CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Mtutuzeli Matshoba workshop for indigenous language scriptwriters.

The 30th Durban International Film Festival will take place from July 23 to August 2. The festival will present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a special focus on films from South Africa and Africa. Screenings will take place throughout Durban including township areas where cinemas are non-existent.

The festival also offers an extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and international filmmakers which is open to the public. As part of this 30th DIFF workshop programme, a free writing and scriptwriting workshop is now open to applications.

This workshop which takes place between July 29 and August 1 - offers a chance to engage creatively with one of the most successful story to screenwriters of this generation. In a long and distinguished career Mtutuzeli Matshoba has been involved in the creation and writing of famous television productions such as Soweto, The History, Yizo Yizo, Stokvel, Scoop Scoombie and Zero Tolerance. He graduated to feature film with the much acclaimed comedy Chikin Biznis, which won Best Film in FESPACO in Burkina Faso. He has also been involved in polishing the scripts for Red Dust and, more recently, Jerusalema.

To be considered for the workshop, the following must be received by July 10: a one page “treatment” of the applicant's life (a creative CV) (in any of the official languages) as well as a one page treatment of one of their scripts (in any of the official languages).

Also to be included must be a covering letter, in English or Zulu, containing name, contact details and a declaration that the applicant is free and available to attend the workshop from July 29 to August 1 from 09h00 to 17h00. (NB: There is no stipend for subsistence, transport or accommodation.

The workshops will take place in conference rooms on the first floor of the Royal Hotel, Anton Lembede Street (Smith Street ). Although English will be a medium for most of the workshops, the scriptwriting workshop run by Mtutuzeli will accommodate all the indigenous languages if required, although a reading level of English comprehension will be helpful.

The application together with covering letter is to be sent to diff @ukzn.ac.za or by fax to 086 549 0221 or delivered to the offices of the Durban International Film Festival, Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus. Contact: 031 260 2506.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN), the principal funders of the 30th Durban International Film Festival are the National Film and Video Foundation, Stichting Doen, Hivos, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, German Embassy, Goethe Institute, City of Durban with support from East Coast Radio and other valued sponsors and partners.