Bro Kwazi's First Splashy Fen

THE first time I ever heard of Splashy Fen was in my matric year, a few years ago. All I knew is that Splashy Fen was a music festival that only played punk, rock and metal.

09 April 2013 | Kwazi Ngubane

Going to Splashy Fen on Thursday 28 March I did not know what it was that I was in for although I had asked question upon question about what Splashy Fen was all about, researched the website and scoured the internet for photos, incidences etc about the event.

I wanted to be sure about what it was that I was getting myself into. I arrived on Thursday evening around 11pm and, with nothing much to do, we set up camp and started a fire and went to sleep. It was only in the morning that we learnt we had camped in a family camp site and had to look for a new site to set up camp.

Waves of campers

It did not take us long to find the right area as we were attracted to noisy cars and a group of peers our age. We were quick to set up the tent and as soon as we were done, we set out exploring Splashy Fen.

The waves of campers coming through the gates were endless, the age groups could not be more different and the number of stalls, tents and stages blew us all away.

It was clear to us why Splashy Fen had such a huge following; it is a place that has a culture of its own. Everyone was friendly and helpful and when they knew it was your first Splashy Fen, you were greeted with smiles, hugs and wishes that you enjoy your first experience.

Diverse music

The mornings were laid back with many choosing to go swimming in the lake, stay at their camp sites, walk around or drive to the town of Underberg, 18kms away, to explore what the town had to offer.

The afternoons would be a hive of activity with three major tents hosting shows till midnight. The busy muddy roads would be filled with youth rushing to the respective tents, stalls or the place where everybody hung out, the bar.

The acts on stage could not be any more diverse in colour, genre and personality and included commercial bands such as Mi Casa shared the stage with acts such as City Bowl Mizers, Matthew Mole, Asleep In Transit, Desmond & the Tutu's, Mean Black Mamba, David Jenkins & Maqhinga Radebe, and the list goes on.

The shows were not only limited to music but also included stand-up comedy showcase with the likes of Paul Snodgrass, Glen Bo, Dusty Rich, Bobby Collins and Lil' Paul (who is not that lil') partaking in shows such as Whose Line is it Anyway, the world’s worst job enactments and plenty more.'

Rocking the stage

For those that longed to hit the dance floor, with heart pounding bass music and blinding disco lights, there was the Uber Cool Tent.

This tent had a mixture of punk, rock, pop, dance and hip-hop music with acts such as German bass, Arnold Ewood Philips; PHfat and more rocking the stage.

I must say that Splashy Fen is the premium music festival in KZN, it has everything that a music festival suppose to have. It's well-organised and safe with around-the-clock SAPS supervision, wonderful tents and stalls to buy from and music that will keep you dancing till the morning.

Use the list

The only precaution that I would advise is to know how to set up your tent, know how to find the right spot to set up camp or you shall be as unlucky as I was and have both your tents flooded with water two nights in a row.

Also when embarking to Splashy Fen, make sure to take note and pack all the advised ’things to bring’' items listed  or you shall have a super cold evening sleep and be running around for utensils, charcoal, gas-cookers etc.

Make sure to go onto www.splashyfen.co.za for the dates for next year’s 25th edition. See you there next year.

BASA Launches Sponsorship Toolkit for the Arts

This May sees Business and Arts South Africa launch a new partnership with Shanduka Black Umbrellas’ Incubator Programme as well as unveil the much-anticipated BASA Sponsorship Toolkit for the Arts.

Taking place on May 6th at the Soweto Theatre, the launch of BASA’s partnership with Shanduka Black Umbrellas is part of BASA’s ongoing commitment to providing arts organisations and practitioners with the skills to run their own business.

Says Mark Frankel CEO of Shanduka Black Umbrellas, “All business owners, no matter which sector they operate in, should have the requisite skills in place to operate their businesses effectively and profitably

“In addition to the skills required, businesses from previously disadvantaged backgrounds should be provided with assistance to access networks, markets and finance to help ensure their sustainability. This is the nature of the work we do at Shanduka Black Umbrellas.

“The partnership with BASA enables us to jointly identify potential high impact businesses in the arts sector and provide these businesses with the skills, support and development they require in order to become sustainable and create jobs.”

The newly minted BASA Sponsorship Toolkit for the Arts – also launching on May 6 – is additionally set to play an important role in the sustainability of arts organisations. With a strong focus on providing a way for the management team of an arts organisation to review, refresh and enhance their sponsorship practice, the toolkit is likely to become an indispensable part of the way arts organisations work. The BASA Sponsorship Toolkit for the Arts is a complement to the BASA Arts Sponsorship Management Toolkit for business that was launched last year.

