Durban - Durban International Film Festival committee head Sarah Dawson has resigned over the selection of Shepherds and Butchers, produced by Anant Singh, for the festival opening.
She accused the University of KwaZulu-Natal of interfering with the festival, which is staged under the auspices of UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts.
She said the film was selected unfairly and was not the “most important or relevant to the context of contemporary South Africa”.
She added that “among this year’s selection lie more pressing, authentic and complex engagements with our very rich and often difficult realities as South Africans in an ongoing process of transformation”.
Shepherds and Butchers is a death-penalty drama set in the apartheid era.
It is directed by award-winning South African Oliver Schmitz and stars British actor Steve Coogan. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it took third place in the Panorama Audience Award for fiction films.
“Screening the film in South Africa requires a greater degree of sensitivity to context, given the profound historical trauma that could be triggered by these images.
“The decision was in consideration of the idea that imposing the film on a diverse audience, many of whom are compelled professionally to be present and who might be unprepared for images of violence upon black bodies within the context of a narrative elaboration of a white man’s trauma, had the potential to be overwhelmingly emotionally distressing,” Dawson said in a statement.
She accused UKZN Humanities head, Professor Cheryl Potgieter, of taking the decision on her own without consulting the advisory panel.
Singh, the Durban-born and internationally acclaimed producer, was also accused of using his political influence to have his film selected for the opening.
“The film has been unilaterally confirmed for opening night by Potgieter, in direct discussion with Anant Singh, whose company, Videovision, has direct financial interests in the film.
“This decision was made without consultation with either myself or any member of the advisory panel and without Potgieter having seen any of the other films that could have been selected. As far as I am aware, she hasn’t even seen the film in question,” she said.
Singh released a statement, denying the accusations and saying that in his 30-year association with the festival he had always respected their decision and never influenced them.
“DIFF has in the past opened with films that are far more graphic and controversial and, importantly, all these films had artistic merit. I felt it insulting to the creative process and our ability to tell stories and found this view stifling, which was unexpected.
“Films featured in the festival are supposed to be thought-provoking and challenge boundaries,” said Singh.
Dawson had suggested the film be screened at a special gala dinner, but Singh was apparently unhappy with this. He then copied Potgieter in his correspondence.
“I felt compelled to write to Sarah to express my views and disappointment and solicit a response as to the process followed and the rationale behind her decision. This I copied her colleagues at the university.
“At no point did I ask or force the action to secure the opening night. This is a position that a film-maker desires but should remain at arm’s length in the process,” said Singh.
Social media has been abuzz with comments, with others wondering if the festival will be well attended and as successful as it once was.
UKZN spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said Shepherds and Butchers was chosen on merit and it commemorated the thousands who were victims of the death penalty instituted by the apartheid government.
“In this light, it is unclear why Dawson found the film to be inappropriate or unsuitable for the opening night of the film festival.
“It is unfortunate that she has taken a decision to resign. We thank her for her services,” said Seshoka.
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Sunday Tribune