Are you from Africa and do you love cinema? Want to be a film critic? Read This

Talent Campus Durban is looking for 40 of the most innovative voices of African cinema to take part in the 6th edition of this leading networking and developmental event held at the 34th Durban International Film Festival.

Talent Campus Durban seeks to provide selected participants with an opportunity to meet with international industry professionals and experts in various aspects of the filmmaking business through participations in a 5-day programme of masterclasses, workshops and industry networking events. The continent of Africa is a source of a myriad narratives which offer possibilities to be re-imagined, re-told, overlapped and adapted within numerous contexts. Under this year’s theme of “Memetic Africa”, Talent Campus Durban calls for African filmmakers to participate in this programme and be inspired by stories shaped by varying innovative patterns, ideas, customs, traditions, practices and skills that enforce the legacy of the African film context.

Talent Campus Durban also calls for participants for Talent Press, a mentoring programme for three African film critics in collaboration with FIPRESCI and Goethe Institut, which makes a welcome return in its second year. Talent Press mentors will offer their expertise to guide selected participants in the art of film criticism with access to all the screenings of the 34th Durban International Film Festival. 

The five-day programme also includes the 3rd edition of Doc Station, where three selected documentary projects submitted by accepted talents will be finessed and packaged for presentation within the DOC Circle pitching forum at the 6th Durban FilmMart. Applications for Doc Station are open to selected participants for Talent Campus. Mohamed El Amine Hattou of Algeria was one of the three Doc Station participants in the 5th Talent Campus Durban who, after presenting his project at Doc Circle, also had the invaluable opportunity to meet one-on-one with potential investors. Describing his experience, Hattou says, “Doc Station is a great opportunity to gain in maturity, networking, and dive into a promiscuous and professional African market. After my pitch on Doc Station, I had some positive and interesting feedback on my project. It was also an easy way to know about new funding and co-production opportunities. Durban Talent Campus is a unique way for African filmmakers to connect, meet and share their stories.”

Held in co-operation with the Berlinale Talent Campus, and with support from the German Embassy of South Africa, Goethe Institut of South Africa, and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Talent Campus Durban runs from 19 to 23 July 2013. Apart from the main event in Berlin, Talent Campus partnerships also take place at selected festivals in Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Tokyo and Sarajevo. Opportunities for participating talents are enhanced through Talent Campus networks and the Berlinale’s global information platform.

Application is open to filmmakers and critics who are resident in Africa. Applicants are encouraged to apply well before the deadline in order to submit their work samples timeously. Application can be done online on www.cca.ukzn.ac.za and applications close on 1 April 2013.

For DIFF and Talent Campus Queries 031 260 1650 / 2506

E-mail both: talentcampusdurban@gmail.com / talent@ukzn.ac.za

(Source - DIFF and Talent Campus)

Conversations with Actors - @RobVanVuuren

Continuing with our series of interviews we now bring you an interview with
Actor and Comedian Rob Van Vuuren (find him on Twitter - @RobVanVuuren)

                                             @RobVanVuuren lounging around

We asked him some questions:

What does an Actor do?

Acts, we pretend, while trying to pretend what we are doing is the truth.

What does a Comedian do?

Make people laugh.

Tips for Aspiring Actors and Comics?

Don't be kak!

You have to be good at it and work hard.  Work harder.

What drew you to Copposites?

It's a fun genre, a romp, body swap movie, deals with race and culture in a fun light hearted way.
Was a big fat jol.

How do you use Social Media as a Actor?

I think we are all still trying to figure it out.   I keep informed and use it as a fan base.
It's a great news source if you a writer.

Where is home for Rob?

Fish Hoek

A little birdie told me you are in the movie Spud 2?

I have a fun cameo as a hot dog announcer.  It's a fun part, nice set, nice guys.
Was a jol.

What is next for Rob?

I will be at the Hilton Festival.
I'm working on a show called 3 Little Pigs.

What do you do to unwind?

I read a lot.

Do you use the Method?

No, just remember the lines and don't be kak.

How do you find work as a Actor?

Keep yourself as humanly busy as possible.
Create work as opposed to looking for work.
Movies are fun.

Do you have a agent?

I have two agents.
Apm in Cape Town.
MLA in Johannesburg.

What do you think of DIFF (Durban International Film Festival) ? 