The BASA Sponsorship Toolkit for the Arts has been created for both arts organisations with existing sponsorship relations and those looking for new and additional partners.

For arts organisations with existing sponsorship relationships, the toolkit provides an opportunity to assess the depth and breadth of their practices, as well as develop the ability to nurture a more sustainable arts partnership approach.

For organisations searching for new or additional partners, the toolkit provides a step-by-step guide and set of exercises to craft a well-considered, longer-term arts partnership strategy.

For more information and to RSVP for the launch of the Shanduka Black Umbrellas’ Incubator Programme and unveiling of the BASA Sponsorship Toolkit for the Arts contact: Jessica Dennison at Jessica@basa.co.za or 011 447 2295

Date and Time:
Monday 6 May 2013
9h30 for 10h00

Venue:
Soweto Theatre

DURBAN FILMMART PROJECT SELECTED FOR HOT DOCS 2013

DURBAN FILMMART PROJECT SELECTED FOR HOT DOCS 2013

Devil’s Lair, one of the award-winning projects from last year’s Durban FilmMart has been selected for this year’s Hot Docs, the Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto in April/May this year.

Produced by Neil Brandt of Fireworx Media and directed by Riaan Hendricks of A Season of Film (who also did the cinematography and editing) this feature documentary uncovers the conflicting worlds that exist amongst the troubled communities of the Cape Flats in Cape Town South Africa. It is an intimate portrayal of one gang leader and his young family as they navigate a violent and contested physical and psychological landscape, one in which honour, love and betrayal are all too often sides of the same coin.

Devil’s Lair, which will have its World Premiere at Hot Docs on May 1, was a featured project at last year’s Durban FilmMart, where it selected by as one of the “Most Promising Documentary Projects”, and as a result Brandt and Hendricks also received a travel and accommodation grant from WorldView/IDFA enabling them to attend IDFA, and pitch the project at the IDFA Forum in November last year.

“One of the key objectives of the DFM, which is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), is to act as a feeder platform in bringing African projects to other established international co-production markets. “ explains Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office. “We are delighted to hear that Devil’s Lair has been selected to premiere at Hot Docs. Results like this for any film helps to foster and encourage a confidence in developing projects, as often, at ideation stage stakeholders are cautious as to what tangible results can be obtained. This helps to demonstrate the potential and possibilities that do exist.”

Speaking from Johannesburg Brandt was excited about the selection and for the opportunity of holding their world premiere at Hot Docs. “It’s at once fantastic and terrifying.” he said. “Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market with about 200 documentaries from around the world, so the competition is tough, but we are really looking forward to the experience and to working hard at making sure our film gets the best start to its festival life possible.”

For Brandt and Hendricks the experience at IDFA was hugely beneficial in the further development of the film. “Everything in the creation of this film worked as a complex puzzle, all working simultaneously.” says Brandt. “We originally received a production grant from the IDFA Bertha Fund, who have been tracking the film. Then we were invited to the IDFA Summer School in June last year, just before the Durban FIlmMart where the project was well received resulting in us pitching the film at the IDFA Forum in November 2012. Here we were able to pitch a more developed film to broadcasters and investors and pick up sales agent Journeyman Pictures. Funding had also been received from the Hot Docs Blue Ice Fund, which has also been tracking the film since the Durban FilmMart. So there has been an incredible amount of support and interest in the film from international funders, which is encouraging, as difficult politically-charged films from Africa are often not easy to finance. Local funders include the Open Society Foundation, Sabido Productions and the NFVF. TVO Canada has just bought the first license and we are in discussions with numerous further broadcasters.”

The 4th Durban FilmMart will take place from 19 to 22 July 2013 during the 34th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (18-28 July) and will present an official selection of about 10 fiction projects and 10 documentary projects.

For more information on the Durban FilmMart visit www.durbanfilmmart.com.  Entries to this year’s DFM are now closed.

For further enquires contact info@durbanfilmmart.com

Trailer link :   http://www.hotdocs.ca//film/title/devils_lair

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Durban to host BASA Business Breakfast and Education Programme

With a new KwaZulu-Natal representative on the ground and an increased focus on the relevance, advancement and sustainability of the arts in the region, the upcoming Business Arts SA - BASA Education Programme, supported by Etana Insurance, are not to be missed by arts practitioners.

