(Peter Machen. Pic by
Val Adamson)
Peter Machen resigned from his position as Festival Manager
of the Durban International Film Festival as of March 31. He leaves the
festival in the capable hands of Pedro Pimenta, who has been appointed Festival
Director.
“I am very happy that I have a left behind a strong
programme of features and documentaries for DIFF 2015, the bulk of which has
been invited and locked-down”, said Machen. “I am also very happy to be leaving
the festival in the hands of someone like Pedro, who has a lucid understanding
of film and festivals, and is well-loved in the industry.”
Machen, who was appointed festival manager in 2013, has been
working with the festival as a writer and programming consultant since 2006,
and has a long and established career as an arts writer and film critic. He
will be leaving Durban for Berlin in June where he will continue his freelance
career as a writer, editor, art director and art photographer.
“It has been an extraordinary experience over the last few
years”, said Machen, referring to his tenure at the festival. “And I’m sure
that I will continue to work with film and film festivals in the coming years.
It’s also been a remarkable experience getting to know so many wonderful people
on the local and international film festival circuits and I have built many
rich relationships which will continue to be sustained in the future. So it’s
certainly not a complete goodbye to film festivals.”
Machen expressed his warm wishes for 2015’s festival and
future editions. “DIFF is very close to my heart, having personally attended
for 25 years. It has become part of who I am, and of course I wish the festival
the best of luck in 2015 and beyond.”
Posts
