DVD and online

The multi-award winning documentary, The Shore Break, about the proposed titanium mine and tolled highway on the Wild Coast, will be screened followed by a Q and A with the editor Kerryn Assaizky, at The Bioscope, in Johannesburg on the 28 August with daily screenings until 3 September. This is ahead of the launch of the DVD and Video on Demand sales, which begin on September 4.

The Shore Break, directed by Ryley Grunenwald, and co-produced with Odette Geldenhuys, has garnered a series of top awards since it premiered at IDFA in Amsterdam earlier this year.  Awards now include the Best Feature Length Documentary at the 2015 International Environmental Film Festival (FIFE) in Paris, the Backsberg Audience Choice Award from Encounters, the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award and the overall Audience Award from DIFF, and was nominated for Best Documentary atSilwerskermfees taking place this weekend in Camps Bay.

Described by the jurors of the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award as a “powerful portrayal of a struggle within a local community regarding foreign mining rights in a pristine environment…(and) concisely and movingly uncovers this complex and urgent matter, which is still under investigation and in need of public support.”

“We are both delighted about these accolades, not only for ourselves but for the fact that these issues are being highlighted and the community’s challenges are made visible to an external environment other than the one in which they exist,” say Grunenwald and Geldenhuys.

It is for this reason the two have made a decision to release the film as a DVD andon the Video on Demand platform Vimeo, as part of an endeavour to highlight the issues at play to a broader audience.

From September 4, the film will be distributed via direct sale of DVDs in South Africa viawww.theshorebreakmovie.com for R100 for individuals and R1000 for organisations, institutions and associations who require a wider range of screening rights.

The Shore Break will also be available throughout Africa for Video on Demand online rentals viawww.theshorebreakmovie.com or https://vimeo.com/ondemand/theshorebreak also from September 4. Pre-orders are available now.

To book for the Bioscope screenings go to: https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/TheShoreBreak

To book for the film at Silwerskermfees go to www.ticketpros.co.za

-ends

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For more information go to www.theshorebreakmovie.com

The Shore Break on The Bioscope site: http://www.thebioscope.co.za/2015/06/29/the-shore-break/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theshorebreakmovie

Twitter: http://twitter.com/theshorebreak

Johannesburg’s Tebogo Masehla wins Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km

Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km

Johannesburg’s Tebogo Masehla took top honours today (Sunday, August 23) at the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km in a confident win with a time of 36.10 chased by a determined and feisty Makhosi Mhlongo to the finish line with 10 seconds separating them.

Early on in the race the two established a comfortable lead ahead of the field, and by half way were jostling for dominance. Going through the 5km mark Masehla was one second ahead with Mhlongo in her slipstream. A relaxed and focused Masehla loped to the finish only after nudging ahead of Mhlongo as she entered the stadium.  As she entered the finishing chute the victorious runner did not waste time looking back, and hopped joyfully as she broke the tape.

This is the second Maritzburg SPAR race that the upcountry athlete Masehla has run, her first in 2010 where she came second to the dynamite package of Poppy Mlambo in 37.37. Currently on the SPAR Grand Prix log, a delighted Masehla was pleased with her race. “It was a tough run, but I really enjoyed it. The hilly route did play with my mind a bit, especially as I was running neck and neck with Makhosi. I know that I would not have done so well if I did not have her to push me.”

The diminutive Mhlongo from Hammarsdale, KZN agreed that it was a tough but good race, largely due to the pressure from Masehla  “I was really feeling so strong, and I was desperate to pull away from Tebogo, but she just would not give me the gap; she just resisted. I loved that I was able to use this as an incentive to push myself. I also appreciated the fantastic support from the spectators along the route.”

Masehla’s last race was the Totalsports Women’s Race on August 9 in Johannesburg where she came second in a time of 36.34 behind Lebogang Phalula. Next up for is the Mandela 21 km and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon at the end of September .

Rounding off the top three was Muden runner, Lindokuhle Gabela after almost a three minute gap in 39.17. All of the podium finishers had competed in the KZN Cross Country Championships yesterday (Saturday, August 22).

The cool, overcast weather made for comfortable race conditions for the record field of 4000 participants.

“Once again Maritzburg did us proud,” says Rob Philipson, MD of SPAR KZN. “We have had great reports back from the participants that the support on the road was fantastic as they encouraged people along the way. It is this kind of camaraderie that makes the Maritzburg race such an inviting and special event.”

Results:

Open

1 Tebogo Masehla 36,10, 2 Makhosi Mhlongo 36.20, 3 Lindokuhle Gabela 39.17, 4. Nomcebo Mthethwa 39.22, 5 Nobuhle Shange 39.46, 6 Janene Carey 40.06, 7 Thobile Mkhize 40.24,  8 Shani Silver 40.30, 9 Nonsikelelo Mbambo 41.26, 10 Jeannie Bomford Dreyer 41.37 

15 -19

1 Nobuhle Shange 39.46, 2 Thobile Mkhize 40.24, 3 Momusa Xaba 42.20

35-39

1 Nonsikelelo Mbambo 41.26, 2 Precious Duma 42.49, 3 Rhonwyn Brayley 49.24

40-49

1 Janene Carey 40.06, 2 Shani Silver 40.30, 3 Sibongile Ziqubu 44.20

50-59

1 Xolisile Mwelase46.51, 2 Philisiwe Khuzwayo 49.53, 3 Jenny Taylor 49.56

60 plus

1 Sandy Fismer 48.46 2 Judith Grove 50.27, 3 Jane Dickinson 51.10

-ends

 PHOTOS BY ROGAN WARD

Road Closures for the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Race - Sunday, August 23

Road Closures for the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Race

4,000 athletes will take to the roads around the Alexandra Park precinct for the annual SPAR Women’s 10/km Race on 23 August, which means a number of roads will be closed in the morning.

