June 23, 2011. Preparations for the 2011 Durban International Film Festival are on the go and there is real excitement about the strong local content this year. The festival, which is in its 31st edition this year, will see the who’s who of local and international film-making descend on the city for 11 days of fun, entertainment and cinema.
This year will be extra special as a Durban film has been selected to open this year’s festival. Otelo Burning, directed by Sara Blatcher (of Surfing Soweto fame), is set to be the curtainraiser come July 21. The film is set in 1989 and tells the story of two young boys, Otelo and New Year. We follow them as they are thrust into the new world of surfing, but soon the political situation of the country catches up with them and they are forced to make choices between riding waves or fighting for revenge and retribution.
Other films that will be in the competition section of this year’s festival include the heist film How to steal 2 million. The film, which is directed by young South African director Charles Vundla, tells the classic story of a convict wanting to go straight, but who has one last job to carry out. Starring popular South African actors Menzi Ngubane, Rapulana Seiphemo, Terry Pheto, Hlubi Mboya and the legendary John Kani, How to steal 2 million is bound to be a favourite with Durban audiences.
As part of this year’s event, the festival will also be hosting workshops and seminars with film-makers, where audiences can interact with the creatives behind the projects, about various aspects of film-making. Ranging from scriptwriting and music to acting and copyright issues, the workshops and screenings will take place in various venues around the city. These include Gateway, The Royal Hotel and Suncoast Casino.
The festival runs from July 21 to 31. – Sihle Mthembu