SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge Big Derby Weekend for Hockey Pietermaritzburg- North and Central: Saturday 11 March

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge

Big Derby Weekend for Hockey

Pietermaritzburg- North and Central: Saturday 11 March

First girls’ hockey teams from around Maritzburg and surrounds will be taking to the pitch on Saturday 11 March to compete in the hotly contested derby for the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge.

The 12 schools taking part are divided up into the Pietermaritzburg North and Pietermaritzburg Central Regionals, with each regional having six teams. Epworth College and Hoerskool Voortrekker host the two tournaments concurrently. Epworth will host the tournament on their turf, and Voortrekker utilising the neighbouring turf at UKZN.

Holding a 100% record for the central tournament is Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High first. St Anne’s College from Hilton are the defending champions for the northern regional. Having dominated their regional, the team in blue have hoisted the trophy an impressive five out of six times in the seven years of this tournament. 

Saints will meet some strong competition in their hunt for a sixth title. They will take on hosts Voortrekker, The Wykeham Collegiate who have progressed through to the Grand Finals once, Treverton, Alexandra and Grace College. 

Under the guidance of a new coaching staff, the Green Machine are hoping to retain their fantastic record but will have a tough task as they are up against host school Epworth, Howick High, St John’s, Russell High and Maritzburg Christian School.

Both these regionals will be played in round robin format with 25 minute games, with a change over at half time.

“We are looking forward to a real festival of hockey this weekend, which will be packed with action and loads of fun,” says Tournament Director, Les Galloway. “Now in our seventh year, the tournament continues to provide opportunities for young talent to hone their skills. To be able to play against a number of schools, and learn from skills and techniques of other players, is hugely beneficial to growing the game.”

MD for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva says, “We wish all the players best of luck for these regionals, and although there is a focus on the game of hockey, we invite everyone to have fun and enjoy the spirit of playing with like-minded peers.”

The winners of these regionals will join Ferrum High School from Newcastle from who recently won the Northern KZN Regional, along with six other teams still to be decided from around KwaZulu Natal at the Grand Finals that will be hosted at St Mary’s DSG in July.

For more info like the Facebook page.

ENDS

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge Big Derby Weekend for Hockey

SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge Big Derby Weekend for Hockey

Pietermaritzburg- North and Central and Durban South Regionals

Next weekend, is a big derby weekend for hockey. Three hotly contested regionals will be played in the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge – both Pietermaritzburg North and Central Regional and the Durban South Regional.

Kicking off the second and third regionals on Saturday March 11, are the two Pietermaritzburg regionals running concurrently: The North is hosted by Hoërskool Voortrekker at UKZN, and the Central is hosted by Epworth College and takes place on home turf. Then on Sunday, March 12, the Durban South Regional, hosted by Hoërskool Werda takes place at the Three Schools Trust in Glenwood, Durban.

The Pietermaritzburg North Regional will no doubt see defending champions and five times winners St Anne’s and third in last year’s Grand Finals, aiming to hold onto the honours. Always a strongly contested regional other schools participating include Wykeham Collegiate, Treverton, Alexandra High School, Hoërskool Voortrekker and Grace College.

The Central Regional’s defending champs and six times winners Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High will be working hard to retain their 100% record against Howick, Epworth, St John’s, Russell High and Maritzburg Christian School.
Both these regionals will be played in round robin format with 25 minutes games, with a change over at half time.

The Durban South will also be played in round robin format and games last 20 minutes one way. Participating schools include regional winners and defending champs Amanzimtoti High who have raised the regional trophy twice, Kingsway High School, Kuswag Hoërskool, New Forest High School, Queensburgh Girls’ High School, and Hoërskool Werda.

“We are looking forward to a real festival of hockey this weekend, which will be packed with action and loads of fun,” says Tournament Director, Les Galloway. “Now in our seventh year, the tournament continues to provide opportunities for young talent to hone their skills. To be able to play against a number of schools, and learn from skills and techniques of other players, is hugely beneficial to growing the game.”

MD for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva says, “We wish all the players best of luck for these regionals, and although there is a focus on the game of hockey, we invite everyone to have fun and enjoy the spirit of playing with like-minded peers.”

The winners of these regionals will join Ferrum High School from Newcastle from who recently won the Northern KZN Regional, along with six other teams still to be decided from around KwaZulu Natal at the Grand Finals that will be hosted at St Mary’s DSG in July.
For more info like the Facebook page

Keeping it local - “the Kandasamys” in Durban

Keeping it local  - “the Kandasamys” in Durban

The much-anticipated South African film Keeping up with the Kandasamys directed by Jayan Moodley and produced by the late Junaid Ahmed and Helena Spring premiered to an audience of almost 600 ten days ago at Gateway SterKinekor in Durban. It opens nationwide in cinemas this Friday (March3).

Keeping up with the Kandasamys was filmed on a variety of locations in Durban including the Woodhurst Hall, the beachfront, BMW Supertech in Edwin Swales Road, Chatsworth Hospice, various parks, Wilson’s Wharf and Bangladesh Market amongst others.

Set in Chatsworth, in Durban, director Jayan Moodley said in an earlier interview that she “believes that we have managed to not only capture its idiosyncrasies but also its heart and soul, that will make global audiences fall in love with it too, over a barrel full of laughs.” After seeing it with along with a local audience at the premiere,  Moodley said “It was nail-biting watching it with the people that know the place, as I believed they would be the most critical, but as we had all hoped, the punch-lines landed and the audience laughed and clapped with enjoyment. I hope people all over the country come out to see it and enjoy the laughter and warmth of humanity it provides.”

“The film is a truly home-grown Durban product,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office, the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit. “It was written by Durban’s Rory Booth and Jayan Moodley and stars Durban actors Jailoshni Naidoo and Maeshni Naicker with Mishqah Parthiepha, Madhushan Sing, Rajesh Gopie and Koobeshen Naidoo and a host of local actors and extras in the cast totaling almost 500 from our city. And not only was the talent from Durban but forty-eight of the 80-strong crew including the director, writers and a producer were from Durban – that is something to make us all very proud. Big acknowledgments and thanks must go to the producers for their input in making this a proudly-Durban film.”

 “It is particularly poignant for us in the local film industry, as Durban-based producer, Junaid Ahmed, who, together with Helena Spring, was responsible for a number of other highly acclaimed South African films such as Happiness is a Four Letter Word, More than Just a Game, and Hard to Get, passed away in November last year during post-production of this film. It is a fitting “swan-song” for one of our own, who contributed hugely to the growth of the local industry through tireless efforts to nurture and encourage home-grown talent.”

