Durban welcomes local and international filmmakers for annual Film Festival
Widely regarded as one of the leading film festivals on the African continent, the Durban International Film Festival will showcase an impressive variety of shorts, features, documentaries and student films.
THE 44th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will kick off on July 20, welcoming filmmakers and cinephiles from all over the world. This year’s festival will feature over 90 films from more than 54 countries, with a strong focus on African cinema.
Apolline Traoré from Burkina Faso will be flying in for the South African premiere of her film, Sira. The film follows a young nomad named Sira who refuses to surrender to her fate without a fight and instead takes a stand against terror.
In conclusion of the opening screening, South African producer Layla Swart will host a Q&A with the filmmaker, producer and cast members. South African director Ian Gabriel will be presenting the world premiere of Runs in the Family, a South African comedy which follows a father and his transgender son on a road trip to compete in a drag race. The film also stars the writer of the film and Gabriel’s son, Gabe Gabriel. Prime will also make its world premiere at the festival this year – the second feature film from director Thabiso Camilo Christopher explores the effects of childhood trauma on a young man as he enters a new relationship – with a supernatural twist.
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Other highlights include the attendance of Malusi Bengu, presenting his short film, Vinyl on Bones, a film that explores music as a healing tool and the cost of this alchemy to the healer; Sheetal Magan presenting City of Ashes, a dystopian drama where the fate of humanity is being decided on the chaotic streets of Johannesburg; Steven Markovitz presenting the sci-fi thriller, Omen; South African director Khalid Eljelailati presenting his drama, Let’s Not Talk about It; Adrian Van Wyk presenting his documentary, What the Soil Remembers, about South Africa’s history of land dispossession, and Milisuthando Bongela presenting her documentary, Milisuthando, a poetic reflection on love and what it means to become human in the context of race.
The festival will also be enjoyed by the presence of filmmakers Alessandro Gueli from Redreaming; Daniel Howells from Hibernation; Juana Castro from Bajamar; Leandros Brown from Hibernation; Luke Johnstone from 10th Floor; Luyanda Ngcobo from Catch My Baby; Nakesa Ndou from Mbokodo Rock; Ramata-Toulaye Sy from Banel & Adama; screenwriter Rasmus Bitsch from !Aitsa; Renan Brandao from Last Sunday; Sihle Hlophe from Lobola, A Bride’s True Price?; Se-Eum Jeong from Baton Touch; Talia Jawitz from On Mothers and Daughters in Times of Injustice; actor Thomas Schubert from Afire; Xan Marçall Di Alexandria from Trans Display: Travesty Memory and Zenobia Kloppers from RIEL.
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Programme and tickets
The 44th Durban International Film Festival will take place from July 20 to July 30. Widely regarded as one of the leading film festivals on the African continent, DIFF will showcase an impressive variety of shorts, features, documentaries and student films. The programme is available for download on ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za. To stay up to date, follow #DIFF2023 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Tickets can be purchased on www.cinecentre.co.za and the DIFF website. All screenings at KZNSA in Berea are free and open to the public.
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