Feast of film for Durban

The 34th edition of the Durban International Film Festival is just around the corner, and we’re again going to be treated to a feast of film. 

 

The festival runs from 18 to 28 July, during which time there will be 250 screenings in 11 venues across the city. The festival also offers a comprehensive workshop and seminar programme. 

 

The African film industry will again have a strong representation, with a key focus on South African film.  The DIFF 2013 opening film is the ground-breaking African-noir work Of Good Report by filmmaker-on-the-rise Jahmil XT Qubeka.  

 

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.

 

Also in focus is contemporary Europe, ‘American Independents’, which offers a showcase of this strong strand of independent filmmaking in the US, sexual identities, world cinema and a ‘zombiefest’, which showcases a selection of films from the current zombie wave. 

 

Local documentaries to look forward to include Riaan Hendrick's  The Devil's Lair, Damon Foster’s Touching The Dragon, Angels in Exile, as well as The Creators, which pays tribute to the creative power of South Africa's youth, including acclaimed graffiti artist Faith 47.

 

 

Wavescape again features the best in surfing cinema, including 11 features and five shorts.  Watch out for Bending Colors (Jordy Smith), which chronicles the rise of Durban’s prodigal son who goes from teen sensation to world super star.

 

This year also sees a relationship between DIFF and Durban Wild Talk Africa, the continent’s most respected Natural History Film Festival and Conference. A selection of nine natural history films have been chosen from 445 entries from across the globe, to be screened at the festival.

 

Screening venues are: Suncoast Cinecentre; Ster Kinekor Musgrave, Cinema Nouveau – Gateway, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre; Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre in KwaMashu; and the Blue Waters Hotel. Other venues include the Bay of Plenty Lawns, the Upstairs at Spiga D’oro and the Luthuli Museum on the North Coast, which will have a special programme of screenings.

 

Ticket prices range from R25 to R35 (R50 for 3D screenings), except at Luthuli Museum, Blue Waters, Ekhaya and Bay of Plenty lawns, which are free of charge.  The Short Film programme at Upstairs at Spiga d’Oro  costs R20. 

 

Get more information here: www.durbanfilmfest.co.za, or call 031 2602506.