‘We hope that the film is a shining example of what can be achieved in Durban, by Durban-people, and we look forward to welcoming many more film-makers to take advantage of the great locations we have in the city.”

Dueto open on circuit in South Africa on Friday, (March 3), the film has been made possible through support by the Durban Film Office, the KwazuluNatal Film Commission, The National Film And Video Foundation And The Department Of Trade & Industry. 

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Durban Film Office Partners With Uzalo To Train Local Film-Makers

MEDIA RELEASE
DURBAN FILM OFFICE PARTNERS WITH UZALO TO TRAIN LOCAL FILM-MAKERS

Six aspiring Durban film-makers have been given the opportunity to work behind the scenes on one of South Africa’s most watched soapies Uzalo, which boasts a viewership of almost three million per day.

EThekwini Municipality, through its film industry development unit the Durban Film Office, facilitated the yearlong placement of the six trainees who will gain experience by working on the popular SABC 1 drama series. This demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to empower emerging talented youth in the creative industry.

This is the second year that the trainee programme, which covers a number of areas of film-making including sound, camera, make-up and hair, art, continuity and wardrobe, is being run by Stained Glass Productions.  The programme aims to empower young people and create more technically savvy people for the local film industry.

The six Durban youth, who were selected from over 70 applications, includes Pinky Sozombile (make-up and hair), Slindokuhle Msomi (continuity), Thokozani Mahaye (sound), Mbusi Harrison Msane (art department), Philile Masondo (camera) and Ntombifuthi Zakwe (wardrobe).

Pinky Sozombile, 22, from Newlands West who studied beauty therapy at the Creative Arts College in Durban said the scope to learn on set has been fantastic. “I now know that I can do so much more with make-up. It’s not easy doing make-up for film, but I am loving it and hope to learn more about special effects as well.”

Slindokuhle Msomi, 24, from Umlazi, who has a diploma in film and TV production is enjoying the responsibility that comes with continuity on a film set. “Already I have been given an opportunity to work on my own which was very nerve-wracking at first, but people have been very helpful.”

Ntombifuthi “G-2” Zakwe, a 29 year-old fashion design and video technology graduate from Mobeni Heights is loving the challenge of working on a soapie with the many costume changes required daily.  “You have to know your callsheet and script inside out to ensure that you are looking after the actors well. I have been so humbled by the experience, and appreciate learning to work with so many different personalities.”

Setting her long term goals on being a director of photography one day, Philile Masondo, 21, from Ntuzuma, who has a diploma in film and TV production, is based in the camera department. She says that Uzalo provides a “whole new experience."It is helping me aim to be the best that I can be. There is so much experience to gain here.”

Mbusi Harrison Msane, 25, from Wyebank, is in the art department and also has a film and TV diploma. The focus for him at the moment is in the construction of the sets for Uzalo. “Working on this soapie is really helping me to groom myself for a career in film – I am learning so much.”

In the sound department, Thokozani Mahaye, a 21 year-old graduate in music production and sound technology from the Creative Arts College is enjoying working hard and is determined to prove herself in this department.

“There is nothing better than learning through experience,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office. “Programmes like this play an instrumental role in enabling Durban to grow its share in the market. The programme has supported 11 trainees over the past 18 months, many of whom continue to work for Uzalo. We are pleased to see the high level of commitment and enthusiasm shown by these six young people, and appreciate the contribution Stained Glass Productions is making to develop the local pool of skills in the industry.”

EThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede said this training was in line with the City’s vision to stimulate and develop the Durban film industry. “We need to grow a base of technically skilled people to support the production companies that choose to film here or are based in the City. The film industry provides great economic stimulation not only for film-related technical support but also other small, medium and micro enterprises such as freight and logistics, catering and security.”

She said the City working with Stained Glass Productions was a positive example of what can be done when the private sector and government collaborate with common aims.

ENDS

 

Flatfoot Dance Company to perform one-show only at KZNSA 17 Feb 2017

“connections between a quartet”

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY @ the KZNSA Gallery

Friday 17 February 2017 at 6pm

Durban’s inimitable FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY continues its partnership with the KZNSA Gallery and its 2017 performance calendar with a once-off specially conceptualised performance “connections between a quartet” on Friday, February 17 at 6pm.

The work uses all the spaces of the KZNSA to evoke a journey through a site; a journey through the deeply interior (and ever moving) identities of the four FLATFOOT dancers as they collaborative create an evening to spark the senses, and which echo in the big and small spaces of the gallery.  

In “connections between a quartet”, Jabu Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Sifiso Khumalo and Tshediso Kabulu, seamlessly move into the role of both choreographer and dancer as they begin to explore the nature of their own connections to one another and their connections to inner struggles around identity. As the dancers begin to metaphorically and physically peel off their layers of clothing, they reveal the vulnerable self that cannot but move audiences.

Directed and facilitated by FLATFOOT’s Artistic Director, Lliane Loots, this ‘event’ is a space to allow the emerging (and now award winning) artistic and choreographic voices of the four FLATFOOT dancers to shine.

FLATFOOT has a reputation for offering politically-charged dance theatre and this work is no exception. Small site-specific relationship vignettes play our between dancers who seamlessly move and flow between one another in close encounters. The gallery space allows for a more intimate engagement with the dance work and is ideal for a slightly voyeuristic look into the lives of others. As Loots says; “The four FLATFOOT dancers have created a landscape of intimate and deeply profound personal storytelling and I feel that we are seeing the new generation of Durban’s choreographers being born – do not miss it!”

“connections between a quartet”, is for one night only. The performance begins at 6.15pm on Friday the 17th February at the KZNSA Gallery and tickets are R50 can be purchase up to 40mins before the show. The KZNSA Coffee Shop will be open at this time.

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The Wound to Make World Premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival

The Wound to Make World Premiere at the

2017 Sundance Film Festival

Johannesburg, South Africa — The Wound, a film by by John Trengove, will make its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Film Festival takes place January 19-29 with screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah. The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Boyhood, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Whiplash, The End of the Tour, Little Miss Sunshine, Reservoir Dogs, An Inconvenient Truth, Precious and Napoleon Dynamite.

The Wound tells the story Xolani, a lonely Xhosa factory worker who joins the men of his community in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood. When a defiant initiate from the city discovers his best kept secret, Xolani's entire existence begins to unravel.