The first Durban series of workshops in the 2013 BASA Education Programme, supported by Etana Insurance, take place on April 11th at the KZNSA Gallery in Bulwer Road, Glenwood and are free to pre-registered participants.

Businesses will also be able to take part in the focused activities on April 11th by attending a business breakfast also at the KZNSA Gallery.

The business breakfast will include national and regional Business and Arts South Africa representatives and will give insight into a number of initiatives aimed at business. These include the first-of-its-kind BASA Arts Sponsorship Management Toolkit, which gives South African businesses a tool to navigating the sponsorship cycle and, ultimately, the ability to measure the effectiveness of arts sponsorship as a strategic part of any business.

The Durban workshops are also a chance for businesses and arts practitioners to connect with newly appointed Business and Arts South Africa representative in the region - Sharlene Versfeld of Versfeld & Associates.

Versfeld has been involved professionally in the South African arts sector since 1987 and has a long-standing reputation for her extensive work as an arts marketer most notably with the various festivals hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  In 2012 Versfeld undertook research for the British Council, with Nicolette du Plessis of Cultural Radius, on the South African arts landscape in relation to international agencies and collaborations. She is additionally a Board member of the Flatfoot Dance Company and does pro bono marketing for Action in Autism in KwaZulu-Natal.

“This is a challenging chapter in the arts industry in South Africa,” Versfeld says of her new tenure.

“Tough as it may be, we truly believe that businesses are looking for new and innovative ways to leverage their brands, whether from a sponsorship point of view or from a meaningful corporate social responsibility perspective.

“The research that BASA has done, the relationships developed with business and the inroads made into professionalising the arts industry provides a solid foundation for the further development of arts and business relationships, and we look forward to being part of a motivated and skilled team to help facilitate this in KZN.”

The Durban BASA Education Programme workshops, supported by Etana Insurance, are divided into three sessions and will cover social media, publicity basics (as part of the Back To Basics programme) and fundraising.

Are you all aTwitter and LinkedIn to Facebook? 11:00-12:30

Alma Maxwell of Outsourced Communications will share some insights about Social Media and how arts organisations can use these "versatile free-to-use" platforms to get the conversations going.

Back to Basics 13:00-14:30

Publicity and the Art of getting your message across in a very cluttered media space. Sharlene Versfeld and Kwazi Ngubane of Versfeld & Associates, unpack the basics of publicity and share some useful tips in getting media coverage.

Fundraising 14:45-16:00

Gordon McDonald, Director of Community Chest will look at hints and tips to increase your opportunity of raising funds for your organisation/project.

The BASA Education Programme, supported by Etana Insurance, has seen workshops already held in Johannesburg and Cape Town and upcoming workshops planned for the Eastern Cape as well as Limpopo regions.

To be part of the BASA Education Programme, supported by Etana Insurance, and attend these important, insightful and stimulating workshops contact: Kwazi Ngubane on 031-8115628 or email kwazi@versfeld.co.za.

AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) Durban to host Open Day on April 6

AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) Durban will host another Open Day for prospective students on Saturday, 6 April from 10am to 12noon.

The new campus which opened its doors in February this year, now boasts 63 students in the first year intake and according to the Chairman of AFDA, Garth Holmes, students and academic and administrative staff have settled in superbly to the Durban school.

This Open Day will provide prospective students, parents and guests a greater understanding about the AFDA programme with introductions from the Campus Dean Franco Human and lecturing staff, as well as demonstrations and performances from current first year students. There will also be a screening the AFDA 2013 Oscar Nominated Honours film, Kanyekanye (23 minutes).

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

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

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David Gouldie's Magic for New Beach Event March 22

City of Durban to host New Beach Dance Extravaganza for BRICS Summit

To celebrate the BRICS summit, the City of Durban will host the New Beach Dance Extravaganza, a free street party at New Beach (the old Dolphinarium site at the bottom of West Street) on Friday, March 22 from 6pm to Midnight.

Staged by one of Durban’s most creative brains, David Gouldie of Urban Edge, the New Beach Dance Extravaganza is styled very much on the lines of last year’s highly successful Jomba City experience at the Skate Park.

This is a family event, which features a main stage with Metro FM Award winners for best group – The Muffins, Afritude, DJ’s and Slam Poets including the inimitable MC Ewok.

To honour the various cultures represented at the BRICS Summit, dancers from the Flatfoot-, Breakthru-, Nateshwa Dance Companies and the Vuka Dancers will perform Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African inspired dances.

