The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, Dr
Sibusiso Ndebele
Board members & Managements of our funding partners:
The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority
The National Film & Video Foundation
The Ethekwini Municipality and in particular, the Durban Film Office KwaZulu-Natal Sport, Arts &
Culture
Representative of our partnering organisations and stakeholder communities
Representatives of the International Diplomatic community
And, most importantly, filmmakers and representatives from the Film Industry.
It is my pleasure on behalf of the School of Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to welcome you to
the 47th edition of the Durban International Film Festival.
This year’s Durban International Film Festival opens with the sad news of the passing Peter Rovirk, the
former director of the Centre for Creative Arts. Peter was a visionary & passionate champion for the
Durban International Film Festival. His contribution to the festival and to the Centre for Creative Arts
continues to endure because he left behind a strong architecture on which the festival continues to
be anchored. Our condolences go to Peter Rovirk’s dear wife, Monica Rovirk; and the entire
community of film stakeholders who are pained by his passing. I am delighted that my colleagues at
the Centre for Creative Arts have dedicated the 47th edition of the Durban International Film Festival
in honour of Peter Rovirk’s life and work.
As the University of KwaZulu-Natal, we will continue to invest in the Durban International Film Festival.
We value the impact that the festival makes to the social and economic advancement of our city,
province and country. The Durban International Film Festival takes place at a time of contested
identities, complex geopolitics and global changes. It demands that we find creative solutions to
advance work that is built on compassion and a shared humanity. Festivals are dynamic spaces that
provide us with opportunities to dialogue with each other. Festivals assist us to find renewed
inspiration. Festivals help us to overturn stereotypes and to open ourselves to newer visions.
I want to express our gratitude to the filmmakers, audiences, partners and funders who continue to
recognise the Durban International Film Festival as one of the leading festivals on the African
continent. This year, the festival received over 2 600 submissions from film-makers across the globe.
It was an enormous task to narrow down the selection of films to 69 for this year’s programme. We
extend our congratulations to the filmmakers whose films will be screened at this year’s festival.
I also want to express our gratitude to the DIFF Manager, Sakhile Gumede, for taking on this enormous
challenge. He has curated this year’s festival with vision, passion and commitment. Sakhile has worked
at the Centre for Creative Arts for the past twenty years in various capacities. He has built a deep
understanding about the Centre’s festivals. He has won the confidence of our stakeholders and diverse
partners. He has led a team of young interns with vigour and a renewed energy. We congratulate him
on his professional debut as the festival Manager.
I also want to thank the team at the Centre for Creative Arts under the stewardship of the Centre
Director, Dr Ismail Mahomed, for continuing to advance the Centre as a premiere Community
Engagement unit within the School of Arts.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal is most grateful to the numerous funders and partners who support
the festival. The Durban International Film Festival continues its championing work with thanks to:
• The Office of the Vice Chancellor at the University. Of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Nana Poku as
well as the support of theDeputy Vice Chancellor in the College of Humanities at UKZN,
Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize
• The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority
• The Ethekwini Municipality and in particular the Durban Film Office
• The National Film & Video Foundation
• The KZN Department of Sport, & Arts & Culture
• The Avalon Cinema
• The British Council
• The Gauteng Film Commission
• Dante Languages
• The Film & Publications Board
• And the many in-kind partners whose contributions are acknowledged in our collage of logos
and in the official festival brochure.
The Durban International Film Festival is proud to champion opportunities for African women
filmmakers from the diaspora. We welcome this year’s Featured Filmmaker, Susanne Mirghati, whose
film Cotton Queen is the opening film for this year’s festival. We welcome her to Durban and hope
that she will return again some time in the future to shoot her next film in our beautiful city.
We also extend our gratitude to the number of filmmakers who have travelled to Durban from other
parts of the continent and from across our oceans. We trust that you will have an inspiring time in our
country and that you will be ambassadors to tell the stories about our shared histories.
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Centre for Creative Arts it is my pleasure to invite you to the
47th edition of the Durban International Film Festival.
ENJOY THE FESTIVAL.