The Wound was co-written by John Trengove, Thando Mgqolozana and Malusi Bengu and produced by Urucu Media. It stars multi-talented musician and novelist, Nakhane Touré in his first ever film-role, alongside Bongile Mantsai and Niza Jay Ncoyini. It was shot entirely in South Africa with an all-male Xhosa cast.

"What a privilege to have worked with this fearless cast and insanely talented team of collaborators. I am so grateful for the many Xhosa men who contributed in big ways and small ways, and, miraculously, trusted me to make this film. Whatever comes next, we made The Wound with our eyes and hearts wide open," says Trengove.

The Wound is a co-production between South Africa, Germany, The Netherlands and France and was shot on location in the northern region of South Africa. The film was developed with the assistance of The Hubert Bals Fund and ARTE International Prize. The Department of Trade and Industry and The National Film and Video Foundation supported production and the film presold to broadcasters ARTE France and ZDF in Germany. International Sales will is handled by Pyramide in Paris. The film’s intended release in South Africa is July 2017.

This is John Trengove’s debut feature film.

For more information about The Wound, visit www.urucumedia.com/thewound

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Next week’s annual Jazz Jol is going BIG - Durban, South Africa

Next week’s annual Jazz Jol is going BIG

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal presents its 28th Jazz Jol on Wednesday, November 30 at 6pm.

The annual Jazz Jol, has become something of a legendary year-end celebration for music-lovers, with proceeds going to the Ronnie Madonsela Scholarship that assists disadvantaged jazz students at UKZN with financial aid or support. This year the Jol features student ensemble Nyimbo ya Bantu, the recently launched UKZN Big Band, the UKZN Trebles - a vocal group featuring UKZN Voice students, as well as a selection of students that have featured in the Centre’s showcases throughout the year.

Nyimbo ya Bantu, which means “people's song” in a blend of kiSwahili and isiZulu, is comprised of junior and senior jazz studies students from UKZN’s music discipline within the School of the Arts: Tseleng Mokhatla on flute, Ildo Nandja on double/electric bass and vocals, Nic Pitman on guitar, Zibusiso Makhathini on piano and Riley Giandhari on drums.

The ensemble’s repertoire mixes original compositions influenced by classic jazz, afro jazz and world music, with South African jazz standards and music by local artists from KwaZulu Natal. At the Jazz Jol they will perform, amongst other pieces, Rachel, composed by Pitman; Metamorphosis, composed and arranged by Nandja; End Times by Giandhari and Spirit of the Messenger by Makhathini. Audiences can also expect a cover composed by renowned South African pianist Bheki Mseleku. Nyimbo ya Bantu has performed at the Grahamstown Standard Bank Youth Jazz Festival, the Oslo Jazz Festival in Norway as part of the Nordic showcase and performs regularly at the Chairman in Durban.

“Audiences should expect a high quality musical performance with a fresh blending of traditional classic jazz with contemporary sounds of African and world music,” says Nyimbo ya Bantu’s band leader Nandja.

Directed by Burton Naidoo, the UKZN Big Band which was launched in June this year features a line-up of top talent - pianists Abigail Giddings and Jaedon Daniel, bassist Llewelyn Chetty, drummer Riley Giandhari, trumpeters, Siyanda Zulu, Sanele Qwabe, Phuti Mofokeng, and Talente Mhlongo, guitarist Kaylin Naidoo, Snothile Mkhize on clarinet, alto saxophonists Nwabisa Kheswa, Simone van Niekerk, Tim Lewis and Phumlani Mtiti, Tenor saxophonist Bonginkosi Mkhize and Trombonists Thembinkosi Khumalo, Mokgethisi Nkotsi, Tseleng Makhatla (flute) with Special guests Prof Salim Washington (tenor saxophone), Prof Mike Rossi from South African College of Music, University of Cape Town and George Mari (trumpet).

The Band will play a selection of favourites from their repertoire including standards such as Moten Swing by Buster Morten and two songs by living legend Ndikho Xaba arranged by John Kordalewski - Mad Mad and Nomusa.

“We are particularly excited by the band’s selection of music,” says Neil Gonsalves, Director for the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, “John Kordalewski and Bab’ Ndikho Xaba, the great KZN pianist and struggle stalwart, met in the late 1970’s while Bab’ Ndikho was living in USA Washington DC. It was here that he mentored John. In 2014, John came to see Bab’ Ndikho and spending time at the keyboard together in his house led to the idea of writing arrangements of Baba’s music to preserve his cultural legacy. John wanted to create a unique combination of the “big band” sounds and colours with South African fundamentals that are in Xaba’s compositions. They eventually recorded a few ideas, which John uses as a reference for his arrangements. John worked with the UKZN Big band in September, and is excited to present his arrangements of these works with these talented musicians.”

The Ronnie Madonsela Scholarship also provides bursaries for deserving students and also funds students’ travel visas for overseas trips, as well as national travel and accommodation to the National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown and other educational festivals, workshops and conferences.

The Jazz Jol takes place at The Centre for Jazz and Popular music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus. Tickets are R120, pensioners R80, and students R60 at the door. For more details contact Thuli Zama on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za

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African Art Centre – Christmas Exhibition - Florida Road, Durban

Media Release

African Art Centre – Christmas Exhibition - Florida Road

The African Art Centre will be opening its annual Christmas Exhibition on Thursday, 11 November 2016. This year’s exhibition, titled “An African Christmas”, will feature a wide range of affordable handcrafted beaded, wood carved, telephone wire and embroidered ornaments produced by artists and crafters from the KwaZulu-Natal region.   

Since its inception in 1959, one of the Centre’s core objectives has been to facilitate development projects to enhance the creative skills of our crafters and artists. The new direction of the Centre to make our craft more contemporary but keeping the African aesthetic has become the focus of the development project which was the precursor to the 2016 Christmas exhibition.  It was decided that this year’s new design theme “An African Christmas” would break away from the traditional Christmas look and will draw inspiration from contemporary vibrant African textile designs.

Crafters who have contributed towards the exhibition inlcude Happiness Dladla, Dumsile Mathe, Thokozane Mathe, Ntombi Mbambo, Mavis Jali, Nqobile Jeza, Tholani Mchunu, Ntombizonke Hlambisa, Maningi Mbonambi, Hlengiwe Mbhele, Mbaliyethu Mabuza, Ntokozo Mseleku, Sphindile Nkosi, Widus Mtshali, Sibusiso Gumede, Bheki Mkhumbuzi, Sibusiso Maphumulo, Phumlani Mbhele, Jabulani Mkhize and Vincent Tshulupi.

