THERE are some interesting events this coming week, including shows and classical music.
Don’t miss out on exciting FilmMart
The Durban FilmMart (DFM) 2024 is set to take place from July 19 to July 22 in Durban, under the theme ‘African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability’.
This year’s event will be a significant platform for engaging with the critical issues facing the film industry and the broader societal context. One of the standout streams of the Industry Programme is the Climate Focus, presented in collaboration with Doc Society – Climate Story Unit, Climate Story Lab South Africa, STEPS, and the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA).
The Durban FilmMart aims to: raise the visibility of projects from the African Continent and create networking opportunities with potential co-producers and other industry partners. The 2024 edition of the DFM will spotlight key elements within the film industry, which include social responsibility and accountability in filmmaking, IP protection, artist/filmmaker rights, labour issues and much more.
For more information and to register, visit: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/.
Also read: Sharing a birthday with Nelson Mandela
International women-empowerment-centred play comes to Durban
In a first-of-its-kind cross-continental collaboration, Antigone Retold – The Woza Habibi Tour seeks to make the marginalised mainstream. Through the lens of Greek mythology, Antigone Retold brings the women whose stories have been relegated to the shadows into the spotlight of the stage. This version of Antigone brings otherwise disenfranchised heroines to the forefront and gives them agency to tell their own stories, all while using easy-to-recognise pop-culture references.
In 2022, Antigone Retold made its international debut in the emirate of Dubai to great acclaim before being picked up by the Emirates LitFest 2023. Now, boasting six original cast members from Australia, the UK, Ireland and Serbia, Antigone Retold makes its way to South Africa’s playground, Durban. The international cast will be joined by over 30 local creatives who are diverse in background, culture and language.
Dates: July 19–28
Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Tickets: Available at Computicket
For more information, contact 060 183 3207.
Ground-breaking local documentary to make silver-screen debut
The dramatic and extraordinary journey of fearless South African cartoonist Zapiro (Jonathan Shapiro) and his relentless pursuit of speaking the truth about power is the focus of the documentary, The Showerhead, which will have its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on Saturday, July 27, as the Closing Night Film of the festival.
Directed by South African-born Craig Tanner and produced by Videovision Entertainment’s Anant Singh, The Showerhead tells Zapiro’s story from his roots as a liberation artist and political detainee during apartheid to his emergence as a steadfast defender of freedom of expression and his no-holds-barred response to the current complex political climate in democratic South Africa.
Featuring a series of interviews, The Showerhead reveals how Zapiro’s cartoons have captured the essence of a variety of issues plaguing the country in the post-Mandela period, including those of failures of leadership, subversion of the Constitution and the rule of law, corruption and threats to freedom of expression.
The prestigious closing night slot of DIFF takes place on Saturday, July 27, at 19:00 at Suncoast, and there will be an additional public screening at 17:00 on Sunday, July 18, at Suncoast Cinecentre. Bookings are available through https://www.cinecentre.co.za/.
The Showerhead will be released at cinemas in South Africa later this year.
Jazz night at UKZN
The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music has announced the return of live music for this semester with a special performance by legendary saxophonist McCoy Mrubata on Wednesday, July 24, at 17:30. With a career spanning over 40 years, Mrubata promises to bring a wealth of experience to an exciting performance with his band on the evening.
During the concert, Mrubata will share new material from his latest album, Lullaby for Khayoyo, alongside some of his well-known and popular songs, such as Icamagu Livumile, Mr and Mrs Adonis, and Cape Samba. The performance will take the audience on a personal musical journey, telling his story and reminding them of his roots through the power of music. The event promises to be an unforgettable experience.
“I will be performing with an exceptional band led by Andile Yenana, one of South Africa’s leading pianists and a renowned educator. The talented band members include Ntokozo Nsibande on the trumpet, Thuto Mosemme on the double bass and Sbu Ncube on drums,” said Mrubata. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the magic of McCoy Mrubata live at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music.
Tickets are priced at R110, R80 for pensioners and R50 for students and are available from Webtickets. For more information, contact zamat1@ukzn.ac.za.
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