Awesome, I feel like a rock star, love it.  It's great that it's on the strip there is a buzz here.

Rob Van Vuuren stars in Copposites which was shown at DIFF 2012

                                                           
                                                             Photo - @DIFF 2012

Find them on Facebook -  http://www.facebook.com/Copposites
You can also find them on Twitter - @Copposites


Article and Photo by Fred Felton
You can follow him on Twitter - @fredfelton


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• Conversations With #Actors - Lionel Newton

Film Review of Elelwani The Opening Film at @DIFFest

This Thursday I attended the World Premiere of the South African Film 
Elelwani at the Supernova at Suncoast.  It is always wonderful to watch a film
when there is a packed house in.

The Director Ntshavni wa Luruli was in attendance and he told us all
that this has been a long journey for him. It took over 10 years to make this film.

This is the first Venda production in cinema history.  Shot in some wonderful
locations in Limpopo, it tells the tale of a young woman (Florence Masebe) who
lives in the world of today.  However she gets drawn back into the rituals
and culture of the Venda people by her Parents.

Beautifully shot by Cinematographer Lance Gewer one gets a different
viewpoint of the cultures and traditions of the Venda people.

There is some wonderful music in this movie and the soundtrack is brilliant.
It really does add another dimension.  You almost find yourself in a surreal
landscape.  Almost as if David Lynch went to Africa.

Rating 9/10

Next Screenings of this Film at @DIFFest
6pm Ekhaya 21 July
10am Suncoast 23 July
7pm Musgrave 29 July

Review by - Fred Felton


There are many more movies coming up so go down to Suncoast or
Musgrave or Cinema Nouveau and check out the various options for you
at this Film Festival.

For those of you that are interested in Acting, Directing, Producing, Editing
and more in Film go down to the Blue Waters Hotel and attend the various
free workshops on offer.

Here are just a few we can suggest:

• Sunday July 22 - 11h15 - NFVF Scriptwriters Training
• Sunday July 22 - 2pm - Africa in Focus - Training opportunties for African filmmakers
• Sunday July 22 - 15h30 - How to attract Press and Publicity, learn about film reviewing
• Monday July 23 - 11h15 - How to navigate international markets and festivals
• Monday July 23 - 2pm - Broadcasters discuss their commissioning briefs and request for proposals

(Source - @DIFFest)  

Opening of @DiFFest tonight

Tonight DIFF (The Durban International Film Festival) opens and for the next couple of
weeks there will be movies, filmstars, workshops and a great deal of networking going on.

You can follow all the action on Twitter - @DiFFest
You can also follow one of the people behind the scenes Sharlene Versfeld - @sharlvers

Industry Development Initiatives at the Durban International Film Festival 

The 33rd Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder) presents not only a feast of cinema in the form of over 290 screenings around the city, but also a host of new and more established initiatives aimed at stimulating the growth of the African film industry at a variety of levels.

Industry Initiatives

This year will see the 5^th installment of Talent Campus Durban, an intensive five-day skills development and networking programme for 50 selected African filmmakers who are in the early stages of their careers. Bringing together filmmakers from 18 African nations, Talents will participate in master classes and workshops with industry professionals who are leaders in their fields, attend screenings, and participate in networking activities. This year will also include two specialist mentoring programmes – Doc Station for documentary filmmakers, and Talent Press for journalists and film reviewers. Six selected Talents will also take part in the three day script development workshop, the Produire au Sud Script Studio, coordinated by Festival 3 Continents – Nantes, as part of the France – South Africa Season 2012 & 2013.

The 3^rd edition of Durban FilmMart (DFM), a partnership project between the festival and the Durban Film Office will take place from the 20^th-23^rd July. This increasingly important global platform for Africans highlights challenges in the fields of finance, marketing, distribution and new digital developments. Based on the Cinemart model at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, the DFM Finance Forum component provides opportunities for filmmakers of 23 pre-selected projects to hold meetings with film financiers and potential production partners. DFM also offers selected documentary projects the chance to participate in structured pitching sessions with international commissioning editors during DOC Circle (in association with IDFA, the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam). Access to the Finance Forum is for preselected projects only, but accreditation for masterclasses, seminars and networking activities can be attained by registering online atwww.durbanfilmmart.com for a fee.