“An African Christmas” will be opened by celebrated South African composer and performer Sazi Dlamini.

The public is invited to enter the festive season in a proudly South African style and to support local craft producers exhibiting at “An African Christmas” exhibition.

The exhibition will be open on Thursday, 11 November 2016.  For additional information contact the African Art Centre on 031 303 4634, or visit at 94 Florida Road, Morningside.

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A Right to Quality Education: Is your child denied this right?

Media Release

A Right to Quality Education:  Is your child denied this right?

Action in Autism is hosting a meeting bringing the Department of Education, including directorate, parents and autistic people together in a dialogue session to air view and discuss challenges with a view to ensuring that every autistic child is able to access quality education.  

All parents, educators, managers of schools and autistic people who feel displaced inside or outside of the schooling system are invited to bring their voices to this meeting which takes place at the George Campbell School Hall from 2pm to 4pm on on Saturday 15 October.

 Action in Autism, a non-profit organisation, has been actively lobbying for a right to education for autistic children.  This advocacy work led to the creation of the Autism Action Plan for the province of KwaZulu Natal.  This was a three year plan to ensure that autistic children were included in the education system.  However there are still too many children being denied an education or receiving education that is substandard in South Africa public schools.   Action in Autism sees the impact on the family and the community when a child is left with no stimulation at home.  The organisation meets with parents and autistic learners to facilitate accessing a school.   Many families still struggle to receive fair and equal treatment within the schooling system, this despite the South African constitution that grants all children a right to education. 

Action in Autism, based in Sydenham, houses an early learning intervention centre for children ages 2 to 6 years, and provides free support, advice, research and information to people with autism and their families. A free monthly diagnostic clinic is offered to families who do not have access to medical aid, and Action in Autism runs bi-annual training workshops, hosted by a team of professionals, that aims to share information and transfer skills and techniques for communication to parents and professionals.

Entry to this meeting is free, and participants are invited to bring a plate of snacks to share. Please RSVP to 031 207 4858, or email info@actioninautism.org.za. 

For more information about Action in Autism and to attend the dialogue session with the Department of Education, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

Ends.

Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 207 4858/083 7774468

info@actioninautism.org.za

Uvo Lwamaciko Ethu (Expression of our creatives) - at The African Art Centre - Florida Rd Durban

Uvo Lwamaciko Ethu (Expression of our creatives)

The African Art Centre announces its hosting of the Uvo Lwamaciko Ethu Exhibition (Expression of our Creatives) in commemoration of South Africa’s National Heritage day. Observed annually on 24 September, this public holiday encourages South Africans to celebrate their cultures, diversity of beliefs and traditions and to embrace our multicultural society. The group of 10 exhibition participants is comprised of both emerging and established artists and crafters who have visually interpreted and celebrated Heritage day through a collection of two and three dimensional works. The participant exhibitors are: Welcome Danca (Painting on canvas), Zakhele Hlabisa (Painting on canvas), Jabulani Cele (Painting on canvas),  Sabastien Pillay (Pen and ink on paper), Lindelani Ngwenya (Softwire sculpture), Innocent Hlela (Hardwire sculpture), Bhekinkosi Gumbi (Wood sculpture), Angeline Masuku (Ilala basketry), Lobolile Ximba (Beaded sculptural dolls) and Xolile Ndlovu (Embroidered textiles).

The various forms of art are indicative of our culture.  Many of these traditions have been passed down from one generation to the next.  The Centre has over the past 55 years not just fostered the development of our local traditional art forms but has also promoted the production of it.  The value of indigenous craft is celebrated on a daily basis when someone purchases a piece of art or an international visitor recognises the mastery and beauty created by local hands.  This exhibition provides a shared platform for artists and crafters to showcase traditional and modern contemporary visual art and craft trends.  By presenting multiple genres of visual work, the Centre is celebrating the multiple creative voices of our artists and crafters and is encouraging preservation of our heritage.

Lobolile Ximba (1953) is a household name in the beaded doll making tradition of KwaZulu Natal; she is a master doll maker who has passed her skills to numerous doll beaders. Her sculptural dolls are clothed in bright beaded regalia; each outfit signifies either a young girl, unmarried woman or a married woman. Lobolile’s mastery of the doll making tradition is clearly depicted by her almost life size 1 metre high doll sculpture clad in colourful beadwork, isidwaba skirt and an adorable pair of canvas takkies.

Bhekinkosi Gumbi (1971) is a skilled self-taught wood-carving artist from Nongoma, in northern KwaZulu Natal. His painted sculptures are carved out of Umganu wood and he enjoys making figurines of political figures, celebrities, musicians and sports personalities. The most intriguing element on his work is his ability to capture striking realistic appearances combined with caricatured facial features and an expression of emotion and personality through gestures.

Welcome Danca (1978) grew up in Port Shepstone but currently lives in Durban. His artistic talent was spotted while in high school where he sketched in pencil and charcoal and when the late renowned artist, Trevor Makhoba took the young artist under his wing and mentored him. Welcome paints in oil and acrylic paint on canvas where he explores personal memories and everyday life scenes. This artist has lately been producing oil paintings executed in rich painterly marks in a semi-abstract technique through which he makes commentary on social issues. 

Lindelani Ngwenya (1975) learnt wood-carving and drawing skills at the age of 10, by watching his father who was a wood-carver. This artist has worked in etching and lithograph mediums as well but has become widely known for his woven copper wire sculptures. He created a unique wire-weaving technique by meticulously plaiting two pieces of copper wire into a long strip which is thereafter woven into 3 dimensional shapes. His current work is woven in the same technique but in colourful telephone wire instead. His netted telephone wire figurines often portray individuals in expressive poses such as singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments.

Angeline Masuku (1967) is a widely respected master Ilala weaver in and outside South Africa. She learnt the grass weaving method from her aunt, Khawulina Gcwensa; by 1984 Angeline was already designing her own Ilala woven baskets. Angeline is known for producing cylindrical shaped Ilala grass baskets depicting geometric and figurative patterns.  What has set this crafter apart was her ability to master the traditional Ilala weaving technique and being able to skillfully transform her products into contemporary vessels which are sought after by public and private collectors and interior decorators.

Xolile Ndlovu (1981) grew up in eMzinyathi Area and currently lives with her son in Richmond Farm also located outside Durban. Xolile was part of an African Art Centre embroidery skills development project called ‘Ntokozo’ group where a group of women narrated colourful stories on embroidered textiles. In this project the participating women were taught new skills of embroidery, beading and appliqué; this group produced the beaded South African flags which now hang at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Xolile became an outstanding member of the group as she continued to transpose everyday life scenes and historical symbols onto embroidered textile wall hangings. Her work has become a powerful tool of sharing personal stories with the public, her textiles are collected and treasured not only by local clientele but also by an increasing number of international art lovers.

