Peabody winner, entrepreneur and one of South Africa’s most prolific film producers, Anant Singh talks Diff and movies with Debashine Thangevelo
HE has made more than 80 movies in his career and won a Peabody Award for Yesterday. He has a prolific global presence and his movies have been recognised with either wins or nominations at some of the most prestigious award ceremonies – from the Golden Globes to the Oscars to the Baftas. Yet Anant Singh remains one of the most unassuming people you will meet.
This Durban-based film-maker, who operates under the auspices of his renowned production and distribution company, Videovision Entertainment, spoke to Tonight about his partnership with Durban FilmMart at this year’s 36th Durban International Film Festival (Diff), the six films they have premiered at Diff as well as the movie he has in production.
Singh points out that they have been involved with Diff for about as long as the festival has been around. He also emphasised Videovision Entertainment’s commitment to the development of the South African film industry; in particular, KwaZulu-Natal. And partnering with Durban FilmMart talks to that point.
At the Durban FilmMart awards ceremony, held earlier in the week, Videovision Entertainment sponsored the awards ceremony and dinner. The winner of the R75 000 Best South African Film Project prize also gets a commercial release that includes marketing and distribution from Singh’s company.
On the topic of films, Singh has a project in production in Cape Town.
He shares, “We are in the process of shooting Shepherds and Butchers. It was written by Chris Marnewick and was also nominated for a Sunday Times book prize. It is a powerful courtroom drama.”
The film tells of a young prison warden who admits to killing seven black members of a karate team, but refused to talk about his crime.
Singh adds: “Oliver Schmitz is directing it. He directed Mapantsula and Hijack Stories.”
He points out the intricacies of his job, which entail a tricky balancing act as well.
“In the case of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, you have to find the writer, the director and the team around it. It is a balance between financial and creative. I think there are always stories to tell. They are not necessarily all South African. I have been involved in film elsewhere in the world. I haven’t done an action film. But it is the function of what appeals to me. I try to have a body of a film, where I feel I could enjoy it and be able to tell stories in a special way.”
Back to Diff, where Videovision Entertainment have six films on offer: Wolf Totem, The Prophet, Strangerland, Mommy, Coming Home and White Bird in a Blizzard.
Singh shares: “Our relationship with Diff has been as long as the festival has been operating. To have films play there and to showcase to people in Durban. It was great, having Jean-Jacques Annaud here for Wolf Totem. He is a film-maker I admire greatly. And, to me, he is one of the most exceptional film-makers. It has let film-makers like him want to come and work here.”
He adds: “We have always tried to support Diff by giving them films, even if it is just on the distribution work. Look, there is a very exciting line-up. It crosses over a number of genres. I’m looking forward to seeing The Prophet. Also Ayanda, I have not seen it yet.”
Reflecting on the growth of the South African film industry, which is also making its presence felt at Diff this year, he shares: “When I started out there were about two or three movies being made a year. Today, we have about 20 or 30 local films. And that’s great.”
In the meantime, Singh is hoping that the plans for Durban’s first film studio will soon come to fruition. It has been delayed for about a decade by bureaucracy and, should things go according to plan, could turn things around for the city in a major way.
Singh adds: “It’s moving along. The city needs to shake the tree a bit. We have locations, diversity of cultures and talent, great weather. And we have so much to offer.”