The roads will gradually start being cordoned off from 04.00am with traffic being diverted away from the route. All roads will be free flowing by 11.00am. Access to the Park from Alan Paton (Durban Road) will be unobstructed for the duration of the event, except for a short period to start the runners off between 07:30am and 08:30am.

There will be one start for both the 10km and 5km races, with the start time scheduled for 08.00am. The course is an ‘out and back’ starting and finishing in Alexandra Park, the finish is at The Oval Cricket Stadium. The cut-off time for the 10km race is 2hrs30min and for the 5km race the runners will have 2hrs to complete the event. There is a cut-off at 09:15 at the Park Drive entrance to the Mayor’s Garden for the 10km runners.

Roads that will be affected by the race are:

Balmoral  – closed from 04:00 – 11:00

Princess Margaret  – closed from 04:00 – 11: 00

Park Drive between Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth  - closed from 04:00 – 11:00

Princess Elizabeth    - closed from 04:00 – 11:00

Park Drive from College Road to Princess Elizabeth  - closed from 07:30 – 11:00

Alexandra Road from Cross Road to Alan Paton Ave    - closed (inbound only) from 07:30 – 10:00

Alan Paton Avenue from Alexandra Road to Burger Street   - closed (inbound only) from 07:30 – 08:30

Alexandra Road will be closed in both directions from 08:00 until approximately 08:45 to accommodate the large field.

Entries are limited to 4,000 and the 10km race is open to entrants 14 years and older and the 5km 9 years and older. Entry fees are R85 for the 10km licensed athletes and for the 5km runners. R95 is the entry fee for the non-licensed athletes; the extra R10 includes a temporary licence for the day. Entries will still be accepted at The Oval Cricket Stadium (Subject to the 4000 limit not having been reached).

Entrants who have already entered online can collect their race bibs, T-Shirts and promo bags from the Oval Cricket Stadium, Alexandra Park on Friday, 21 August from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Saturday, 22 August from 10:00 to 15:00. Manual entries can still be done at the same time, for those who have not registered online. No packs will be given out on race day. All finishers will receive a free breakfast pack on the day.Payment options at Registration include cash, credit card and debit card. NO CHEQUES

This great value event includes t-shirts and goodie bags to all female entrants and breakfast for all finishers as well as over R43,000 in lucky draw prizes.

 For more info contact the race organisers on maritzburg@sparwomensrace.co.za or visit the official race website www.sparwomensrace.co.za/pmb-home.html.

ENDS

The GO!Durban Foot Fuelling Station at the Sustainable Living Expo, 14 - 16 August 2015, Exhibition Centre

Media Release

 The GO!Durban Foot Fuelling Station at this year’s

Sustainable Living Expo

August 14 – 16, 2015, Durban Exhibition Centre

This year, GO!Durban, the eThekwini Municipality’s new integrated rapid public transport network, which is currently under construction, will present visitors to the Sustainable Living Expo, with an opportunity to experience the world’s first Foot Fuelling Station.

The fuelling station, is a place where the avid walkers and riders of Durban’s streets can go to fuel their feet. Here visitors will be able to enjoy foot rubs, reflexology, shoe shining and cleaning, and an opportunity to refresh themselves while imbibing in the exciting information about the City’s vision for public transport in GO!Durban and how it adds to creating a more liveable, caring and sustainable environment for all.

As part of GO!Durban, much planning has gone into the creation of non-motorised transport networks which includes bicycle lanes, walkways and bridges for pedestrians for commuter and recreational purposes, which are being developed at the same time as the integrated rapid transport network. This will provide a safer, more efficient, reliable and cost-effective public transport network, which will reduce the need for people to rely on vehicles, and therefore propel the reduction of vehicles on the roads.

“We are currently constructing a dedicated bus lane from Bridge City to Pinetown as part of the first route to be developed in the public transport network which covers the entire municipality.” explains Thami Manyathi, Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority. “This new route will cut down travel time from Bridge City to Pinetown by half.  Ultimately, its efficiency and reliability with appealing security and cleanliness will hopefully reduce the number of people using their own cars and opting to use public transport instead. With fewer cars on the road there will be more space for walking and cycling lanes. With more people riding and cycling and fewer cars on the road, our carbon footprint will decrease in the long run.  A greater walking and cycling culture will encourage healthier, active citizens, and a more enriched culture of tourism, all adding to the future sustainability of the City. We have already seen how effective the various cycling and pedestrian walkways in the City have been, including the infrastructure already in place from uShaka to Durban North and from uShaka to Albert Park.”

The eThekwini Municipality will be implementing bicycle workshops in 2016 and 2017 as well as building new parks to give the public more space to learn to cycle. More information about these initiatives will be available at the Expo.

