Gay and Lesbian Film Fest postponed
The Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has been postponed to 28 September in order for its programme of films to comply with requirements of the Film & Publications Board.
TECHNICAL issues have forced the postponement of the Durban Gay and Lesbian Film Festival which was launched on Friday with the opening film, INXEBA (The Wound) going ahead as scheduled.
The Film & Publications Board raised last minute technical issues around the broader programme of the festival and only allowed INXEBA to go ahead as the film had already received a 16SL classification. The rest of the programme will start on 28 September so that films can be brought into compliance with the Boards regulations.
ALSO READ: Tango nights at Jazzy Rainbow
“It is with great regret that I have to announce the postponement of the DGLFF programme. We had sincerely not been made aware of certain technical requirements, and on learning what was needed, I ensured very quickly that the FPB was provided with what they needed. Unfortunately, timing is an issue with the process and this led to a mutual decision that in order for the Festival to be fully in alignment with FPB requirements, we should postpone to achieve this,” said Jason Fiddler, director of the festival.
‘INXEBA’ was screened on Friday at the Waterfront Hotel, Point, with an additional screening on Saturday, 26 August, and then Thursday 31 August 2017 at 8pm at Tina’s Hotel in Kloof. The community screening of the film on Saturday 2 September at 12pm will be in a venue as yet to be confirmed.
ALSO READ: Shall We Dance back to thrill audiences
The critically acclaimed and award winning ‘INXEBA’ stars musician and novelist Nakhane Touré as Xolani, a lonely factory worker who joins the men of his community in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood. Amidst sporadic calls for boycott, and some reports of threats to cast members, Fiddler is pragmatic: “The country is still very naive when it comes to our rights to freedom of expression, of protection against discrimination. The Constitution is there for a very good reason: to work against hegemony, hatred and homophobia. Whilst I’m deeply concerned that the intolerance and aggression displayed by some is very real, I also expect that many detractors haven’t actually seen this powerful piece of cinema. We must have the space to express our creativity, artistry and views frankly and without intimidation.”
“The programme will remain largely intact and we simply commence from the end of September,” assured Fiddler. The revised DGLFF programme will be available online within the coming week and all screening information relating to ‘INXEBA’ can found at the Festival website www.dglff.org.za
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
