Proudly SA Teams Up With Spider-Man

In what seems an unlikely connection, Proudly South African and its dedicated online shopping portal, www.RSAMade.co.za have partnered with Sony Movies SA in a special promotion ahead of the release of the blockbuster movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, scheduled to go on circuit on 14 December.

Image TM and Copyright: Marvel and Sony Pictures Animation. 

In this movie you don’t need a mask to be a hero - Spider-Man is everyone and Proudly SA is appealing to all South Africans this festive season and beyond to be a local hero by choosing to support local products and services.

The competition, being run online, invites shoppers to spend R1 000 or more on any Proudly South African purchase on www.rsamade.co.za and stand the chance to win an RSAMade shopping voucher worth R1 000. In addition, every week from now until the promotion closed on 29 December, chosen lucky winners will receive a Spider-Verse hamper and movie tickets.

Lucretia Anthony, Sony Marketing Manager said, “We’re excited about this unique partnership between RSAMade and Sony’s ground-breaking film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.  Just as the film highlights the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask, we look forward to the association with the limitless possibilities that the RSAMade platform has to offer.”

Proudly SA’s CEO, Eustace Mashimbye said, “We are turning our partnership with the massive international Spider-Man property into a focus on everything that is local. Everything on our dedicated online shopping platform www.rsamade.co.za where the promotion is running is Proudly South African, and we, together with our partners are appealing to all South Africans to be local heroes and make buy local choices, and assist the economy and job creation.”

RSAMade’s CEO, Karamba Jabbie added, “We are excited to be part of this massive IP and to support and uplift our local manufacturers together with Sony Movies SA, and so we encourage every South African to be the hero of their own and support Proudly South Africa by buying from www.rsamade.co.za . This helps many families ‘behind the scenes’. You don’t need a mask to be a hero!”

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is set to be a huge box office hit over the holidays and movie go-ers are asked to be reminded each time they see Spider-Man publicity that they don’t need a mask to be a hero, they just need to BUY LOCAL on www.rsamade.co.za


This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton 

South African Film 'Inxeba' (The Wound) Hits The Big Screen In France

Since its successful world premiere at The Sundance Film Festival and its European premiere as the opening film on the Panorama programme at the 67th Berlinale in Germany, South African Film 'Inxeba' (The Wound) released in theatres in France.

This is a film about the clash between tradition and modernity. This is the first feature film from writer-director John Trengrove, co-written by Thando Mgqolozana and Malusi Bengu.

It was released in 41 screens in France.

The film stars Nakhane Toure as Xolani, a lonely factory worker, who joins men of his community in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood.

Watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens In Ster-Kinekor’s IMAX Cinema For An Inter-Galactic Experience

Opening on 16^th December 2016 you don’t have long to wait.

This is the 7^th instalment of the Star Wars Saga.

Ster-Kinekor has revealed that advanced bookings have reached epic proportions.  To date more than 34 500 tickets have already been purchased.  Of these pre-sales more than half the tickets –  18 300 (as at 9 Dec) are for the IMAX 3D experience which offers the most immersive experience.

There are 6 IMAX theatres across South Africa.  Gateway in Durban, The Grove in Pretoria, CapeGate in Cape Town, Baywest Mall in PE, Cradlestone Mall in Krugersdorp and the new IMAX at Eastgate in Johannesburg.

This time round Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you to a galaxy far, far away.

Boasting an all-star cast including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyongo’o, Andy Serkis, Max Von Sydow and many more.

For more info and to book tickets visit www.sterkinekor.com

You can also download the Ster-Kinekor App.

Or call 0861 668 437 to book tickets.

Books at Berlinale - Turn your book into a film - deadline 19 November 2015

Books at Berlinale: Call for Book Submissions – Deadline 19 November 2015

Looking to get your book made into a film? Then this might be for you.

10 books will be selected during the ‘Books at Berlinale’ networking event in February.  These pre-selected novels will be pitched to an audience of around 120 internationally established producers.  The presentation is followed by a networking event where contacts with producers can be established.

The 10 selected books will also be published in the ‘Books at Berlinale’ catalogue which will be handed out to attending producers.

You should be the film rights holder of the novel. Your book proposal should be a best-selling or brand new yet to be published novel with great potential for screen adaptation.  An English translation should exist to be handed out to interested producers.

Most producers work in the independent arthouse sector.  Your book should be suitable for this sector.

For more info email: books@berlinale.de

Article by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Record Opening Days of Pre-Ticket Sales at Ster-Kinekor for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Ster-Kinekor Experiences Record Opening Days of Pre-Ticket Sales for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bookings opened on Monday, 19 October and a record number of 2299 tickets were snapped up on the first day.  This is the highest number of tickets sold on the first day of bookings’ opening in Ster-Kinekor’s recorded history.  Of this total 1387 were booked for the IMAX 3D.  The previous record for the first day of booking was held by Fifty Shades of Grey earlier this year.

From Monday to Thursday last week the figure increased to 8678 pre-tickets sold.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens nationwide on 16 December in South Africa.