Durban citizens are invited to “fuel their feet” as a forward looking theme that aims for a time when people rely more on their feet as a mode of transportation encouraged by the holistic approach of GO!Durban, and find out more about this exciting project at the GO!Durban stand at eThekwini Municipality’s Sustainable Living Expo, which showcases the myriad ways in which we as citizens can work together towards a more sustainable future.

The Expo takes place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16 from 9am to 5pm. Entrance is free and all are welcome.

For more information on GO!Durban go to www.godurban.co.za or for the Sustainable Living Expo go to www.durban.gov.za

-ends

Sharlene Versfeld
Versfeld & Associates
Public Relations and Communications
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 326 3235
Tel: +27 (0) 31 811 5628
Post: P O Box 30547, Mayville, 4058
Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za
Twitter: sharlvers
Website: www.versfeld.co.za

Happiness is a Four-Letter Word movie – start of shoot

Happiness is a Four-Letter Word movie – start of shoot  

The South African film industry is about to get a dose of happiness. The multi-award winning novel Happiness is a Four-Letter Word has been turned into a screenplay and filming commenced on 13 July in and around Johannesburg.

The film, titled Happiness is a Four-Letter Word, tells the story of three friends trying to find their happiness while maintaining images of success and acceptability. The complex, distinctive voices of the characters developed by novelist Cynthia Nozizwe Jele continue to be the guiding lens for the movie. The three women in Happiness is a Four-Letter Word were destined to jump from the pages into full colour when the novel was awarded the 2011 M-Net Literary Award in the Film category.

The story revolves around perfectionist lawyer Nandi, glamorous housewife Zaza and trendy art gallery owner Princess, who seem to be living the new South African dream: money, success, and loving partners. The three friends juggle life’s surprising changes as they come to learn that “happiness doesn’t come with a manual.” The three will have to find out what truly makes each of them happy and then fight to get it in their unique way.

The movie is being produced with part funding from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and forms part of the Junaid Ahmed Productions slate of films that aim to develop key areas of black talent in the film industry. The NFVF/Junaid Ahmed Productions slate programme has had great success with the 2014 release of Hard to Get, which garnered various awards, and was the opening night film of the 2014 Durban International Film Festival.

At the helm of the production team are Hard to Get producers Junaid Ahmed and Helena Spring, and first time feature film producer Bongiwe Selane who says “I’m excited to be producing my first feature film with two formidable producers, whom I consider doyens in the industry. I was a fan of Happiness is a Four-Letter Word when it was first published and immediately knew that it is the kind of story that lends itself to screen adaptation.” Junaid Ahmed adds “It’s important for us to grow black excellence in the film industry. The fact that Happiness is a story about ambitious black women is an added and much-welcomed layer. Helena Spring added: “It’s wonderful for me to watch the great achievements in the South African film industry and to be part of showcasing black talent in full colour.”

While Busisiwe Ntilintili adapted the novel into a screenplay, Cynthia Nozizwe Jele, who is currently busy with her second novel, kept a strong hand on the adaptation and has been integral in the film production. An excited and humble Nozizwe says, “I’m thrilled about the film. The novel received tremendous support and still gets attention. I’m also excited about the developing trend of local books being turned into films and television dramas. The content and depth of South African writers is relevant and of a high calibre. I wish the cast and production team all the best, and I can't wait to see the final product."

The director Thabang Moleya whose accolades include Vuka Awards, SAFTA Awards, and an Emmy Nomination leads a stellar cast including Mmabatho Montsho as Nandi, Khanyi Mbau as Zaza, and Renate Stuurman as Princess. Happiness is a Four-Letter Word will elevate the state of South African cinema, and raise the volume on the stunted representation of black females in film both behind and in front of camera.

 -ends

SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament

SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament

St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More College: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July

Durban Girls’ College made it three in a row as they claimed the title for the 2015 SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament in convincing fashion at St Mary’s DSG on the weekend.

College met Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High in the gold/silver final where the defending champions hammered in four goals, making it an impressive consecutive trio of golds in the five years of the tournament. Girls’ High entered the medal game as the “in-form” team but nerves seemed to get the better of them.

The tall, impressive forward Teagan McFall playing for College proved to be a slippery customer for the Girls’ High back line as she managed to shake the defence off and score two spectacular goals. The second shot, a reverse stick sweep, rocketed into the top corner of GHS’s net.

Captain for College, Kelsey Scott said, “We have been working hard for a while in preparation for the SPAR tournament. It was a bit of a shock to us where we drew in two of our pool games but that only made us more determined for today. We were extremely focused and pulled together to work as a solid unit when it counted against Girls’ High.”

The road to the 2015 finals for College had a bit of a bumpy start with a 1 all draw against a young and spirited King Edward High School team. And then in a classic Durban derby against rivals St Mary’s DSG in their second last pool game ended in a 2 all draw in a highly competitive, riveting game in the pouring rain at Thomas More College. 

The team from Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High were the most consistent out of all the competitors with five games played, 14 goals scored and no goals conceded. In their semi-final against home team, St Mary’s DSG, Girls’ High Katie Corf slotted the goal that counted in a game dominated by the visitors.