Innocent Hlela (1971) currently lives in Ntuzuma Township outside Durban; he has been part of the Durban art scene for a number of years. He recalls his artistic journey to have begun at the age of 11 when he produced toy cars from salvaged wooden tomato crates and selling them to people in his community.  In the early 1990s, he joined the Velobala Art Group, an African Art Centre outreach project where he was recognised as one of the highest achieving students. This self-motivated artist is highly expressive in mosaic, sculpture and telephone wire, more recently specialising in 3-dimensional telephone wire figurines neatly woven in the hardwire weaving technique.

Jabulani Cele (1981) is an emerging artist residing in Inanda Township outside Durban. He mainly works in oil and acrylic on canvas and his subject matter is concerned with his surroundings and township lifestyles.

Zakhele Hlabisa (1987) is from Mtubatuba area in KwaZulu Natal. He describes himself as a natural born conceptual artist when it comes to portraiture. He initially participated in the iSimangaliso art programme and later joined the Velobala Saturday Art Classes conducted by the African Art Centre. This artist works in many mediums but is commonly known for his acrylic paintings executed in an almost realistic technique. His work depicts ordinary individuals engaging in mundane but emotion-provoking situations.

Sabastien Pillay (1995) is the youngest participant in the group; this will be the third time that he showcases work at the African Art Centre. Sabastien has worked in his unique signature style of detailed pen and ink drawings on paper. His almost illustrative works challenge traditional composition principles and bring an exciting fresh contemporary twist to the exhibition. 

For more details contact the African Art Centre on 031 312 3804/5 or email
africanartcentre@afri-art.co.za.

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Musa Hlatshwayo receives Eric Shabalala Contemporary Dance Champion Award at JOMBA!

Media Release

Musa Hlatshwayo receives Eric Shabalala Contemporary Dance Champion Award at JOMBA!

The Centre for Creative Arts and the Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience Dance Festival honoured  acclaimed Durban dancer, choreographer and dance educator Musa Hlatshwayo, with the Eric Shabalala Dance Champion Award last night.

‘The JOMBA! Eric Shabalala Dance Champion Award, now in its 6th year, is in honour of the memory of Eric Mshengu Shabalala who tragically passed away in 2011; he was a local dancer, choreographer, teacher and one of the founding dancers of the Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre in Durban,” says Artistic Director of JOMBA! Lliane Loots. “ In a fitting tribute, the Centre for Creative Arts and Jomba! each year honour KwaZulu-Natal’s stalwart dancers and dance teachers – in the name of Eric Shabalala.”

“This award is given not only in recognitions of performance or choreographic excellence, but also more profoundly and more importantly it is given in recognition of dance practitioners who have worked tirelessly to help grow a culture of dance and dance training in Durban – who have supported the growth of dance as an art form at both community and regional level,” she says.

“The selection of award winners for this prize, by the Jomba! Committee, goes beyond just the selection of the best dancer but of those who also make the biggest social contribution to their communities. It looks at those who go beyond the call of duty, often with little or no funding, to put KZN dancers on the international map. This is the spirit of Eric Shabalala that we see living and continuing in Musa’s work.”

Musa is a multi-award winning young choreographer, performer, educator, voice artist with experience in the performing arts and community development. He completed BA  in Media and Communications as well as Drama and Performance Studies at the UKZN.  He trained with the Flatfoot Student company for 2 years and received an opportunity to go and train at the Copenhagen School of Modern Dance before returning to UKZN where he received his BA Honours and a Dance in Education postgraduate certificate which he completed while working as one of the founding members of Flatfoot Dance Company in 2003. He has also worked with the Fantastic Fish Dance Company, Portia Mashigo Dance Theatre, Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, Phenduka Dance Theatre, First Physical Theatre Company, the Handsfree Puppetry Company, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and a list of other independent theatre directors, choreographers and producers.

Hlatshwayo is passionate about the role of contemporary dance in a developing communities and the role it plays in fostering dialogue across socio-political divides. He has been seen in various educational institutions locally and abroad as a tutor, guest lecturer, course coordinator and external examiner in the arts departments. 

The festival continues this weekend closing off tonight (Saturday) and Sunday at 7.30pm at the Sneddon Theatre with the African premiere of acclaimed dancer/ choreograper Vincent Mantsoe’s work “KonKoriti’, who will also perform this piece at the Wits Theatre on September 8.

JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) with valuable support from the eThekwini Municipality. 

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Caption to pic: David Wa Maahlamela, Director of the Centre for Creative Arts hands over the Eric Shabalala Dance Champion Award to Musa Hlatswayo.

Action in Autism Honours Women

Media Release

Action in Autism is honouring all the wonderful moms, grannies, sisters, aunts and caregivers who support people with autism, as well as women with autism themselves, in August.  A non-profit organisation, Action in Autism provides early intervention for 16 children under the age of 6 at their Centre in Sydenham. The organisation also provides a free walk-in resource and support service, a free diagnostic clinic, and regular support group meetings for families of people with autism.

To celebrate Women’s Month, Action in Autism is holding a Mad Hatter High Tea Fundraiser on Saturday 13 Augustfrom 2pm to 5pm at the George Campbell School Hall, 261 Sylvester Ntuli Road. All moms, caregivers, or anyone who would love to support the Centre and people with autism are welcome to attend.  Guests will be serenaded by the beautiful Thuli Zama, with piano accompaniment by Andile Mnikathi. Enjoy mini manis, pedis, and shoulder massages in addition to tea, coffee, cake and sandwiches. Wear a sensational hat to the event and win a prize!

Action in Autism does not receive any funding from government, and welcomes support through cash or kind, or through volunteering . Tickets for the High Tea are R150 and available from the Action in Autism office. The event is free to all single moms of people with autism. For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

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Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 207 4858/083 7774468

info@actioninautism.org.za

Lebogang Phalula flies solo through Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km

Lebogang Phalula flies solo through Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km

Sunday 7 August

Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) flew through the finish line in this morning’s (Sunday 7 August) Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km in a respectable time of 34.41 – slicing off 1min 29secs off last year’s winning time.

The visibly relaxed athlete, whose only quest was to win the race, said after her run, “I managed to break away from the seeded runners in the first kilometre of the race, and I was pretty much alone from there on. I asked my friend Cornelia (Joubert) to stick with me for this race but she was unable to.”

