As ten days of screenings that inspired, excited, and moved audiences ends, the Durban International Film Festival is proud to announce the winners of the 45th festival. Ninety-two films from fifty countries were screened, and the jury was hard-pressed to select winners from the eligible films in each category.
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Members of the international jury were Sean Drummond, the writer and producer of Five Fingers for Marseilles, Apocalypse Now Now, and the Netflix series Unseen; Heidi Zwicker, a senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, and Pape Boye, co-founder of Funny Balloons. The jury noted in their citation that they “were entranced by the film’s lyricism and intimacy, its exploration of a culture and its practices, with nuance and understanding, through the eyes of emotionally complex characters in quiet crisis, and its deep sense of space and connection to its setting, so beautifully captured through breath-taking, yet subtle cinematography. Its exploration of ‘forbidden’ love, longing, duty, commitment, and doubt is anchored in its powerful portrayal of relationships between women, featuring exquisite performances across the board. A remarkable film by a dazzling Indian female filmmaking voice, which speaks to something human in all of us.” The winner of the Best International Feature Film was All We Imagine as Light directed by Payal Kapadia.
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The jury also made special mention of How to Have Sex, saying, “We would like to give a special mention to Molly Manning Walker for her searing feature debut, How to Have Sex. We were deeply affected by the film’s devastatingly honest examination of sexuality and consent, along with its multifaceted portrayal of the complexities of female friendship, anchored by actress Mia McKenna-Bruce’s extraordinarily sensitive work.”
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On announcing the South African feature awards, the jury announced, “Before we award the Best South African Film, we wanted to make note of another of the selected films that we really admired. We were excited by the potential of a fresh filmmaking voice in Sonti by Terrence Aphane. We congratulate him on his debut and look forward to what comes next for him.” As they proceeded to the winner they said, “We are pleased to award the Best South African Film to Sierra’s Gold by Adze Ugah. This audacious film constantly surprised us while deftly juggling genres and taking us on a totally wild ride, an experience that was heightened by watching with an audience whose visceral reactions palpably matched our own, likely just as the filmmaker intended.”
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The documentary jury consisted of award-winning producer, Antoinette Engel; human rights law specialist-turned-documentarist, Shameela Seedat, and deputy director at STEPS, Theresa Hill, who congratulated the winner of the best international documentary applauding it in their citation. “Four Daughters is acknowledged for its innovative blend of documentary and performance to amplify the power of cinema. At its best, it provides a space to understand and reflect on our realities and imagine alternatives. Four Daughters does just this, creating an intimate, powerful link between its characters, actors, and audiences within a highly charged arc across three generations of family grief and wider political tumult.”
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The jury also made special mention of Coconut Head Generation, praising it as “a richly observed, inspiring and urgent film that brings to the fore the ideas and struggles of a young, dynamic generation of Nigerians that will resonate with youth everywhere.”
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The award for Best South African Documentary Film went to a first-time female filmmaker for her exploration of why South Africa remains the most unequal society in our world. The jury said, “The film is a partial account of South Africa’s history and the aftermath of apartheid’s legacy. While it may fall short of offering a decolonised history, it does prompt us to take up the conversation and ask how we decolonise our history: past, present, and future. History is never complete, South African documentary filmmakers remain critical in continuing to add to the body of films that speak to who we are and who we will become as a country,” as they announced that the award went to Legacy: The Decolonized History of South Africa.
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The jury for the twenty-six short films was presented with films that captured every aspect of the human condition. Adrian Van Wyk, filmmaker and creative producer; Ama Qamata, best known for her roles as Buhle in the series Gomora and Puleng Khumalo in the hit Netflix series, Blood & Water, and Tamsin Ranger from Big World Cinema were impressed by the range of films in competition and said, “As a literal voice for the unheard and overlooked, Rim takes us behind the curtain for a look at the complex and often impersonal process of asylum applications. At a time when the experience of displacement is reduced to news inserts and short videos, the film deep dives into how individuals assert their voices and identities in a world where they may feel marginalized. Fatima Kaci’s examination of cultural and social issues not only resonates with current discussions on representation but also underscores the shared humanity that binds us all. For its strong performances, poignant exploration of identity and the power of storytelling, we award The Voice of Others with the Best International Short Film Award.”
