NAME OF FESTIVAL: Durban International Film Festival
SINCE: 1980
WHERE: Durban, South Africa
WEBSITE: www.durbanfilmmart.com/DurbanIntFilmFestival
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: “The Durban International Film Festival ( DIFF), the oldest and largest festival in Southern Africa, presents over 250 screenings celebrating the best in South African, African and international cinema; with filmmaker workshops, industry seminars, discussion forums, community engagement events, competitions and much more.”
The Durban International Film Festival taking place July 17 to 27, 2014, announced that the opening film at DIFF 2014 will be Hard To Get from first-time feature director Zee Ntuli and produced by Junaid Ahmed and Helena Spring.
The film tells the story of TK, a handsome young womanizer from a small community who falls for a sexy, reckless young thief named Skiets. Thrust into Joburg’s criminal underworld TK realises that his best bet is to trust her and hang on for dear life.
I Afrikaner
South Africa’s largest and longest-running film festival, the Durban International Film Festival, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, (a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, College of Humanities, Prof Cheryl Potgieter) presents its 35th edition from 17 to 27 July 2014. This year, the ten day celebration of world class cinema will see over 200 screenings of new films from South Africa, the continent and the world, with a number of world premiere screenings of local and international films.
THE LAND OF HOPE
The 34th edition of the Durban International Film Festival announced its award-winners, presenting the award for Best Feature Film to the film THE LAND OF HOPE. The International Jury commended Sion Sono for a film that “masterfully and humbly draws together an array of cinematic means of expression to engage us in a story”. The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to South African filmmaker Andrew Worsdale for his film DURBAN POISON.
As we reported earlier, the World Premiere “OF GOOD REPORT” from South African director Jahmil XT Qubeka was scheduled to open the 34th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), in Durban, South Africa, on Thursday, July 18, 2013. However, just before the festival was scheduled to begin, the filmmakers tweeted that the opening night film screening had to be canceled at the last minute after the South African government Film and Publication Board effectively censored the film. Instead an image was displayed on the screen that read, “This film has been refused classification by the Film and Publication Board, in terms of the Film and Publications Act of 1996. Unfortunately we may not legally screen the film, Of Good Report, as doing so would constitute a criminal offense.”
Connie Jackson as Alina, the housekeeper, Damon Shalit as Frikkie and Chella Ferrow as Sussie in African Gothic directed by Gabriel Bologna which will have its SA Premiere at DIFF
AFRICAN GOTHIC, the new international film version of Reza de Wet’s iconic masterpiece, Diepe Grond, will have its South African and African premiere at the 2013 Durban International Film Festival.
Closing Night Film – Free Angela
From July 18 to 28, 2013, Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) in South Africa, will feature over 250 screenings, including 72 feature films, 48 documentaries and 45 short films. As part of its African Focus this year’s festival will open with ‘ground-breaking African-noir work’ Of Good Report by filmmaker-on-the-rise Jahmil XT Qubeka. Telling the story of a serial killer obsessed with beautiful young girls, the film expands the language of African cinema. The festival’s closing film acknowledges Angela Davis, an important figure in the African diaspora, with the film Free Angela – and all political prisoners, directed by Shola Lynch.
OF GOOD REPORT, from South African director Jahmil XT Qubeka, will have its World Premiere as the opening night film of the 34th Durban International Film Festival in South Africa on July 18. OF GOOD REPORT, which Qubeka describes as “a passionate homage to classic film noir”, tells the somber tale of a small-town high-school teacher with a penchant for young girls.
Eighteen film projects by African filmmakers have been selected for the finance forum of the Durban FilmMart (DFM) which takes place from July 19 to 22 during the 34th Durban International Film Festival held July 18 to 28 in Durban South Africa.
Film critic and arts journalist, Peter Machen, has been appointed the Durban International Film Festival Manager. The 34th Durban International Film Festival, South Africa’s largest and longest running film festival hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts (CCA), will take place from July 18 to 28, 2013.
The 33rd DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL will take place from July 19 to 29, 2012, and will present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a special focus on films from South African and Africa. Screenings will take place throughout Durban, South Africa, including township areas where cinemas are non-existent. The festival will also offer an extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and international filmmakers. 2012 will also see the return […]
The 32nd edition of the Durban International Film Festival last night announced its award-winners. Winner of the Best Feature Film award, Nader and Simin, A Separation (Iran), directed by Asghar Farhadi, was lauded by the International Jury as a “masterpiece” with “astonishing performances from the ensemble cast”. The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to Skoonheid (France/South Africa), directed by Oliver Hermanus. The jury commended the film as revealing a director on a “remarkable […]
The 32nd Durban International Film Festival kicks off on July 21st with the World Premiere of the South African film Otelo Burning, directed by Sara Blecher. Set during the last days of apartheid, the Durban-shot film tells the story of a group of South African township youngsters who discover surfing as an empowering escape from the political violence of the times. There is drama, romance, rivalry, and tragedy in this convincing fulfillment of local filmmaking […]
The 32nd edition Durban International Film Festival’s taking place from July 21 to 31, 2011, opens with the World Premiere of a film shot in Durban – Otelo Burning, directed by Sara Blecher. Beginning in the late 1980s, the story is set around youngsters from Lamontville township who discover surfing as an empowering escape from the political violence of the times. Surfing facilitates the shaping of a new culture and lifestyle for them, and this […]
The Durban International Film Festival’s 32nd edition takes place from July 21 to July 31, 2011 and will present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a focus on films from South Africa and Africa. Screenings take place throughout Durban, South Africa including township areas where cinemas are non-existent. The festival also offers an extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and international filmmakers, and the return of the very successful Talent […]
The Durban International Film Festival in Durban, South Africa, has announced that its 32nd edition will take place from 21 to 31 July 2011. The festival will present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a special focus on films from South African and Africa. Screenings will take place throughout Durban including township areas where cinemas are non-existent. The festival will also offer an extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and […]
The Durban International Film Festival announced that the winner of the Best Feature Film of its 31st edition is The White Meadows (Iran). Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, the film was lauded by the International Jury as a “timeless and poetic narrative.” “The film conjures up a landscape that is visually stunning and intriguing because it is both harsh and beautiful. It is an enigmatic and poignant political allegory and takes the viewers through a journey […]