DIFF 2012 also brings into action an exciting new partnership with the World Documentary Exchange (WDE) whereby IDFA (the globe’s largest and oldest documentary festival and the initiator of WDE), Hot Docs (the largest documentary festival in North America) and Busan Film Festival (the largest film festival in Asia) collaborate in an exchange to widen access to markets for films and filmmakers in the respective countries.

In another developmental strand of the festival, thousands of school learners will be attending screenings and workshops of films in order to enhance their film literacy, and inspire them in the appreciation of cinema and the messages they carry. Participation is now closed for the 2012 School Programme, but schools are invited to email cca@ukzn.ac.za to indicate interest for future programmes.

Open Workshop Programme

There are programmes taking place daily at the Blue Waters Hotel that are free of charge and open to anyone who is interested in issues pertaining to film, both professional and public. Topical industry challenges are addressed in Africa in Focus seminar series and other programmes. Cooperation with a broad spectrum of associates, Documentary Filmmakers Association, Film and Publications Board, S.A.G.E and others, has resulted in a rich programme engaging such topics as acting for screen, digital media, African coproduction opportunities, film funds, transmedia,  training programmes (such as the NFVF’s scriptwriters’ programme, Sediba SPARK), dealing with press and publicity, film commissions, journalism, wildlife filmmaking, indigenous languages and film, editing and film classification, to name just a few. The festival has had an ongoing, 12-year-long, partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), and will this year include three NFVF “In Conversation with….” sessions, among other panels.

Through this broad workshop programme DIFF continues to create opportunities that nurture and inspire local filmmaking constituencies.

Pick up a pocket programme at the the Blue Waters and other film venues for further workshop details, as well as a full screening schedule. The programme is also available online at www.durbanfilmfest.co.za. Participation in workshops is free but requires registration, so make sure you bring your ID book.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) the Durban International Film Festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, HIVOS, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, The French Season in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, and a range of other valued partners.

(Source - @DiFFest)  

Clowns Without Borders is looking for a Part-Time Manager

Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA) is an arts-based humanitarian non profit organisation that provides psychosocial support to children and families affected by crisis (www.cwbsa.org).

CWBSA seeks to appoint a Programme Manager based in Durban, South Africa.

This is part-time senior management position within the organisation.

Salary commensurate with experience

Starting date: September 2012

To apply, submit a CV and a motivational letter with 3 references for contact by 20 July 2012 to info@cwbsa.org

Auditions for a new Mbongeni Ngema Musical 

Audition dates:
20 and 21 July 2012 - Mbabane Theatre, Swaziland

23, 24 and 25 July 2012 - The Playhouse, Durban

(Source - Pansa)  

And finally 

Another trailer to whet your appetite for DIFF see you there

Comic Con 

(Source - @DiFFest)  

What will you be doing for #MandelaDay ?

East Coast Radio jocks get behind Mandela Day.

Caring for abandoned babies, spending quality time with the elderly and making sandwiches for the underprivileged are just some of the ways the East Coast Radio’s on-air personalities will be spending their 67 minutes on Wednesday.

Many of the station’s presenters will be honouring Madiba by reaching out to those around them this Mandela Day. Breakfast Stack DJ Darren Maule will be working with TAFTA at a frail care centre. He says, “People tend to forget about elderly and the frail so I thought I’d go spread some cheer. They can’t make their way to my comedy shows, so I am taking my comedy to them. Everybody needs a good laugh.” Other Breakfast Stack team members – Samson Oduntan, Wez Cruickshanks and George Thorne - will be making sandwiches and handing them out to those in need.

The Workzone’s Makhosi Khoza will be inspiring Abet learners at Westville North Library. He says, “Empowerment is very close to my heart and I truly believe self-empowerment is the cornerstone of all personal development, so I'm doing my bit to applaud those who have embarked on this journey of learning.”

Abi Ray, meanwhile, will be volunteering her affections at ‘The Baby House’ - an organisation that takes in abandoned babies. She says, “It's close to my heart because of the sheer number of children who are in the system just waiting for someone to love them.” Weekend DJ, Nelisa Kala says she’ll be spending some of her time volunteering at TAFTA’s second hand shop – Granny’s Attic. Zaba Simbine from the Drive with Damon will be working with CheeseKids on Mandela Day. Ramona Kasavan will spend her time at Durban and Coastal Mental Health and be aiding in their awareness campaign.

