Durban Film Fest goes virtual

THE  Durban International Film Festival will be going virtual for the first time in its 41-year history due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

DIFF will be held over 10 days from 10 to 20 September 2020.

“Of course, we all want to get back into the cinema, but since we are not able to, we need to adapt to this new virtual world swiftly. All creative industries are finding innovative ways to connect with their audiences, so we believe film festivals must also adapt,” says Chipo Zhou, Head of Programming.

The festival will screen over 50 selected films, and the international nature of the festival is balanced with a highlighted component of the finest of African cinema.

Home-bound film fans will be treated to screenings of cutting-edge films from around the world, with particular focus on South African and African films.

ALSO READ:  National Arts Festival goes virtual

DIFF is one of the premier platforms for the launch of African films, it has a competition for fiction feature films, documentaries and short films. In addition to film screenings, the festival aims to include innovative ways of connecting with filmmakers and audiences online. Also, the yearly awards will resume as normal.

The festival will offer an industry programme with seminars and workshops comprising both local and international filmmakers and industry professionals, with the Isiphethu running from 14 to 18 September 2020.

“Isiphethu is a melting pot as well as a hub geared towards the exchange of ideas and uplifting emerging and aspirant film-makers across the province of KwaZulu Natal and South Africa as a whole. We are excited about this year’s programme despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Sakhile Gumede, Project Coordinator for Isiphethu.

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