The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have partnered to deliver a broader and finer 38^th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). This partnership is set to unlock many opportunities for South African filmmakers and address some of the key issues faced by the country’s film industry.

A first for the DIFF and IDC partnership, a pre-event launch is scheduled for Tuesday, 4 July in Johannesburg.

“We look forward to partnering with the Industrial Development Corporation and adding depth to what we have to offer in this year’s festival. The Centre for Creative Arts, which hosts DIFF, Time of the Writer, Poetry Africa and Jomba, four international festivals that offer platforms for film, literature, poetry and dance respectively, is honoured to be In Johannesburg, where we celebrate with the various stakeholders that ensure these festivals thrive and offer access for our local art’s practitioners to interact and connect with the global community.” Says, Mr David wa Maahlamela.

Having funded projects such as the world class Cape Town Film Studios, the IDC, through its Media and Motion Pictures business unit, is committed to growing the local film industry by helping local filmmakers turn their creative visions into reality.

The Cape Town Film Studio is the first custom-built Hollywood-style film studio complex of its kind in Africa and offers state-of-the-art support services.

“We offer funding for the production of motion pictures, including feature films, animation and television series. We also help boost audience development, support local television broadcasting and fund post-production facilities. Partnering with the Durban International Film Festival is a great opportunity for us to interact with the film industry and forge ways of further investing in our local film industry. We have really talented film makers in our country and we need to unearth more of the Zambezia’s and Tsotsi’s which we have previously funded,” says Manoj Seonath, acting Head for the IDC’s Media and Motion Pictures business unit.
 

The festival will run from the 13^th-23^rd of July.  The programme this year will include screenings across the city and surrounding townships, the Talents programme which is in its tenth year, training workshops, and opening and closing films for the fest.

SERPENT, a South African film by Amanda Evans, is scheduled as the opening feature film for this year. The film is by a female writer/director which coincides with the women-led film focus this year.

“This film is enthralling, it is such a well-crafted and brilliantly executed work of art. We are very proud to Open DIFF @ 38 with it. It is one which requires the audiences to come and experience it for themselves, I expect they will not be disappointed.” says Ms Chipo Zhou, Festival Curator.

The closing film will be another South African production, ASINAMALI, where Comrade Washington comes home and is adapted from Dr Mbongeni Ngema’s Broadway production of the same title. Dr Mbongeni Ngema is originally from Kwazulu-Natal and it is such a fitting platform to close the festival and celebrate with our local audiences.

Both films are in the official competition, an attestation of how good their work is on an international scale.  Tribute will be paid to three film and music industry stalwarts this year including the late and great Joe Mafela and Junaid Ahmed, and a living legend, Abdullah Ibrahim. Ahmed was a leading South African producer, mentor and pioneer who lost his life following a short illness at the age of 57. Mafela was a veteran South African television and film actor, writer and director; he was involved in a fatal car accident earlier this year. Retrospective screenings of the late legends’ respective films will be played at the festival to pay homage to their immeasurable contribution to the industry.

For DIFF 2017 accreditation, members of the media must submit their name, surname, picture and ID no. to sam@unamiconcepts.co.za or visit http://vp.eventval.eu/cca/diff2017/login to register.

ENDS.

For media related queries contact

Samukele Ngubane- DIFF 2017 PR Manager

Cell: 078 556 0965 | E-mail: sam@unamiconcepts.co.za

For IDC media related queries contact

Neo Sebiloane - Publicity Manager

Cell: 063 505 45 48 | E-mail: neos@idc.co.za

For more information on the DIFF 2017 and the Centre for Creative Arts please contact

Noluthando Lamula- Centre for Creative Arts Publications Officer

Tel: 031 260 1650 | E-mail: lamulan@ukzn.ac.za

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is one of the biggest festivals of its kind and the longest running film festival in Africa. Over the years DIFF has been successful in bringing together different filmmakers and industry experts from around the globe, recognizing talented filmmakers whose work may not have made it onto the mainstream, creating platforms for learning and a breeding ground for growth within the industry.  

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The 38th Durban International Film Festival is organized by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with support from eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the National Film and Video Foundation, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, and a range of other valued partners.

Samukele Ngubane

Public Relations Manager- DIFF 2017

Unami Concepts for the Center for Creative Arts

www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

Cell: 078 556 0965 | Fax: 086 527 7254 |Email:sam@unamiconcepts.co.za