“This was my first Maritzburg race, and I was not expecting so many hills, which were pretty tough, but I did enjoy it especially from the 8km mark where it was pretty much a downhill stride for me – it felt like I was floating.”

There is much excitement in the Phalula household as her sister, Lebo will be representing South Africa at the Rio Olympics in the Marathon this coming Sunday. For Lebogang, her focus is on the Totalsports 10km Race taking place in Johannesburg on Women’s Day.

Finishing 75 seconds behind Phalulua, Jenet Dlamini, (Umzimkhulu) crossed the line in a time of 35.56 followed by Cornelia Joubert (Boxer) 45 seconds later in 36.41.

Dlamini from Umzimkhulu stated that overall she was happy with her race, “It was a tough run for me having run the Hammarsdale 10km race last week so my legs were a bit tired.”

It was also Joubert’s first experience at the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s race, and although she was unfamiliar with the route, she was aiming for a top five position. “I was pleased with my result and my time even after having rested quite a bit this week as I had pushed myself in the 21.1km SA Champs in PE, where I finished tenth last weekend.”

There were a record number of entries this year of 4039 that competed in ideal running conditions. The capital of KwaZulu-Natal was slightly overcast with a bit of a nip in the air. The youngest runner clocked in at 9 years old and the oldest runner was 73 year old Beryl Trussler who finished in a time of 53.29.

Alexandra High athlete, Thembekile Mthimunye (17) took the honours in the 5km race breezing through in a time of 25.47.

“Well done to everyone who came out to brave the slight chill in the air. It was particularly festive this year, perhaps young and old alike have been inspired by the spirit of the Olympic Games in Rio? Whatever the reason, it was a joy to see so many people coming out in force to participate and have so much fun,” said MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson.

The official race charity CHOC, will receive R8000 donation from the race entries.

Results

10km Open

1 Lebogang Phalula (Boxer) 34.41, 2 Jenet Dlamini (Umzimkhulu) 35.56, 3 Cornelia Houbert (Boxer) 36.41, 4 Jen Challenor (KPMG) 37.01, 5 Makhosi Mhlongo (Savages) 38.08, 6 Anet Coetzee 38.27, 7 Sizisandele Mkhize 39.14, 8 Janene Carey (Boxer) 39.48, 9 Suzette Botha (Eskom) 39.50, 10 Abigail Solms 41.31

15 – 19 years

1 Nosihle Phungula 47.45, 2 Fezeka Hadebe 50.55, 3  Kirsten Ahrens 1.05.18

35 – 39 years

1 Jen Challenor 37.01, 2 Nonsikelelo Mbambo 43.26, 3 Sindiswe Jali 49.39

40 – 49 years

1 Janene Carey 39.48, 2 Suzette Botha 39.50, 3 Xolisile Mwelase 47.04

50 – 59 years

1 Elana Pessenbacher 50.41, 2 Robyn Mellett 53.55, 3 Ntombifikile Mtungwa 57.27

60+ years

1 Sandra Fismer 47.53, 2 Jenny Tauloe 53.06, 3 Barbara Wright 1.10.01

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When JOMBA! and powerful women collide

When JOMBA! and powerful women collide

The JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience – the twelve day exhilarating feast of dance takes place from 24 August to 4 September at the University of KwaZulu Natal Howard College’s Sneddon Theatre and KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood.

This year’s festival hosts dancers and dance companies from Switzerland, Austria, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Reunion Island, France and South Africa. Honouring the long term vision of JOMBA! to shine a light on the African continent and to make artistic connection with the rest of Africa, and in time Women’s Month in August, Jomba! premieres a collaboration between three exceptional African female dance-makers. South Africa’s Desiré Davids, Gabi Saranouffi from Madagascar and Edna Jaime of Mozambique come together to share their vision in a dance piece called “Lady, Lady”, an idea that was conceived when they met and worked together at residences over 2015/16.

Born in Paarl, Desiré graduated from the University of Cape Town School of Dance and is an internationally recognised contemporary dancer and choreographer. She is the co-founder together with Boyzie Cekwana of the Floating Outfit Project which was formed in 1997. The company has received International recognition as one of Africa’s ground breaking and cutting edge performance companies and has toured extensively in Europe, Africa as well as the USA. In 1999 she received the award for “Most Outstanding Female Performer” for her performance in “Rona” which won first prize at the 3rd International African and Indian Ocean Choreography Competition in Madagascar. Desiré’s first appearance on the JOMBA! stage was in 2010 with a premiere of her work titled “Who Is This...Beneath My Skin” on which she collaborated with French photographer Pascale Berouion.

Gaby, the second of the women trio is one of the most prominent female artists in the history of dance in Madagascar. She founded the I'Trôtra festival  which is a platform for the Malagasy art form, becoming a unifying structure of talents and artists of all kinds but also for all people working in the field of performing arts. The last fit of the trio is Maputo based Mozambican Edna Jaime, an independent dancer and choreographer. She began her dance career in 1996 with traditional dance in The House of Culture of Maputo. Her work is a mesmerising mash-up between traditional and contemporary dance.

These artists share, explore and exchange their realities in order to give voice to various commonalities, challenges and images as they move towards a commentary on current issues facing women in the African context. Full of wit, irony and spirited dance this is sure to be a talking point of the festival.

Other dance companies that will feature at Jomba! include France’s Company Ex Nihilo, Mamaza, Swiss company that is winning awards throughout the world, Reunion Island’sSoul City which best known for the innovative ways in which it uses Hip Hop to confluence into contemporary dance. Hip-Hop and the power of the urban dance Bboyz and BGirlz is further highlighted at the festival with the collaboration between Austrian choreographer Daniel Renner and Durban’s inimitable Flatfoot Dance Company.  The acclaimed South African born dancer and choreographer Vincent Mantsoe is also on the line-up with an African premiere of his new solo work titled “KonKoriti”.

Tickets are R60.00 or R45.00 (scholars/students/pensioners) for the Sneddon Theatre and bookings can be done via Computicket (or at venue from one hour before). Tickets for the KZNSA Gallery are R50 (no concessions) and available at venue only – from one hour before the performance.

 For more information and the programme, please go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za and join us on Facebook (JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience) and Twitter (Twitter@Jomba_dance).

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CHOC: The official charity of Pietermaritzburg SPAR Women's Race

CHOC: The official charity of Maritzburg SPAR Women’s Race

The Pietermaritzburg branch of CHOC, the Childhood Cancer Foundation, is once again the official race charity of the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km which take place around Alexandra Park on Sunday, August 7.

