Film: Durban International Film Festival, #DIFF2020, 17 films will be available for viewing until September 30, 2020
? The 41st edition of the Durban International Festival (DIFF) was on from September 10 to 20 September with screenings of films on the #DIFF website www.durbanfilmfest.com The festival also hosted drive-in screenings. The #DIFF site worked extremely well and the numbers reflect that with a good uptake of the digital format. According to DIFF: “The festival hosted around 3,500 film lovers and the 58 films were streamed close to 7,000 times.”
There is a lot on at the moment and what is happening that people are finding out at the end of an event that it is something to attend and by then it is too late as it is over. Great news is that DIFF is making a selection of 17 films available for “renting”, until September 30. There is no charge to “rent” the films. You create a profile, click on the film you want to see and have two days to watch and then it expires. Simple as that.
The films in the extended DIFF programme, include seven documentaries: The Art of Fallism, Janitou, 143 Sahara Street, Days of Cannibalism, How to Steal a Country, The Letter and In your Eyes, I see my Country. Five shorts: EsCape Town, Grey Matter, Henet Ward, Sandpaper, Sadla and the DIFF2020 award-winning Exam. Four features are still available: Just Like That, Shaft 6, Our Lady of the Nile and Burkinabe. Click to view: www.durbanfilmfest.com
TheCapeRobyn watch list: The Art of Fallism and Days of Cannibalism – which garnered no awards at DIFF. I would have awarded prized to these two exceptional films- innovative and ground breaking documentaries. Days of Cannibalism won an award at Encounters. Reviews and interview with Wisaal Abrahams (co-producer The Art of Fallism) on TheCapeRobyn. Please scroll down for links, after awards list.
Winning films at #DIFF2020
? Best Short Film – Exam -directed by Sonia K. Hadad
? Best African Short and Best South African Short Film, animated film, Ruby and Roach- directedby Erentia Bedeker
? Best Documentary – Softie, directed by Sam Soko (Kenya)
? Best South African Documentary– Influence, directed by Richard Poplak and Diana Neille
? Artistic Bravery and Best Direction – This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection, directed by Lemohang Jerimiah Mosese
? Best Actress Award – The late Mary Twala for This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection
? Best South African Film Award- Stam (The Tree), directed by Louw Venter
? Best Cinematography Award – Take Me Somewhere Nice by Ena Sendijarevic
? Best Screenplay -Farewell Amor
? Best Actor – Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwire for Farewell Amor
? Best Editing and Best Film – Force of Habit (Finland), directed by seven directors and edited by nine editors. The directors are Kirsikka Saari, Elli Toivoniemi, Anna Paavilainen, Alli Haapasalo, Reetta Aalto, Jenni Toivoniemi and Miia Tervo
? The Amnesty International Human Rights Award – FADMA: Even Ants Have Wings by Jawad Rhalib
The #DIFF2020 jury
? The features jury: Angus Gibson and Layla Swaart from South Africa. Mykel Parish Ajaere from Nigeria, Or Lee-Tal from Israel and Abbessi Akhamie from the USA. The short film jury: Bongi Ndaba, Edmund Mhlongo, Teboho Pietersen, Jayan Moodley from South Africa and Munyaradzi Chidzonga from Zimbabwe. The documentary jury: Lesedi Moche, Monica Rorvik, Theresa Hill and Enver Samuel from South Africa and Dr Cynthia Fuchs from the USA.
Reviews:
