The 36th Durban International Film Festival
(DIFF) has announced the participants of the 8th edition of Talents
Durban, presented in cooperation with the Berlinale Talents an initiative of the
Berlin International Film Festival. Talents Durban is a five day development
programme made up of workshops and seminars for African filmmakers delivered by
film professionals, academics and intellectuals. The Talents, who are selected
through a rigorous application process, will also have the opportunity to
attend screenings and events at the Festival.
Talents Durban is one of the six Talents International
programmes formed by Berlinale Talents in Africa and around the world including
Talents Beirut in Lebanon, Talents Buenos Aires in Argentina, Talents Sarajevo
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Talents Tokyo in Japan and Talents Guadalajara in
Mexico.
Some 40 filmmakers from 10 countries across the continent
including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zimbabwe,
Rwanda, Zambia and Cameron will be in attendance.
The South African participants of Talents include Lucky
Nhlanhla Cele; Karien Cherry; Joanne Corrigall; Benjamin Johnson; Polani Fourie;
Godisamang Khunou; Trent Kok; Makundi Lambani; Sheetal Megan; Theoline Maphutha;
Francisca Meyer; Samantha Nell; Simphiwe Ngcobo; John Nyoka; Davashni Rajoo; Charne
Simpson; Tendai Charles Tshuma and Amy Van Den Houten.
Presented under the theme Start Motion, Talents
Durban aims to boost the already rising flow of current filmmaking in Africa,
and to encourage filmmakers on the continent to share their stories through
their own cultured lense. Participants interact with over 600 delegates of DIFF
and Durban FilmMart, the co-production and finance forum which takes place from
July 17 to 20 at the festival. Selected participants get to be part of numerous
project-oriented, hands on skills development programs. Practical development
programmes within Talents Durban include Talent Press, Script Station and Doc
Station. Well-known journalist Debashine Thangevelo will be among the reviewers
involved in Talent Press.
Talents Durban is supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Film
Commission, Goethe Institute SA, German Embassy in South Africa and Gauteng
Film Commission.
The 36th Durban International Film Festival is organised by
the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (a special
project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the College of Humanities, Cheryl
Potgieter).
For more information about Talents Durban at the DIFF go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za,
or call Sandile Gumede on 031 260 3586.
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