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The South African winner was The Wait directed by Imran Hamdulay. They commended him, saying, “Through the experiences of Mzu, The Wait translates the intricacies of South African life onto the screen. Mzu quickly learns the implications of disrupting the flow while standing in line in South Africa. Hamdulay’s film provides a nuanced view of the textured experiences and myriad possibilities one might encounter when entering a police station in South Africa.”
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The jury made special mention of Nocturnal Burger, directed by Reema Maya, which in their opinion afforded audiences a golden opportunity. “Cinema offers filmmakers the ability to pose vital questions about our current place in humanity. Without explicitly stating these questions, Reema Maya’s Nocturnal Burger prompts audiences to reflect on this societal moment. What have the ramifications of patriarchy been for the most vulnerable members of society? How has this occurred while the desire for material possessions has blinded us?” they declared.
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Twenty-one student films were screened, all of which were in competition. The jury comprised of Brazilian journalist, cultural producer, researcher, and film curator, Ana Camila Esteves; South African producer, Jacintha de Nobrega and founder of Miss K Productions and producer of the feature film, Sons of the Sea, which won the Best South African Film award at the 43rd Durban International Film Festival, Khosie Dali. The panel agreed that “it was a pleasure to watch this selection of student films. We were very impressed by the quality of the narratives developed in the scope of film schools in various parts of the world, which is really exciting. We had a hard time picking up only one between so many wonderful short films, but we are grateful for the opportunity of getting to know upfront what these emerging filmmakers are cooking for the next years.” They announced Don’t Let Go (Germany), by Antonia Lorenza Lindner, as the best international student film, praising it for “its outstanding storytelling, direction, and production in the realm of cinema. The film was subtle, cinematic and the characters captivating, as they showcase feelings of intimacy and betrayal.”
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The Best South African Student Filmmaker, Lindokuhle Mthimkhulu who directed Warm, hails from AFDA in Durban. The jury said, “This film brilliantly addresses gender violence in a poetic yet powerful manner. As we empathize with Dolly’s pain, we also commend the creative and artistic elements of the narrative, especially given the challenge of discussing violence without being overly graphic.” In closing the student jury noted, “With so many remarkable films in this selection, we are pleased to give a special mention to Congratulatory Visit by Muaz Güneş (Turkey). The film demonstrates exceptional character development and tells an anecdote with a beautiful blend of sweetness and melancholy. We look forward to seeing more groundbreaking projects from this talented filmmaker.”
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The Amnesty International Jury for the Human Rights Awards consisted of Jane Argall, Poonitha Naidoo, and Saskia Wustefeld. The Amnesty International SA Durban group’s Human Rights Award for 2024 goes to The Battle of Laikipia by Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murumi. The jury stated that “this is a documentary of the highest quality showcasing to the world the challenges of land rights in post-colonial Kenya: an issue close to the heart of African identity. It focuses on the drought-stricken Laikipia area where indigenous nomadic pastoralists sustain their livelihoods by herding, exercising their right to access communal land and water. The pastoralists conflict with the multi-generational colonial land heirs, who are devoted to ranching and conservation efforts, on their privatised land with title deeds. The film examines both sides of the conflict equally against the backdrop of climate change and the power of politics. The panoramic beauty of the landscape and sounds of silence belie the bubbling unresolved issues that urgently need attention.”
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The jury made special mentions of these two other films Dahomey by Mati Diop focuses on the long overdue return of Africa’s artifacts towards restoring the continent’s dignity and spirituality, in this case to Benin. Secondly, The Showerhead by Craig Turner and Anant Singh, follows the courageous South African activist-cartoonist, Zapiro (Jonathan Shapiro) as he unflinchingly challenges wrong-doing by those in power, exercising his freedom of expression, in a democratic country.”
The Amnesty International SA Durban jury said that they were humbled by this year’s human rights documentary films and thanked the filmmakers for conscientizing audiences on these themes. “Our special thanks go to the Durban International Film Festival for our 21-year partnership in highlighting human rights,” they said.
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