Festival director Peter Rorvik pronounced the festival a success, citing "a diverse array of high-quality films, the enriching presence of local and international filmmakers, and excellent interest in the workshop programme, which indicates KZN enthusiasm not just for festival cinema but also for the technical aspects of filmmaking".
The film competition award-winners:
Best Short Film: Dead Ends directed by Donovan Marsh
Best Documentary: War Photographer directed by Christian Frei
Best First Feature: Beneath Clouds directed by Ivan Sen
Best Supporting Player: Sidede Onyulo for his performance in Nowhere in Africa
Best Actress: Shared between Danielle Hall (Beneath Clouds) and Everlyn Sampi (Rabbit-Proof Fence)
Best Actor: Anthony LaPaglia (Lantana)
Best Cinematography: Grzegorz Kedzierski for Avalon
Best Screenplay: Andrew Bovell for Lantana
Best Director: Abolfazl Jalili for Delbaran
Audience Prize for Best Film: Rabbit-Proof Fence
Special Jury Prize to God Is African, "for breaking new ground and asking important, unpopular questions with a limited budget".
Best Film: Spirited Away directed by Hayao Miyazaki
The 24th Durban International Film Festival will take place from 13-26 October 2003. Entry forms for the 24th Film Festival are available on the website http://www.und.ac.za/und/carts/. For information send email: or contact the Centre for Creative Arts, University of Natal at 031 260 2506 or fax 031 260 3074.