East Coast Radio’s personalities hope that the people of KwaZulu-Natal will also get behind Mandela Day with some small act of kindness.

(Source:  East Coast Radio) 


What will you be doing for Mandela Day for 67 Minutes?  

DIFF is coming 

That's right folks the Durban International Film Festival is almost here.

You can follow them on Twitter here - @DiFFest

https://twitter.com/DIFFest

(Source  - DIFF)

The 33rd Durban International Film Festival

The 33^rd Durban International Film Festival Shines a Light on Ecological Issues

The environment around us has never been so under threat by the impact of human exploitative activity on its own habitat. From climate change to the destruction of precious flora and fauna, the Eco Lens at Durban International Film Festival 2012 (supported by principal funder, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund) brings environmental issues under the microscope.

 The Eco Lens comprises both factual documentary accounts and fictional stories dedicated to drawing our attention to some of the valuable cogs in the delicate machine that is this blue and green planet.

Consumption patterns, our eating habits and the impact of corporatized food production come under scrutiny in particular: Bitter Seeds (winner of the Green Screen Prize at IDFA) looks at the issue of multinational GM corporations and their impact on the small farmers. LoveMEATender is a brutal but illuminating and thorough look at the unsustainability of the meat industry, and Semisweet: Life in Chocolate delves into all the facets of the production of the world’s favourite confectionery, including its dark involvement in child slavery. Four Horsemen interlinks the faltering financial system, violence and conflict, poverty, and depletion of the eath’s natural resources. In the feature film Now, Forager, love and a nostalgia for more traditional modes of food production are rendered in earthy tones. Last Winter laments the loss of small scale farming as the agricultural world becomes increasingly industrialized.

The way we interact with some of our more majestic beasts are examined in the moving All the President’s Elephants, where a brave woman befriends and defends a royal herd of elephants in Zimbabwe, and the thrilling Dragon’s Feast 3D takes us underwater with crocodiles, in 3D. The South African feature, Snare, is a gritty exposé in fictional form of the networks behind the rhino poaching epidemic. Some more otherworldly beasts stride across our screens in the gorgeously vivid eco-fable Beasts of the Southern Wild. Set in Namibia, Taste of Rain reminds us of the centrality of love and water in the lives of people, while the decline in the water quality of a precious lake in India evokes a sense of having been forsaken by our holy guardians in the quietly moving Valley of Saints.

For more details regarding the film festival programme, visit www.durbanfilmfest.co.za.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), the Durban International Film Festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, HIVOS, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, The French Season in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, and a range of other valued partners.

FESTIVAL ENQUIRIES: 

Phone: +27 (0)31 260 2506/1816
Fax: +27 (0)31 260 3074
Email: cca@ukzn.ac.za

Website: www.durbanfilmfest.co.za. Twitter @DIFFest

(Source:  @DIFFest )  

Want to become ‘President of the East Coast’?

It’s like a dream come true - the opportunity for one regular citizen to become ‘President’ with all the perks and none of the politics. East Coast Radio together with Chevrolet this week launched the very first ‘President of the East Coast’ campaign. The station is looking for one person inKwaZulu-Natal who embodies everything Funsunzi. They win the title for a full year and enjoy all the benefits that come along with it.

So what does walking away with the title mean? The ‘President’ will get a Chevrolet as an official car, VIP access and treatment at tons of major events in KwaZulu-Natal and a range of other perks – including holiday and dinner vouchers at some of the province’s top spots.

It is a truly Funsunzi role, so we’re looking for candidates who love to socialize, love to blog and, most importantly, love KZN. They also need to be between the ages of 25 and 34.

Once the 6 finalists are chosen, they will all be put through the ‘Funsunzi filter’ with exciting challenges all the while testing their knowledge of the province. The top three candidates will then face the public vote. After all the public need a say as to who their ‘President’ is!

If you’re full of charisma and think you have what it takes to win the ultimate public vote then start your campaign now at www.ecr.co.za.

(Source - East Coast Radio ) 

                                                           Seen Around Town

                Jean-Marie Spitaels and Jerome Pillai performing at @mondaystclement

                                                  Photography by @FionaJanePhotos