This week saw the city of Durban celebrate the launch of the Durban International Film Festival, we bring you Red Carpet interviews and exclusive coverage check it out…
The East Coast city play host to many exciting events this year so far with the likes of the inaugural Vodacom Durban July – Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event as well as the return of the Durban Fashion Fair, Mtv African Music Awards and now the Durban International Film Festival.
The festival will run from the 16th July to the 26th July and it will see more than 200 screenings in nine venues across the seaside city, including 74 feature films, 50 docs, and 74 shorts, as well as a host of workshops and seminars gathering industry professionals from around the world.
The festival is all about promoting local content this year the host nation will screen 14 feature films, 13 docs, and 30 shorts — most of them receiving their world premieres in Durban.
The Socialite was there to catch all the action on launch night as the highly anticipated South African film Ayanda, directed by Sara Blecher opened the festival. The film tells a coming-of-age story of a twenty-one year old Afro-hipster, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she’s thrown into a world of greasy overalls, gender stereotypes and abandoned vintage cars once loved, in need of a young woman’s re-inventive touch to bring them back into love again.
The film includes appearances by Fulu Mugovhani from Scandal and Nigerian actor OC Ukeje, with a South African cast including Ntathi Moshesh, Kenneth Nkosi, Jafta Mamabola, Thomas Gumede, Sihle Xaba and Vanessa Cooke and Terry Pheto.
The Socialite’s Chia Kougianos was on hand to do a live crossing from the premiere on air with East Coast Radio with host Sirshin Moodliar for Trending Tonight. The excitement from the invited guests and members of the media was pulpable as the highly anticipated film made its South African debut.
Next up was the Red Carpet interviews where we guest hosted on behalf of MoJo and had the opportunity to chat with the DIFF 2015 MC Duchess Zookey as well as the film’s producer Sara Blecher. Check out the interviews below:
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