Expect to enjoy Tai Chi demonstrations, a drumming circle, live performance art installations, “Art in the Park” arranged by Artspace with live artists exhibiting works as well as graffiti artists being inspired by the five countries represented as they create their work on site.

Durban’s favourite creative market, the I Heart Market will offer creative goods for sale and wholesome fresh food and refreshments.

The event is free to all. Bring picnic blankets or chairs. There is lots of parking at the beachfront and there will be visible security and a strong police presence.

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Durban - The warmest place to be presents a feast of music at the Rainbow Restaurant - 24 March

In recognition of Human Rights Day in South Africa and as one of the official welcoming events for delegates to the Fifth BRICS Summit, Durban - The Warmest Place To Be presents a feast of music at the Rainbow Restaurant in Pinetown on Sunday, March 24 at 2pm.

The first performance starts at 2pm with deep jazz as Burton Naidoo's Musical Democracy quintet takes to the stage. This will be followed by a set from five-piece afro-beat outfit Tanga Pasi who hail from the Kalanga region of Zimbabwe and who will be making their third appearance at the Rainbow. For this performance the audience will get to hear the sounds of their debut full length album, Ntolontolo - A Long Time Ago. From there it’s "sho't left" to the unique sounds of Dr. Fly and The Nurses, an a capella trio in the tradition of the Andrew Sisters featuring the vocal talents of Sophie Basckin, Jessica Sole and Natalie Shama. Then it will be time for a "beega party" with electro-percussion trio Napalma fronted by Mozambican born/Brazilian raised vocalist Ivo Maia with Brazil's Cid Travaglia driving hard on djembe.

“The best part of it all is that with the kind and generous support of the Ethekwini Municipality we are able to use this event as a fundraiser for the Rainbow's charity of choice, the Open Door Crises Centre which is based in Pinetown and offers invaluable assistance to the victims of human trafficking and abuse. All monies raised from ticket sales will be donated to Open Door.” says Neil Comfort of the Rainbow.

Doors open at 1pm and tickets are R40 at the door. For more info contact the Rainbow on 083 706 2294 or 083 4638044.

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

Media Release

16th TIME OF THE WRITER International Writers Festival

Durban: 18 - 23 March 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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For Media Queries: 

Sharlene Versfeld/Kwazi Ngubane

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

Tel: +27 (0) 31 811 5628

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please note change of date for this.​

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

The presentation details will be as follows:

Date: Friday 15 March 2013

Time: 09:00 – 12:00

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

Contact: 031-2602506

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

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

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

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

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

The Alumni nominations include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mia Zwiegers for Best Costume Designer in Zama Zama.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Talent Campus Durban Calls for Filmmakers and Film Critics

Talent Campus Durban Calls for Filmmakers and Film Critics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Issued on behalf of the Durban International Film Festival by:

Sharlene Versfeld/Kwazi Ngubane

Durban FilmMart Project Snapped up by Three International Film Festivals

Durban FilmMart Project Snapped up by Three International Film Festivals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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February 10, 2012

Issued on behalf of the Durban FilmMart by:

Sharlene Versfeld / Kwazi Ngubane

Versfeld & Associates

031-8115628/ 083 326 3235

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

Note to Editors : 

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

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

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with special focus on Africa; it includes development programmes such as Talent Campus Durban. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors.  www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

SA Arts Journalism Awards - Call for Entries

SA Arts Journalism Awards - call for entries

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

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

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

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

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

- Reviewing

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

- Features

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

- Opinion pieces

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

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

- Best New Voice

- Special Contribution to Arts Journalism

- Best New Media Exponent

- Arts Photography

- Special Merit Award

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE AWARDS:

Entries

The following submissions procedures must be adhered to:

- The deadline for entries is Friday 8 March 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

The judging panel for the awards comprises:

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

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

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

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

NOTES FOR EDITORS 

About Business and Arts South Africa NPC:

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

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Lakin Morgan : BASA: info@basa.co.za

Sizzling Salsa on Durban's Beachfront

The heat is on as Salsa hits the beachfront this Sunday

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

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

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

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

For more info contact Daniel on

daniel@beat-route.co.za

or call 082 622 6902.

The World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFDA FILM NOMINATED FOR STUDENT OSCAR

AFDA FILM NOMINATED FOR STUDENT OSCAR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vieux Farka Toure - Hendrix of the Sahara for Rainbow Restaurant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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