Two rand from every entry will go to the foundation, which essentially is a support group of parents with children with cancer who support fellow parents and children with cancer.

“We rely heavily on donations and financial support from the public and other sources so we can provide free board and lodge and other invaluable services to children with cancer and their families,” says Agie Govender, Regional Manager for CHOC KZN. “We are really grateful to everyone who participates in this race for the contribution they are making to this service."

‘We are pleased to be able to support CHOC as they provide an incredible support for parents and children,” says Rob Philipson MD of SPAR KZN. “Thank you to all of you involved in providing this support."

The 10km race is open to entrants 14 years and older and the 5km to 9 years and older. 

Entries are limited to 4,000 and the 10km distance is open from age 14 and to the 5km from age 9, the age restrictions being applicable on the day of the competition. Entry fees are R90 for the 10km licensed athletes and for the 5km runners. The entry fee for the Non-licensed athletes is R100; the extra R10 includes a temporary licence for the day. 

EFT entries have now closed and only Credit Card can be taken online until Saturday 30 July. Thereafter participants can enter at the Oval on Friday 5 (10am to 5pm) and Saturday, 6 August (10am to 3pm).

For more info contact the race organisers on maritzburg@sparwomensrace.co.za or visit the official race on www.sparwomensrace.co.za or like the Facebook page.

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Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km Pietermaritzburg: Sunday 7 August

Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km Pietermaritzburg: Sunday 7 August

The running of the Maritzburg leg of South Africa’s Most Beautiful Race will be taking to the roads of the KZN capital on Sunday 7 August for the annual SPAR Women’s 10/5km. 

Settling back into its usual winter date, the race will have a field of green flowing along the roads in and around The Oval where an expected 4,000 athletes will be taking the challenge of the two distances. The event is the biggest women’s athletic event and second biggest annual road running event to take place in the city aside from the Comrades Marathon. 

Both the routes will remain unchanged, with the start line set adjacent to Maritzburg College’s main rugby field, Goldstones, and the finish line in The Oval cricket stadium. 

Both races will start at 8.00am after the playing of the National Anthem. The 10km and 5km participants will set off together with the first half of the race looping around the outskirt of the CBD, with the 5km race turning into The Oval and the 10km athletes doing another loop around the schools’ precinct, before returning back to The Oval. 

A strong field of local runners is expected to compete this year with the defending champ, Tebogo Masehla rumoured to be back. The big names in this year’s SPAR Grand Prix will be flying the South African flag at the Rio Olympics which leaves a win and the R8,000 winner’s purse open to the remaining local contenders. 

Entries are open, with two options to enter. The first is online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za where you can either pay by Credit Card or by EFT. The second option is a Manual Entry at Race Registration on Friday 5 August and Saturday 6 August at The Oval cricket stadium in Alexandra Park. Companies, running clubs and groups of 10 or more can enter through the Bulk Entries option, simply email bulk@sparwomensrace.co.za for more information. 

Entries to the 10km distance are open from age 14 and to the 5km from age 9, the age restrictions being applicable on the day of the competition. Entry fees are R90 for the 10km licensed athletes and for the 5km runners. The entry fee for the Non-licensed athletes is R100; the extra R10 includes a temporary licence for the day. 

Once again the official race charity is CHOC (The Childhood Cancer Foundation) and R2 from every entry will be donated to them.

For more info contact the race organisers on maritzburg@sparwomensrace.co.za or visit the official race on www.sparwomensrace.co.za or like the Facebook page.

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​Audience Choice Awards at the 37th Durban International Film Festival

Audience Choice Awards at the 37th Durban International Film Festival

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced the Audience Choice Awards for the best DIFF film and the top Wavescape film at this year’s festival.

Under the DIFF banner, the film Nakom (Ghana/USA) took the honours. Directed by Kelly Daniela Norris and Trav Pittman, the feature tells a story of a Ghanaian medical student named Iddrisu, played by Jacob Ayanaba, whose life comes to a halt when his father dies unexpectedly. As the eldest son, he is called to return to his family homestead to bury his father, only to discover family tensions between his mother and his father’s 'junior' wife. The film shows a dramatic portrayal of the enduring conflict between the modern and the traditional in which Iddrisu wishes to move forward without betraying his upbringing Nakom has been described as a window into a culture and language rarely shown on screen.

The Icelandic film No Country For Cold Men won the audience choice award in the Wavescape Surf Film Festival at the DIFF. Directed by Ryan Mattick, the film is based on a kneeboarder, bodyboarder and surfer who go on a surf trip to break free of the conflict among their ilk. The film challenges the notion of harmony in a humorous manner while taking a closer look at the surf society. 

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Durban FilmMart Awards 2016

Media Release

Durban FilmMart Awards 2016

The Durban FilmMart (DFM), the industry development programme of the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival, wrapped up  tonight (June 20) with an awards ceremony at the Tsogo Maharani Hotel in Durban, South Africa.

“DFM is considered one of Africa’s most important film finance platforms and industry gatherings, and this year around 550 film-makers from around the globe, with a significant representation from Africa, attended the festival for four days of pitching, forums and networking sessions,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office. “Over 600 meetings were held, in a robust and very engaging event this year.”

An integral part of the DFM is the finance and co-production forum, which this year had 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 variety of industry partners that have seen the value of supporting and developing African content for both continental and global markets. These partners have engaged with projects over the four days, and a number of grants and awards were provided to projects with the aim to support their further development.

The Awards/Grants:

·      The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program award for the documentary film project that demonstrated potential for strong storytelling craft, artistic use of visual language, originality, feasibility, and relevance went to Hatim’s Dream (Uganda - Producer: Nathan Magoola, Director: Matthew Bishanga). This projects receives a cash award of $5000 for further development.

·      Afridocs, the broadcast stream that sees African and other international documentaries screened across 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa on a weekly basis, gave a €3000 grant toTestament (Kenya, Producer: Meena Nanji, Directors: Meena Nanji and Zippy Kimundu).

·      The CineMart Award, sponsored by the co-production market of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, went to the fiction project, Disco Afrika (Madagascar, Producer: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck, Executive Producers: Herizo Rabary and Randriamantsoa, Director: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck) which is given 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) awarded the most promising documentary project at the DFM, Wizard of Zim (South Africa, Producers: Lesedi Oluko Moche and Carolyn Carew, Director: Samora Sekhukhune) with an opportunity to attend theIDFA Forum, the largest and most influential meeting place for documentary filmmakers, producers, commissioning editors, funds, private financiers and other documentary stakeholders in Europe, in November.