Lead by SA Women’s Indoor Hockey star, Taryn de Winnaar, Girls’ High resumed their unfortunate streak of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, being awarded their fifth medal in the five years of the tournament.  This is their third silver they have won, to add to that they have two bronzes in their trophy cabinet.

MD for SPAR, Rob Philipson stated, “The welcomed torrential rain did not dampen the spirits of all the teams who took part. In freezing conditions, the girls took to the pitch with smiles on their faces as they valiantly represented their schools and their regions. It was heartening to see the eagerness that each of the teams displayed as they tackled each game during the tournament. Congratulations to each and every one of them.”

For the third position, it was a battle of the Saints with St Anne’s College managing to get two goals beating St Mary’s DSG in a hard fought game for the bronze. Both these teams have won previously and both team had similar results leading up to the bronze medal game.

Tournament Director, Les Galloway said, “Our tournament just keeps getting better and better. We really acknowledge the effort and energy that all the players put into their games to make this final weekend a success. We also acknowledge and thank all the coaches and managers who stand on the side-lines, endlessly supporting and guiding their teams, the superb commitment of the umpires, and the parents who spend countless hours making it possible for their girls to play.” 

Results

1 Durban Girls’ College, 2 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, 3 St Anne’s College, 4 St Mary’s DSG, 5 Ferrum HS, 6 Wartburg Kirchdorf, 7 Ashton International College, 8 King Edward HS, 9 Empangeni HS, 10 Amanzimtoti HS

Sunday Play-Offs

King Edward HS 1 Ferrum HS 2

Wartburg Kirchdorf School 1 Ashton  International College 0

Pietermaritzburg HS 1 v St Mary’s DSG 0 

Durban Girls College 2 St. Anne’s College 0

Match for 9/10: Empangeni HS 2 Amanzimtoti HS 0

Match for 7/8: Ashton International College 0 (Ashton won 3-1 on penalties) King Edward HS 0

Match for 5/6: Ferrum HS 1 Wartburg Kirchdorf 0

Match for 3/4: St Anne’s 2 St Mary’s DSG 0

Final: Durban Girls’ College 4 Pietermaritzburg Girls High 0

-ends

The Shore Break takes two awards at Durban International Film Festival

The Shore Break takes two awards at Durban International Film Festival

Multi award-winning documentary, The Shore Break, about the proposed titanium mine on the Wild Coast, garnered an additional two awards to its already impressive resume, at this year’s Durban International Film Festival.

The Shore Break won the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award and The DIFF Audience Award 

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

All festival goers are given a DIFF voting slip after every screening to ascertain which film the audiences appreciated the most. Out of a total of 202 films (features, docs, shorts), this year the DIFF Audience Award went to The Shore Break.

"To have been voted as 'Best' by the DIFF audience, who I have always loved because they are loyal, diverse and exacting, is a real honour and a privilege," enthuses co-producer Odette Geldenhuys.

“Ultimately we make films for the audience so it is incredibly rewarding to have won another Audience Choice Award. We are so happy that the jury selected The Shore Break for the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award. Representatives from the community affected by the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road and the Xolobeni Mineral Sands Project have said that it will certainly help their cause that their struggle is indeed being recognized as a human rights issue”, said director Ryley Grunenwald.

The Shore Break is an award-winning film that unpacks the dilemma faced by a rural community on South Africa’s Wild Coast as to whether to support or resist a proposed titanium mining project that could fundamentally change their lives forever.

Directed by Ryley Grunenwald, The Shore Break was a selected project at the 2012 Durban FilmMart, the IDFA WorldView Summer School 2013, the Hot Docs Forum 2012 and the Hot Docs Dealmakers 2013. It is co-produced by two South African companies, Grunenwald’s Johannebsurg-based Marie-Vérité Films and Odette Geldenhuys’ Cape Town-based frank films. It was incompetition at the recent International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IFDA), and was named the Best Feature Length Documentary at the 2015 International Environmental Film Festival (FIFE) in Paris.

The issues raised in the film have become more urgent following the announcement of the Wild Coast Toll Road which has been given the go-ahead following a statement by Minister Nkwinti on 9 July. It is the belief of many community stakeholders that this announcement is a pre-cursor to the introduction of mining in the area.  

For more information go to www.theshorebreakmovie.com

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/102621491

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theshorebreakmovie

Twitter: http://twitter.com/theshorebreak

-ends

Digital stills, EPK and links to articles and reviews are available online: http://theshorebreakmovie.com/press/

-ends

Jyoti Mistry's grisly new thriller Impunity to screen at Durban Internationsl Film Festival

MEDIA RELEASE

JYOTI MISTRY’S GRISLY NEW THRILLER IMPUNITY TO SCREEN AT DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Noir thriller “Impunity”, the latest film by celebrated South African director Jyoti Mistry, will be screened at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), which opens on Thursday, 16 July, giving audiences a sneak preview prior to the film’s release in August. This follows the screening of the film in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film tells the story of a Special Crimes Unit investigator Dingande Fakude (Desmond Dube) and a local police detective and trained psychologist Naveed Khan (Vaneshran Arumugam), who find themselves caught up in political corruption and conspiracy when they investigate the gruesome murder of a cabinet minister's daughter, found in an exclusive African safari resort after a party celebrating her engagement to a rising political star.

