(Producers
Helena Spring & Junaid Ahmed)
Hard to Get,
a feature film directed by Zee Ntuli and produced by Junaid Ahmed and Helena
Spring, will open the 35th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), which
takes place from July 17 to 27 at the Tsogo Sun hotel on the Durban beachfront.
The film tells the story of a young
philanderer from a small community who falls in love with a young and
attractive thief. The young man, who soon finds himself in Joburg’s criminal
underworld, realises he is out of his depth and needs to trust the thief.
“The
criminal gauntlet parallels the emotional journey of TK and Skiets, providing a
metaphor for how scary falling in love can be,” explains Ntuli. “Ultimately it
is a hopeful story, one which carries the message that love is worth fighting
for.”
Peter Machen, DIFF Festival Manager, adds:
“I am very excited about Hard to Get.
It’s a beautifully made film that works on every level and will satisfy
commercial and art-house audiences alike. I also think that it’s going to make
instant stars of its two leads Thishiwe Ziqubu and Pallance Dladla, who are
both electrifying, as well as director Zee Ntuli, who is virtually guaranteed a
bright future on the global filmmaking stage on the basis of this first feature.”
Ntuli studied at AFDA, the School Of Motion
Picture Medium and Live Performance, and won the Best Film award in each of the
four years of his studies. His work in the local film industry includes writing
for the award-winning show Intersexions,
working on Soul City and Mshika-shika as well as directing
adverts and music videos. Though Hard to
Get is his first feature, Ntuli has gained recognition for a number of his
short films including winning the Best Fantasy Film award at the New York
International Film Festival for his 24 minute short film, Bomlambo (Those of the Water).
Hard to Get
is the first of a number of films which feature the talent of previously
marginalized black filmmakers in South Africa, produced by Ahmed and Spring.
Spring remarks, “Junaid and I are thrilled
to be launching major new talent with Hard
to Get. We are incredibly proud of the work that director Zee Ntuli, his
team and cast, have delivered. There is already a great deal of buzz around the
film and we have no doubt that a bright future awaits them.”
Machen concludes: “With the production team
of Helena Spring and Junaid Ahmed behind the film, I have a strong suspicion
that this is going to be the one that cracks open local audience’s desire to
watch strong local film products. I have no doubt that audiences will walk out
of the theatre electrified, and will be filled with excitement about the rest
of the festival. All of this makes Hard to
Get the perfect opening film for DIFF 2014.”
For more information, visit the DIFF
website at www.durbanfilmfestival.co.za
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