The Durban Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
has been postponed to September 28.
Due to last minute technical issues raised
by the Film & Publications Board (FPB) about the broader programme, only
the South African feature film Inxeba (The
Wound) went ahead as scheduled. As the film has already received a 16 SL
classification, it has been allowed exhibition. However, the rest of the
programme will be postponed to start September 28, 2017, in order to bring
films in compliance with FPB regulations.
"It is with great regret that I have
to announce the postponement of the DGLFF programme for a month so as to comply
with technical issues raised only this week by the FPB. Previously, we had
sincerely not been made aware of certain technical requirements, and on
learning what was needed, I ensured very quickly that the FPB was provided with
what they needed. Unfortunately timing is an issue with the process and this
led to a mutual decision that in order for the Festival to be fully in
alignment with FPB requirements, we should postpone to achieve this," says
festival organiser, Jason Fiddler.
Inxeba was screened last weekend at Tina's Hotel in Kloof. The community
screening of the film on September 2 at 12 noon will be in a venue as yet to be
confirmed.
The critically acclaimed and award winning Inxeba stars musician and novelist
Nakhane Touré as Xolani, a lonely factory worker who joins the men of his
community in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage
boys into manhood.
Amidst sporadic calls for boycott, and some
reports of threats to cast members, Fiddler is pragmatic: "The country is
still very naive when it comes to our rights to freedom of expression, of
protection against discrimination. The Constitution is there for a very good
reason: to work against hegemony, hatred and homophobia. Whilst I'm deeply
concerned that the intolerance and aggression displayed by some is very real, I
also expect that many detractors haven't actually seen this powerful piece of
cinema. We must have the space to express our creativity, artistry and views
frankly and without intimidation."
"The programme will remain largely
intact and we simply commence from the end of September," assures Fiddler.
The revised DGLFF programme will be available online within the coming week and
all screening information relating to Inxeba can found at the Festival
website www.dglff.org.za
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