A young couple, Derren (Bjorn Steinbach) and Echo (Alex McGregor), who were working as waiters at the engagement party, are taken in for questioning by the two lawmen. As they begin to piece events together, it becomes clear that there is much more to the high-profile murder case than first imagined. The two uncover a trail of murders and are faced with a moral dilemma involving the new political elite.

With the themes of corruption and brutality at its centre, Impunity is a profound investigation into contemporary South Africa and the seat of power. The film has been lauded for it rich visual language, which features picturesque beachfronts and bushveld, intercut with harsh CCTV footage. The Toronto Film Festival organisers described “Impunity” as “an eye-opening jolt, casting an unwavering gaze on South Africa's increasingly troubling surrender to the banality of violence.”

Mistry studied filmmaking and cinema studies at New York University. Her short films include “We Remember Differently” (2005) and “I Mike What I Like” (2006). “Impunity” is her second feature film, after “The Bull on the Roof” (2010). “Impunity” is produced by Shadowy Meadows Productions and Bioskope Pictures, with cinematography by Eran Tahor.

Impunity is being released by Indigenous Film Distribution at selected cinemas on 28 August.

All media queries

david alex wilson

cell: 27 83 629 2587 / e-mail: davidalex@madmoth.co.za

Restored Anti-apartheid Film - A Dry White Season will Screen on Mandela Day for DIFF

Media Release

Restored Anti-apartheid Film, A Dry White Season, will Screen on Mandela Day 2015 for DIFF

The award-winning and world-renowned French filmmaker Euzhan Palcy will showcase her most celebrated work, A DRY WHITE SEASON (1989), as part of the film’s 25th anniversary at this year’s Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). The film was adapted from a book by the acclaimed South African writer Andre Brink who died earlier this year. Palcy will be honoring Brink on Mandela Day (July 18).

Additionally, in a tribute to her contribution to the South African film industry, Palcy will be honoured at the Simon Sabela Awards on July 19. Karina Brink, Dame Janet Suzman and Thoko Ntshinga will attend both the screening and the awards.

At the time the film was produced, Ms. Palcy was distinguished for being the first black female director to be hired by a major Hollywood studio (MGM) and to direct an anti-apartheid film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence. She is also the only woman to have directed Marlon Brando and the first black person to win a French Oscar.

Andre Brink’s book, a narrative about the social movements of South Africa and the 1976 Soweto riots inspired Palcy’s impassioned response to illustrate an accurate account of the reality of apartheid. Palcy made the film in 1989 after doing extensive research undercover in Soweto. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Marlon Brando, Zakes Mokae, Susan Sarandon, John Kani, Winston Ntshona, Jürgen Prochnow amongst others.

“We are pleased to be able to present an important work created by a black woman, which highlights and even represents the lost voices of the people of this continent; the unspoken narratives and the untold stories,” says Pedro Pimenta, Director of DIFF. “Her courage to create a work which could stand out and give three dimensional life to Brink’s book, and by association the voiceless at the time, required an enormous amount of bravery. We are proud to be able to salute her at the DIFF this year.”

The South African event will kick off on 17 July with the opening of an exhibition of David James’ still photographs from A DRY WHITE SEASON at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts. James is the 2011 Society of Cinematographer Lifetime achievement award winner in stills photography and was the official photographer of the 81st to the 84th Oscars ceremonies. The exhibition will run for the duration of the DIFF until the 26 July.

A DRY WHITE SEASON will be screened on Mandela Day at Suncoast on Saturday, 18 July at 20:00. This will be followed by a question and answer session with Ms. Palcy. Her first classic award winning film, SUGAR CANE ALLEY, which Brink apparently screened in secret to his students, celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be screened as a South African premiere at Suncoast on Monday, 20 July at 19:30, in which she will also be in attendance.

Comment from Patrick Aglae director of communications for Euzhan Palcy and producer of A DRY WHITE SEASON: the 25th anniversary tour:

It has been a long journey since we decided to officially screen A DRY WHITE SEASON in South Africa on the big stage. Euzhan Palcy had made the promise to Nelson Mandela to comeback one day to officially screen the film. In March at the Andre Brink’s Memorial at the University of Cape Town she said “Let’s make it happen”. So to do it on the Mandela Day is magnificent. I’d like to thank DIFF’s new leadership to make this dream a reality alongside MGM and Park Circus, its worldwide distribution partner which played a key role to restore this film and make the DCP on time. To make it so fast speaks volume about their respect for the film.

-ends

For the full DIFF programme go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za. @EuzhanPalcy

Urucu Media launches inaugural South African edition of Cannes prestigious La Semaine de la Critique at DIFF 2015

Media Release

Urucu Media launches inaugural South African edition of Cannes prestigious La Semaine de la Critique at DIFF 2015

Urucu Media, one of South Africa’s newest feature film production houses, which recently produced the internationally acclaimed Necktie Youth, is proud to announce that they have partnered with Cannes’s La Semaine de la Critique (Critic’s Week) to host a dynamic selection of the top films emerging from this programme in recent years. 

The South African programme launches as part of the Durban International Film Festival 2015, at Cinecentre, Suncoast Casino on July 21, with the support of Institute Francaise. Five critically acclaimed films will be screened during the course of the festival with additional screenings scheduled for Johannesburg and Cape Town the following weekend.

