THE Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) got off to a glittering start last night when a host of celebs graced the red carpet.
The opening night film, The Journeymen, turned out to be a fitting choice to kick off this year's fest, especially with it opening on June 16 as the country commemorated 40 years since the Soweto Uprising.
Directed by Sean Metelerkamp and produced by filmmaker Jolynn Minnaar, the photography project-turned-documentary film saw photographers Wikus de Wet, Sipho Mpongo and Metelerkamp travel the country documenting in picture and (eventually) film what South Africans thoughts on the state of the country post democracy.
Their questions were themed around land issues, getting to know some of our Born Frees (children born post apartheid) and capturing some truly South African idiosyncrasies.
This not to be missed doccie/film managed to truthfully reflect the state of South Africa today, not through statistics and political jab, but what counts – our people.
Expect to laugh, cry, be shocked and maybe appalled as these journeymen capture the good, the bad, and the ugly of our country – but overall expect to be very enlightened by the experience.
Organisers who addressed the audience prior to the screening steered clear of what was a controversial precursor to the start of this year's fest when an in-house squabble over which film should be the opening night feature was made public.
The back and forth was over whether Anant Singh's Videovision production Shepherds and Butchers should open the fest and led to former DIFF Festival Manager Sarah Dawson resigning from her post.
While Singh and team accepted another screening date, a further disagreement over the timing of the screening surfaced. Eventually dissatisfied with the treatment that their internationally acclaimed film was given, Singh and renowned filmmaker (and the film's director) Oliver Schmitz pulled Shepherds and Butchers entirely from the festival.
This all seems to be water under the bridge as it’s not been mentioned by festival organisers since the withdrawal. And at last night's opening they thanked many of their supporters who've stood by them over the past 37 years helping to make the fest the international success that it is today, by name – including Singh.
The new Director of the University of KZNs Centre for Creative Arts (who hosts the festival), David wa Maahlamela (also a renowned poet/writer), joined officially on June , literally walking into a storm.
“A writer once said 'It is the best of times, it is the worst of time's’,” he said. “I think that best explains the situation at the moment. Personally I'm happy to be joining the Centre when it's facing its greatest challenges. It will help me learn more about It. The noise we heard around the Centre tells me it was out of love...”
He also acknowledged the great work of the festival and how it's grown from humble beginnings to its state of acclaim today.
“This great work is a continuation of the hard work of people like Peter Rorvick (The Centre's previous director). If not for people like him we would not be hosting one of the greatest film festivals, not just in the Africa, but in the world too.
“Those observed with numbers talk about job creation, but we know a festival like this fills us with a sense of pride and belonging. Film is the ultimate millar of human souls and I personally believe this festival is bigger than personal egos.”
The DIFF will take place at 15 venues across the Durban and its outlying areas until 26 June.
Of the 101 feature-length films to be shown, 50 are African films, including 17 fiction films and 9 documentaries. There are 24 South African films, including 10 fiction films and 14 documentaries. Additionally, the festival’s programme will include more than 90 short films, the majority of which are African and South African.