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Friday, May 27, 2016

All You Need To Know For The Durban International Film Festival 2016


There is much on offer this year at the festival.  Here is just a small sample of what you can expect:

A deadman

Alison

Another Empty Space

Beautiful

Cain's Shadow

Cry Freedom

Devocean

Into The Sunrise

John of God

Lunar

Martha & Niki

Miles Ahead

Nobody's Died Laughing

Nuts


Ocean Gravity

Offside

Song of Lahore

Stuck


Tess

The Baobab Boys
The Journeymen

The Wave I Ride

Wights In Paradise

Wild

16 - 26 June 2016.
 
Venues
Playhouse
Nu Metro (Westville Pavilion)
Rivertown Beerhall
Umlazi
Clermont
Inanda
Ster Kinekor Musgrave Centre
Ster Kinekor Cinema Nouveau Gateway
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
KZNSA Gallery
eKhaya MultiArts Centre
Luthuli Museum in Groutville
Elangeni-Maharani Hotel
 
Festival Hubs
Elangeni-Maharani
The Playhouse 
 
 
For more info visit www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

Twitter: @DIFFest

#DIFF2016 


This edition by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton
 
Images courtesy of DIFF

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Ethekwini Municipality hosts first regional Smart Procurement World/Enterprise & Supplier Development Expo in KwaZulu-Natal




Supply Chain Management & Procurement professionals will attend the inaugural Smart Procurement World KwaZulu-Natal Summit to be held at the Durban International Convention Centre on 8 & 9 June 2016. The event which is SA’s largest and only Procurement and Inbound Supply Chain Indaba will feature 21st century practical tips.

Ethekwini Municipality has endorsed the event and is the official Host City Partner.
The launch of the Smart Procurement World initiative in Kwazulu-Natal is the ultimate procurement and inbound Supply Chain Conference and Expo that provide an opportunity for professional development and updates in Supply Chain Management. It also assists procurement professionals to better understand the demands placed on them to source local content and give them a platform to find SMMEs who can fit into their business structure.
The exhibition creates easy access for sourcing, procurement, purchasing and buying professionals both from government & the private sector.

Andre Petersen, Head: Supply Chain Management Unit, Ethekwini Municipality commenting on why Ethekwini Municipality has endorsed the event in KwaZulu-Natal, states, “The integrated business model aligns with the City’s transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation plan, such as the one outlined in the 2015/16 upgrade. The initiative promotes township economy revitalisation. Its procurement model for the event promote access to market for SMMEs giving them an opportunity to showcase their services and products. The initiative has a potential to expose and link townships SMMEs with local as well as international market which will assist to grow their business and improve chance of creating jobs."

The event organisers have welcomed the support and are excited to partner with the Municipality.
"We are pleased to have such support from the region with partners who have a shared vision for the economic imperative of not only enterprise & supplier development, but the reformation of supply chain. We know that ESD is not a legislative or only a South African concept, but rather a global movement, and competitive advantage that, when implemented correctly stimulates sustainable economic growth and transforms supply chain. However we can only achieve this through such partnerships and provide sustainable enterprise development through market access, business and financial support." Debbie Tagg, Chief Operations Officer, Smart Procurement World.

For More Information: www.smartprocurementworld.com/kzn

Friday, May 20, 2016

Your Weekend Event Guide Durban


Plenty to do and see this weekend in and around Durban.

The Durban Ricksha Bus
Take a sho't left and experience your city from a different angle.  Highlights include The Umkhumbane Heritage Museum in Cato Manor, The KwaMuhle Museum in town and many more exciting stops along the way.  Highly recommended. Call 031-322-4209 for more info.


This Sunday experience The Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk along the beachfront.

Coming Soon


The KZNSA Anniversary Party

It's been 20 years since the KZNSA has been in Glenwood and they are having a big party to celebrate.  The good news is you are invited.  Join them on Tuesday 24 May at 6pm for the opening of some fantastic exhibits to celebrate the anniversary.  Look out for The Andrew Verster Exhibit, one of many opening for the celebrations.

Join them at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban.
For more info call Sumayya on 031-277-1705 


This edition by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton  




Thursday, May 19, 2016

Strong African Content For DIFF 2016




This year’s edition of the Durban International Film Festival (16-26 June) once more features a very strong selection of African titles.
With just under half of all the films originating from Africa and South Africa, and much of the rest of the programme dealing with diasporic issues and identity politics, this year’s DIFF is a true festival of African film located within a global context.
Of the 101 feature length films to be shown at the festival, 50 are African films, including 17 fiction films and 9 documentaries, while there are 24 South African films, including 10 fiction films and 14 documentaries.



Additionally, the festival’s programme will include more than 90 short films, the majority of which are African and South African.
Now in its 37th year, DIFF is the continent’s leading showcase of African film, while also providing a strong programme of world cinema for local audiences, featuring the kind of titles that would otherwise not get a showing on commercial screens in South Africa. Key titles from the continent’s everexpanding film industry include As I Open My Eyes, a powerful personal tale told on the eve of Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution, Naked Reality, the latest film from provocative filmmaker JeanPierre Bekolo, Nakom, a haunting film about the conflict between tradition, modernity and love, Ghostland, about the loss of language and identity of indigenous Nambian people, and I Shot Bi Kidude, the long awaited feature film about African musical legend
Bi Kidude.

