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FESTIVAL NEWS |
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Historic Events at the DIFF Cinema in Africa originated as early as 1909 in the town of Durban, South Africa, only four years after the world's first cinema opened in America. The following year, Africa's first cinema for “coloured” persons opened on the outskirts of Durban. Little is known about these two pioneering cinemas in Durban and the role they played in encouraging film-going as a social phenomenon in South Africa. A comprehensive search through original materials, including information stored on microfilm at Durban's oldest newspaper and the city's architectural repositories indicates that filmic activities in South Africa led directly to the introduction of the news reel and the use of film for propaganda purposes in wartime. Tracking the progress of cinema both locally and internationally reveals that developments in Durban are closely linked to the political and cultural environment in wider society ranging from separation to integration.
Durban University of Technology's, Mikhail Peppas, who is spearheading this research, is requesting a loan of any film related materials that might unpack this lost history for a proposed book covering the origins and history of film, cinema and theatre in the Greater Durban area. The cut-off year for the first edition is 1950. Contact details for the book materials is visualvoicemikhail@gmail.com /Cell: 082 491 5656
As part of this ongoing and multifaceted excavation of Africa's filmic and intellectual past and exactly 100 years after the opening of the first cinema in Durban, the 30 th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will host a panel discussion entitled From the Manuscripts of Timbuktu to the 100 Years of Electric Theatre in Durban. The discussion (Wednesday 29 July at 14h00) will be facilitated by National Archivist, Graham Dominy, from the Department of Arts and Culture (National Film, Video and Sound Archives). The venue is the Prince Alfred conference room at the Royal Hotel, Anton Lembede Street. Speakers include Zola Maseko (director, The Manuscripts of Timbuktu ), Mikhail Peppas (Durban University of Technology) and Cherif Keita (director, Cemetery Stories: A Rebel Missionary in South Africa ).
To mark this anniversary of film in Durban, the National Film Video and Sound Archives is holding an exhibition on the history of South African film in the conference board room on the first floor of Royal Hotel.
A festive gathering Toasting 100 Years of Cinema in Durban is planned at the site of Durban's first cinema, The Electric Theatre – where the Medwood Gardens Pool is currently situated (city centre). This event takes place at midday 12h00 on Wednesday 29 July.
Another interesting historical sidebar is that the Royal Grill Room also opened 100 years ago on the 29 th July. They are opening their doors again early August, after many months of major refurbishment that will restore the restaurant to its full glory.
Programme booklets with the full screening schedule and synopses of all the films are available free at cinemas, Computicket, and other outlets. Call 031 2602506 or 031 2601650 for further details.
In a year deeply constrained by funding cutbacks festival organisers the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN ) highlight the important role played by principal funders the National Film and Video Foundation, Stichting Doen, HIVOS, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, German Embassy, Goethe Institute of South Africa, City of Durban, Industrial Development Corporation, Department of Arts and Culture (Film, Video and Sound Archives) and the support from East Coast Radio, Durban Film Office, and other valued sponsors and partners.
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For festival queries contact
031 260 2506
diff@ukzn.ac.za
For media queries contact:
Sharlene Versfeld
Tel: 031-8115628
Fax: 0866827334
Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za
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