Durban Film Feast Begins! By: Nosipho Mngoma

South Africa’s longest running film festival, the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), is back to serve up the 34th helping this year. The hosts, University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts has laid out 300 screenings of films from around the world. Within this mouth watering mix is the pungent aroma of local flavor with 12 South African feature films, 16 documentaries and a generous helping of provocative short films. Most anticipated was the opening night film, Of Good Report. Unfortunately it was not shown because the SA Film and Publications Board (FPB) refused its classification as it allegedly contains a scene which constitutes child pornography. Last night would have been its world premiere.

Of Poor Report - By: Matt Vend

Lights, camera, action! The allure of the movies, glitz and glamour and all the swagger of Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp, this is the side of the film industry most people know and look up to. Having many friends involved in film making in South Africa and Durban has brought me to believe that certain individuals within it are trying their utmost to not conform to the façade of mainstream 1st world cinema, but are carving their own paths. One that is unique, original and tenacious. I am no film expert but my relationship with various people involved within the Durban and South African film industry has led me to believe these notions to be true in some instances, however not all. All we have to do is look at recent examples such as District 9 or Tsotsi to acknowledge that South Africa is starting to become an international player in film and other art forms.