·      Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes), awarded the fiction film Headland(South Africa, Producer: David Horler, Director: Elan Gamaker) 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-on-one consultation 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. This was given to the project On the Bus by Nadine Cloete. Restless Talents also gave a special mention to the project Nama by Kelly-Eve Koopman. 

·      Videovision Entertainment awarded the “Best South African Film Project”  to Abnormal Loads (South Africa, Producer: Elias Ribeiro, Cait Panesgrouw. Director: Neil Coppen) a prize valued at R75 000, which guarantees its release once it is completed. The prize includes marketing and distribution support from Videovision Entertainment.

·      Versfeld & Associates, publicity consultants will develop publicity material and advise on publicity profiling through the development two projects – The Mango Tree that Danced with Sea Breeze (South Africa/ Kenya, Producer Lunghi Zondi and Philippa Ndisi-Hermann, Director Philippa Ndisi-Hermann) and Inga, Inge (Zimbabwe, Producer Veronique Doumbe, Director Tsitsi Dangarembga).

·  Sørfond awarded the project Un Fils (Tunisia, Producer: Habib Attia,Director: Mehdi M. Barsaoui) with an opportunity to pitch at the Sørfond Pitching Forum in Oslo later this year.

·      The International Organisation of La Francophonie awarded a grant of 5000 Euro for the Francophone project Disco Afrika (Madagascar, Producer: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck, Executive Producers: Herizo Rabary and Randriamantsoa, Director: Razanajaona Ambinintsoa Luck).

“It is through these partnerships that DFM projects are able to develop further along the path to completion, so we would like to thank all our partners for their support,” says Toni Monty. “For independent filmmakers, the mentorship and support given by partners during the DFM, enables them to take their projects to the next level paving the way for the creation of a fully fledged product, which hopefully one day will return for exhibition at the Durban International Film Festival.”

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

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Dutch Delegation, Focus and Meetings at the DIFF & DFM

Media Release

Dutch Delegation, Focus and Meetings at the DIFF & DFM

The Durban International Film Festival this year hosts a Dutch focus at this year’s edition with five titles being screened, while the Durban FilmMart, welcomes a delegation from the Netherlands to meet South African film-makers to develop new networks in the country, and promote the treaty, which was signed earlier this year, between the two countries.

The Dutch film focus has been curated by Gertan Zuilhof of the Rotterdam Film Festival, in recognition of the Dutch-South African Co-production Treaty. Dutch feature films include the brilliant Schneider vs Bax, a contract-killer film with a difference, Full Contact about a remote drone operator who accidentally bombs a school, 12 Months in One Day which chronicles a bitter-sweet new year’s eve in Amsterdam, Prince, a powerful but nuanced coming-of-age story, and Zurich, which tells the story of Nina, a woman who attempts to lose herself in Europe’s motorways. The Dutch focus is rounded off with three short films that form part of the short film programme.

The delegation hosted by the NFVF, includes Frank Peijnenburg- Head of Screen at The Netherlands Film Fund, Laurette Schilling from Topkapi Films, Wilant Boekelman, from Dutch Muntain Movies, and Pieter van Hustee Film, met with South African producers at a brunch, and also presented a panel at the Durban FilmMart on Dutch co-production, funding and incentives.

The Netherlands Film Fund is the national agency responsible for supporting film production in the Netherlands and activities such as festivals and training. Its focus is to develop and strengthen Dutch cinema and film culture both domestically and internationally. The Film Fund also oversees the activities of the Netherlands Film Commission.

The Netherlands has treaties with Canada, France, Germany, China and South Africa and is now preparing a treaty with Wallonia Brussels Federation of Belgium.

“The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) congratulates Netherlands as the country of focus at this year’s edition of DIFF. “ says Head of Marketing & Communications, Peter Kwele. “In line with this and in recognition of the co-production treaty signed between two countries in December 2015, the NFVF have organised a few events involving Dutch filmmakers and their South African counterparts at the festival. These events are a means celebrate the treaty, MOU signed in May 2016 and encourage co-productions between Dutch and South African filmmakers.  “

For the full programmes go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za and www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

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Durban FilmMart 2013 Finance Forum Winner 'Five Fingers for Marseilles' saddles up

Media Release

DURBAN FILMMART 2013 FINANCE FORUM WINNER ‘FIVE FINGERS FOR MARSEILLES’ SADDLES UP

Seven years after writer Sean Drummond and director Michael Matthews first set out on an 8000km research and development journey around the country, The Be Phat Motel Film Company and Game 7 Films’ Five Fingers for Marseilles, which was a project at the 2013 Durban FilmMart, is taking its next big step to the big screen.  The film, a contemporary South African thriller modelled on the western and played in Sesotho and isiXhosa, with a top-tier, fully local cast, begins production in the Eastern Cape in July 2016, in association with Stage 5 Films and Above the Clouds. 

Once, the young ‘Five Fingers’ fought for the rural town of Marseilles, against brutal police oppression. Now, twenty years after fleeing in disgrace, freedom-fighter-turned-‘outlaw’ Tau (Vuyo Dabula) returns, seeking only peaceful anonymity. Finding the town under vicious new threat, he must choose whether to run again or to reluctantly fight to free it.  Will the Five Fingers stand again?

Dabula heads an ensemble cast featuring Thishiwe Ziqubu, Kenneth Nkosi, Mduduzi Mabaso, Lizwi Vilakazi, Kenneth Fok, Anthony Oseyemi and Dean Fourie, with Jerry Mofokeng.  Cast by Moonyeenn Lee, the film will look to local Eastern Cape communities for a number of youth and supporting roles.

Five Fingers is Be Phat Motel’s first narrative feature, after international documentary and shorts success. Game 7 Films’ Yaron Schwartzman and Asger Hussain’s credits include Academy-Award-winning Precious, The Paperboy, and upcoming true-life crime-story 37.  Stage 5 Films’ credits include Silwerskermfees-winner Hollywood in my Huis, Unearthed, the upcoming The Whale Caller and DIFF opening film The Journeymen. 

The film was awarded DFM Finance Forum’s ‘Best South African Film in Development’ in 2013.  Indigenous Film Distribution will release in South Africa in 2017 and XYZ Films will represent for North American sales.  The film is made possible with the support of the NFVF and the DTI, with additional services from Dupa Films.

Five Fingers for Marseilles will premiere internationally in early 2017.

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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