Established in 1961, the Semaine De La Critique competition is dedicated to showcasing emerging filmmakers from around the world. Since it's inception the competition has featured the early works of numerous famous auteurs including Ken Loach, Wong Kar-Wai and Alejandro González Iñarritu.

The travelling Semaine de la Critique programme is part of a broader initiative by Urucu Media, supported by the French Institute of South Africa, to promote unique cinematic voices and innovation, while cultivating an audience for the types of films Urucu believes are worth making.

Opening the South African edition of La Semaine de la Critique is Hope, French writer-director, and documentarian, Boris Lojkine's first fiction film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter Hope is a “scrupulously well-researched” recounting of a journey of desperation taken by a Nigerian woman and a Cameroonian man across the Sahara in an attempt to reach Europe. Cine Europa Online highlighted the “incredible and moving realism that emerges reveals a director whose work should be kept an eye on.” 

Award winning director Lojkine will be in attendance at DIFF where he will present a Master Class, as part of the Talents Durban programme, on bringing reality and authenticity to fiction filmmaking.

Other films include The Kindergarten Teacher by Nadav Lapid (Israel, 2014) about a crèche teacher and aspiring poet, who discovers unusual poetic talent in her five-year old student. Informed by her own deprived past and a fear that the world will eat his sensitive soul alive, she takes it upon herself to protect the boy and the gift he carries.

Yann Gonzalez’s debut feature You And The Night by  (France, 2013) is an erotic-existential-queer comedy. Starring legendary French footballer Eric Cantona in the role of a well-hung stud/former child-poet and one of seven member of a meticulously cast orgy, it explores and intentionally confuses memory and fantasy.

From Italy and France comes Salvo the winner of last year’s La Semaine de la Critique of Cannes Film Festival directed byFabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza (2013). It tells the story of Salvo (Saleh Bakri) – a merciless body guard/hit man in Sicily’s underworld.  Meeting Rita (Sara Serraiocco), the blind sister of one of his victims – and a witness at that – changes not just Salvo’s life, but Rita’s too, and offers the pair a relief from the literal and metaphorical darkness in which they are stuck.

Writer/director Katell Quillévéré’s second feature, Suzanne  (France, 2013) follows Suzanne (Sara Forestier) during 25 years of her life. Suzanne grows up with her sister (Adèle Haenel) and widowed truck-driver father (François Damiens). When Suzanne falls pregnant while still in school, the family with its new member remains a tight unit, but when she falls in love with a gangster, the stability is threatened. 

 “My business partner, John Trengove and I are, incredibly excited about hosting the first official platform for La Semaine de la Critique in Africa and hope to cultivate strong local audience base for the wonderful films that emerge from this inspiring competition every year.” says Urucu’s Elias Ribeiro.

For more information about the La Semaine de la Critique go to www.urucumedia.com and for the Durban International Film Festival go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

-ends

La Semaine de la Critique screening times:

Durban: Suncoast Casino

21st July         20:00   HOPE   - Opening Night Film - La Semaine de la Critique

22nd July        17:30   SALVO

23rd July         22:00   SUZANNE

24th July         17:30   THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

25th July         17:00   YOU AND THE NIGHT

Johannesburg: Rosebank Nouveau &

Cape Town: V&A Waterfront Nouveau

31st July         20:00   HOPE

1st August     17:30   SALVO
          

1st August     20:00   SUZANNE

2nd August    17:30   THE KINDERGARDEN TEACHER 

2nd August    20:00   YOU AND THE NIGHT 

Note to editors:

La Semaine de la Critique: The Films

Hope by Boris Lojkine (France, 2014, 91 min)

In his debut feature, the French helmer takes on the forever-relevant topic of migration from Africa to Europe. Léonard from Cameroon (Endurance Newton) and Hope from Nigeria (Justin Wang) form a contested partnership on their dangerous journey to Europe – a dreamland where even mosquitoes drink coca cola.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fycw0Q0ahlo

The Kindergarten Teacher by Nadav Lapid (Israel, 2014, 120 min.)

Nira (Sarit Larry), a crèche teacher and aspiring poet, discovers unusual poetic talent in Yoav (Avi Shnaidman), her five-year old student. Informed by her own deprived past and a fear that the world will eat his sensitive soul alive, she takes it upon herself to protect the boy and the gift he carries.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP3Wo1uGzTk

You And The Night by Yann Gonzalez (France, 2013, 92 min.)

Gonzalez kick-started his feature film career with an erotic-existential-queer comedy. Starring legendary French footballer Eric Cantona in the role of a well-hung stud/former child-poet and one of seven member of a meticulously cast orgy, it explores and intentionally confuses memory and fantasy.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS2q6AYBnkQ

Salvo by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza (Italy/France, 2013, 110 min.)

The winner of La Semaine de la Critique of Cannes Film Festival 2014 tells the story of Salvo (Saleh Bakri) – a merciless body guard/hit man in Sicily’s underworld.  Meeting Rita (Sara Serraiocco), the blind sister of one of his victims – and a witness at that – changes not just Salvo’s life, but Rita’s too, and offers the pair a relief from the literal and metaphorical darkness in which they are stuck.