Article by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Interview with Fulu Mugovhani

Meet one of the lead actors from Ayanda. 

Fulu Mugovhani - Picture by Fred Felton

How did you get into acting?

I studied first and then got a part in ‘The Lion King’ which took me to Hong Kong.  It was a great experience to be in the theatre.  I came back to SA and TV opportunities came up.  I had a part in Scandal and that taught me a lot.  It’s a different genre.  You learn different ways of acting.  You have to believe in the story. It taught me a lot.

How did you get the role in Ayanda?

Nthathi called me, she suggested me.  Sara Blecher saw me.  She allowed me the process.  We had to rehearse and workshop.  Ayanda is almost in every frame.  I had to tell her story.

What was it like to act with Kenneth Nkosi?

It was unbelievable to work with Kenneth.

Are you a method actor?

I’m not a method actor.  I work on imagination.  It’s through imagination.  I had to imagine Ayanda’s father has passed away.

What do you think of the Durban International Film Festival?

This is my second DIFF.  I’m also part of the Leading Lady Lounge as well.

What’s next for you?

I’m looking at Hollywood and also Broadway.

What’s your advice for the youngsters out there who want to become Actors?

Say it but live it.  You have to work hard.  Believe in yourself.  You need to reassure yourself.  Not everyone has the opportunity to study.  You must make sure that you are in it for the right reasons.

For more info on Ayanda and all of the other films that showed at DIFF visit www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

Interview by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton

Durban International Film Festival Award Winners 2015

All The Winners

The international jury this year was led by former Manager of the DIFF and current Director of the Sydney Film Festival, Nashen Moodley and included prolific and award-winning South African filmmaker Robbie Thorpe, South African producer of numerous award-winning films who sits on the advisory panel for NFVF, Moroba Nkawe and award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, Newton Aduaka.

The South African feature film jury consisted of film-makers Lizelle Bischoff, Thandeka Zwana and Jenna Cato Bass while the documentary jurors were film-makers Annalet Steenkamp and Sylvia Vollenhoven and the short film jurors were film-makers Darryl Els, Zandi Tisani and Terrence Dalisu Ngobese.

Best Feature Film - Sunrise directed by Partho Sen-Gupta. 

Best South African Feature Film - Necktie Youth directed by Sibs Shongwe-La Mer, 

Best Direction - Shongwe La-Mer for Necktie Youth

Best Documentary and Best SA Documentary - Beats of the Antonov directed by Hajooj Kuka and The Dream of the Shahrazad directed by Francois Verster, respectively. 

Best Actor - Didier Michon for his performance in Fevers directed by Hicham Ayouch 

Best Actress -  Anissa Daoud for Tunisian Spring directed by Raja Amari.

Best African Short Film award went to The Aftermath of the Inauguration of the Public Toilet at Kilometre 375 directed by Omar el Zohairy. 

Best South African Short Film - Unomalanga and The Witch 

Production Merit Award, - Rights of Passage 

Best Screenplay Award - Sabrina Compeyron and David Constantin for Sugar Cane Shadows directed by David Constantin.

Jean-Marc Ferriere, took the honours for Best Cinematography “for creating a distinctive, atmospheric, highly-crafted and visually dynamic world depicted almost entirely in the dark”, inSunrise directed by Partho Sen-Gupta.

Special Mention for Direction was made of Kivu Ruhorahoza for Things Of The Aimless Wanderer, “for a courageous and single-minded attempt by a director harnessing all means at his disposal to tell a personal, intricate and political story.”

A Special Mention for Best Film was given to Tunisian Spring by Raja Amari, “for it’s powerful depiction of an event that has, and continues to have, resonance in the world.”

Democrats directed by Camilla Nielsson, got a Special Mention for a Documentary, which is “commended for putting a human face on a story that is complex and sometimes almost opaque.”

The Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award for the film that best reflects human rights issues which comes with a cash prize of R10 000 donated by the Artists for the Human Rights Trust went to The Shore Break, directed by Ryley Grunenwald. The jury citation reads “The film powerfully portrays a struggle within a local community regarding foreign mining rights in a pristine environment…(and) concisely and movingly uncovers this complex and urgent matter, which is still under investigation and in need of public support.”

A further Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Honorary Award was given to The Look of Silence directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, a film that “bravely uncovers the genocide in Indonesia in the 1960’s.”

The jurors for these awards were Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Betty Rawheath, Professor Lindy Stiebel and Coral Vinsen, convener of the jury panel.

Arterial Network’s Artwatch Africa Award, for an African film that meaningfully engages with the issues of freedom of expression, went to Beats of the Antonov, directed by Hajooj Kuka, who was presented a cash prize of R15 000. The jury citation said  “This compelling film shows how the power of music, dancing and culture sustains the displaced people living in the remote war-ravaged areas of Southern Sudan.”

The Jury included Junaid Ahmed, Gcina Mhlophe, René Alicia Smith, and Peter Rorvik.

The DIFF Audience Award went to The Shore Break directed by Ryley Grunenwald.

For more information go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za