Acting Festival Director Peter Machen spoke enthusiastically about this year’s programme. “This is my 27th year of attending the festival and it’s been incredible to watch the continual expansion of African cinema, as the industry slowly rebirths in the wake of colonialism. In those first years that I attended, there was virtually no African content, and it’s wonderful that an industry which exists against a background of enormous challenges is growing with such vigour. African cinema continues to grow more and more complex, offering a wealth of cinematic language that puts much of mainstream cinema to shame.”

As well as the strong African Focus, other key areas include a focus on issues around indigenous rights and colonialism, a small programme of films that deal with HIV (given the fact that the World Aids Conference will be taking place in Durban two weeks after the festival ends), and a rich programme of films about dance and music. There is a country focus on Dutch cinema, in recognition of the Dutch South  African Coproduction Treaty, as well as a focus on Portuguese language African film in partnership with Tri Continental Film Festival.
“A festival such as the DIFF takes many years to build and grow, and involves the hard work of countless people,” said Machen. “We are pleased that one of the world’s leading showcases of African and global film will have a number of new venues this year, including the Playhouse, NuMetro Pavilion and various community centres around Durban, all of which will bring the festival to a greater and more diverse number of people,” says Machen.
The full programme will be announced in the coming weeks. “Durbanites can look forward to another exciting and eclectic selection of films,” said Machen.

The festival will take place at the Playhouse, Ster Kinekor Musgrave, Ster Kinekor Nouveau, Nu Metro Pavilion, the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, the KZNSA Gallery, Rivertown Beerhall and the Elangeni Maharani Hotel, with festival hubs at the Elangeni Maharani and the Playhouse. There will also be screenings of selected titles in Clermont, KwaMashu, Inanda, Groutville, and others areas.


The 37th Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZuluNatal (a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Humanities, Cheryl Potgieter), with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, Durban Film Office, KwaZuluNatal Film Commission, eThekwini Municipality, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, KwaZuluNatal Department of Arts and Culture and a range of other valued partners.

For more info go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

8 Ways To Prep For The Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk Courtesy of Lisa Raleigh




The Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk that takes place on 22 May 2016. You have been training for it right?  



The annual event brings together people for a morning of exercise and great memories. Exercise improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, helps reduce cholesterol and blood glucose, helps to burn fat and maintain weight. Walking is low impact and a refreshing form of low intensity exercise.

All four routes get underway at different times from uShaka Marine World and all 30 000 walkers will cross the finish line at People’s Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Lifestyle and fitness expert, Lisa Raleigh, has these tips to make sure you’re well prepped!

1. Get advice. Talk to your doctor first before starting a new fitness programme, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time.

2. Choose wisely. Correct walking shoes are light and fit comfortably. Walking long distances can put strain on different parts of your body, so it’s good to invest in quality footwear for both your training and the walk.  Check that they fit properly and wear them in before the big day to avoid blisters.

3. Dress smart. Wear comfortable, light, breathable clothes to avoid chafing.

4. Drink up! Hydrate well and make sure you eat something an hour before you train or do the walk.

5. Walk wisely. Keep a brisk pace to elevate your heart rate, but stay in a comfortable walking pace where you can still talk and not gasp for air.

6. Chin up! Maintain good posture during your walk. Keep your chest up to avoid slouching.

7. Don’t forget to stretch.

8. Round up the troops. If you just can’t get going with your training schedule, find a walking buddy or join a club!

This week, people who have signed up for the event will be able to collect the race packs (that includes the event T-shirt, goodie bag and race number) from the underground parking area at Moses Mabhida Stadium on the following days:

Thursday 19 May 10am – 7pm
Friday 20 May 10am – 7pm
Saturday 21 May 10am – 2pm

If you have registered at a participating Totalsports store, you would have received a reference number. Please bring this reference number to Moses Mabhida Stadium to collect your race pack. If you registered online, please take along your confirmation of entry.
Companies that have registered 10 or more of their staff can send a representative to collect race packs but they need to provide proof of payment.
There will be loads of fun for the whole family at the Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk on 22 May 2016. Find out more at www.ecr.co.za

Article by Fred Felton
Twitter @fredfelton
Image: Provided

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Matty & Sis on its way to Mozambique's Festival Teatro De Inverno




Matty & Sis
26 -30 May 2016-Festival Teatro De Inverno Mozambique.

A scene from Matty & Sis

            Matty & Sis is a tale of two sisters, like any other relationship they have issues and fights. They play games to keep the time in a distance and laugh together to soothe any sadness and guilt. As the play unfolds it is revealed that one of the sisters is dead, she keeps coming back every night to Mattys bedroom because Matty cannot let go, cannot accept the reality. The touches on themes about life, guilty, love  and death. Matty & Sis is translated in many languages and it has played all over the world, but never in South Africa. Philisiwe Twijnstra was able to cast two professional actresses Sthembile Vicky Nyanda and Segametsi Gaobepe who will travel with her on this exciting artistic journey.

THE DIRECTOR.
Philisiwe Twijnstra is a South African actress, musician, emerging stage director and playwright. She resides in Durban. She was selected as one of the delegates in Women Playwrights International Conference. She was also part of a womens festival in Johannesburg to stage her first adapted play Sugary Spice. She is writing her new South African script 'The Red Suitcase Salty Pillows and a Novel.

THE WRITER.
Theo Fransz.(1958) has been trained on the theatre school in Amsterdam. In 1984 he founded MUSZ Theatre Company in Amsterdam for which he directed and wrote many award winning shows. His plays have a very strong structure and deal with universal dramatic themes in a light and sometimes comic way. In the nighties his work became popular in other European countries and was translated in English, German and French. His work became very successful in Germany. Recently he is a successful actor for film theatre and television.