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI5qkz91ohU

Suzanne by Katell Quillévéré (France, 2013, 94 min.)

Writer/director Quillévéré’s second feature follows Suzanne (Sara Forestier) during 25 years of her life. Suzanne grows up with her sister (Adèle Haenel) and widowed truck-driver father (François Damiens). When Suzanne falls pregnant while still in school, the family with its new member remains a tight unit, but when she falls in love with a gangster, the stability is threatened. 

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJyzQ3CboJ8

-ends

Artwatch Africa at Durban International Film Festival 2015

Media Release

Artwatch Africa at Durban International Film Festival 2015

Public interest in freedom of expression has escalated dramatically since the Charlie Hebdo killings in January. An Al-Jazeera news item reported that media coverage of freedom of expression jumped from 2% in 2014 to over 23% in early 2015. Whilst freedom of expression is a right widely enshrined in the constitutions of nations across Africa, these rights are frequently not upheld. It is not just political parties or journalists that are vulnerable constituencies, but also activists from the arts and culture sectors; increasingly in some countries, artists that speak out on social and political issues are subjected to harassment, censorship or even arrest.

These and related issues are a core feature of Arterial Network’s three-fold presence at the 36th edition of the Durban International Film Festival, as part of its Artwatch Africa artist rights programme.

Aimed at artists, cultural practitioners, journalists and human rights organisations, and coordinated by Arterial Network South Africa, a closed 3-day workshop provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of human rights, cultural rights and artist rights, and will empower advocacy activities for the promotion, monitoring and defence of freedom of creative expression within local contexts. Similar Artwatch Africa workshops have taken place in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Mali, DRC, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Algeria, Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Republic of Congo, Benin, Kenya, Rwanda, Ivory Coast and Morocco during the past year.

An open-to-all session in conjunction with DIFF’s Talents programme is the  "Behind the Veil - Arterial Network and ArtWatch Africa Exchange on Creativity and Censorship" on 21st July at 14.00 in Suite 4, Elangeni Hotel. This interactive engagement explores censorship in Africa and includes a data gathering component aimed at understanding the nature of restrictions that inhibit artistic practice in respective countries.

Finally, during the Durban International Film Festival Award Night, an Artwatch Africa Award will be presented to an African film that meaningfully engages with the issues of Freedom of Expression. The Artwatch Africa project promotes the value of creative expression for society and the role creativity plays in personal development, social cohesion or social change; it recognises the transformative power of cinema and its importance in raising awareness and conscientisation. This award celebrates activism in the arts, and honours the courage of filmmakers and their subjects. The Award is accompanied by a R15,000 cash prize.

The Artwatch Africa Jury comprises Junaid Ahmed - award winning filmmaker; Gcina Mhlophe - award winning author, poet, playwright, director, performer and storyteller; René Alicia Smith - Executive Dean (Acting): Faculty of Arts & Design at Durban University of Technology; and Peter Rorvik - Secretary-General of Arterial Network.

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

With representation in more than 40 African countries Arterial Network is engaged in building sustainable networks, information dissemination, training, policy formulation,advocacy, and African-centred research, all geared towards growing and strengthening the cultural and creative sectors in Africa.

Visit  www.arterialnetwork.org or call 021-4612023 for more information.

-ends

Durban FilmMart 2015 announces partners' awards for this year's market

Media Release

Durban FilmMart 2015 announces partners’ awards for this year’s market

The Durban FilmMart (DFM), the joint initiative of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) and Durban Film Office (DFO) the film industry development arm of the City of Durban, which takes place from July 17 to 20, has announced partners’ awards for this year’s market, with an exciting new award being presented by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.

Considered one of Africa’s most important film finance platforms and industry gatherings, the FilmMart sees about 500 film-makers from around the globe, with a significant representation from Africa, attend the festival for four days of industry development forums and networking sessions. An integral part of the DFM is the finance and co-production forum, which this year has 10 features and nine documentary films selected for intense mentoring and pitch sessions to financiers and distributors, and other industry representatives.

Over the years the DFM has developed key relationships with a myriad industry partners that have seen the value of supporting and developing African content for both continental and global markets.

This year the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program will award a documentary film project that demonstrates potential for strong storytelling craft, artistic use of visual language, originality, feasibility, and relevance with a cash award of $7000 for further development. “In light of the tremendous talent for documentary filmmaking in Africa and the significant work of the DFM to celebrate those artists, the award is designed to contribute to and support the work of an African non-fiction filmmaker.” explains Rahdi Taylor, Film Fund Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program. “In supporting a broad spectrum of cinematic and creative non-fiction projects globally, Sundance Institute embraces contemporary storytellers as part of the collective consciousness of culture, and documentary film as a vital contributor to the language of the 21st century.”

Partners and awards this year include:

Afridocs, the broadcast stream that sees African and other international documentaries screened across 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa on a weekly basis, will offer a €3000 grant for one outstanding documentary project.

The CineMart Award, sponsored by the co-production market of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, provides a fiction project with an opportunity to attend the Rotterdam Lab, a five-day training and networking event bringing together producers from all over the world.

The International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) awards the most promising documentary project at the DFM with an opportunity to attend the  IDFA Forum, the largest and most influential meeting place for documentary filmmakers, producers, commissioning editors, funds, private financiers and other documentary stakeholders in Europe, from November 23 to 25.

The New Cinema Network awards will give an official project an opportunity to attend the 10th edition NCN in Rome, where the producer/director will be able to present the project to film companies at an international level.

Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes), will give one fiction project an opportunity to attend its developmental workshop program, PAS, where they will be given tools, expertise, and opportunities to develop European networks.

The Restless Pitch award, is a one-year representation deal for the project by Restless Talent Management, who provide development services such as image-building and positioning, project packaging, PR, and advises its clients on film sales, distribution and promotion.

Durban’s Videovision Entertainment, will once again award the “Best South African Film Project” a prize valued at R75 000, which guarantees its release once it is completed. The prize includes marketing and distribution support from Videovision Entertainment.   

‘We are immensely grateful to all our partners for the generous opportunities they have created for the DFM selected projects,” says Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office. “For independent film-makers, this is such an ideal opportunity to take their projects to the next level through the mentorship and support provided at the Market. We are looking forward to a robust and stimulating market this year, and seeing how the projects will evolve and develop through the  DFM process.”

For more information about the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.com.

-ends

SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament Finals 25 & 26 July

Media Release

SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament Finals

25 & 26 July

The top ten girls’ first teams from around KZN converge in Kloof in the grand finals of the 2015 SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament over the weekend of 25 and 26 July.

Twenty-nine games will be battled out at St Mary’s DSG and Thomas More College in the hunt to be the 2015 champion. The ten teams who have been victorious in their regionals around KZN will take each other on in the conclusion to this annual tournament now in its fifth year. Ten regionals have been played through the early part of this year, with the finalists from each region participating in the grand finals.

Favourites are the in-form teams from St Mary’s DSG and Durban Girls’ College that are just outside the top ten rankings in South Africa for girls’ first teams. Not far down the list are Pietermartizburg Girls’ High School and St Anne’s College.

Durban Girls’ College are the defending champions, having raised the trophy in the last two years. Promising to give them a run for their money are previous winners St Mary’s DSG and St Anne’s College.

Teams that will compete in the tournament are Ferrum Hoërskool from Newcastle; Amanzimtoti High School from the Durban South Regional; Ashton International College from the Durban North Regional; defending champions Durban Girls’ College from the Durban Central Regional; Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High and St Anne’s College from the Pietermaritzburg Central and Northern Regional; St Mary’s DSG from the Highway Regional; King Edward High School from the Southern KZN Regional; Empangeni High School from the Northern KZN Regional and Wartburg Kirchdorf High School from the Inland KZN Regional.

Another vital ingredient to this tournament is the growth of umpires. At each regional, one umpire was selected as the “Most Promising Umpire” and these have been invited to officiate at the grand finals.

The Most Promising Umpires are Ansie Joubert (St Dominic’s Academy) from the Northern KZN regional; Jason Naidoo (Kingsway High School) from the Durban South Regional; Ziyaana Booley (Northlands Girls High) from Durban North Regional; Pam Daniel (Durban Girls High School) Durban Central Regional; Craig Warren (Treverton) Pietermaritzburg Central Regional;  Bryn Merton (Grace College) Pietermaritzburg North Regional; Chiara Benati (St Mary’s DSG – making her second appearance) from the Highway Regional; Tessa Van Vuuren from the Southern KZN Regional who also is making her second appearance; Storm Blignaut (St.Catherine’s) Northern KZN Regional and Sarah Wheeler (Greytown High School) Inland Regional, who makes her fifth appearance.

“As with the actual game of hockey, a tournament of this size requires some great teamwork and good strategies to win.” says MD of SPAR Rob Philipson. “I would like to thank everyone involved - the tournament director, Les Galloway, the technical team, the schools, coaches, managers and teachers and the girls and their parents, who have worked together to create and develop this winning event. So successful has this model been, that other provinces are looking to emulate it.”

“We look forward to a great weekend of top schoolgirl hockey,” says Les Galloway, tournament director. “It has been truly exciting to see how this tournament has helped to grow a love for hockey in KZN. The festive atmosphere created by SPAR, has really given schoolgirls an opportunity to have fun playing in a competitive tournament and have seen the interest in the game increasing. In fact this year, we were pleased to welcome Inanda Seminary, a school that has not played hockey in recent years, participate in the Durban Central regionals, giving some of the more experienced teams a good competitive match.”

Pool matches will be played on Saturday, July 25 from 08:30 at St Mary’s and Thomas More in Kloof.  On Sunday, July 26 the play-offs will start at 08:30 at St Mary’s.

For more info and the fixtures list -  “like” the SPAR KZN Regional Hockey Tournament Facebook page or follow the tournament on Twitter @SPARGirlsHockey.

Fifth appearance

Ferrum High School – tenth 2014

Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School – bronze 2014

Durban Girls College – defending champions 2014 / 2013

Fourth appearance

Empangeni High School – seventh 2014

St Anne’s College – silver 2014

St Mary’s DSG – bronze 2013

Third appearance

Wartburg Kirchdorf High – ninth 2014

Second appearance

Ashton International College – ninth 2013

First Appearance

Amanzimtoti High School

King Edward High School

ENDS