Celebrating 100 years of cinema with masterclasses in KwaZulu-Natal

The first film that recognised and utilised the province of KwaZulu-Natal as its stage, was a film titled A Zulu’s Devotion, which was shot in

1916, directed by Joseph Albrecht.

During the Durban International Film Festival, KZNFC will host a series of master classes hosted by its special guests during the festival. The highlights of the master class series will be hosted by the legendary music icon Caiphus Semenya, hosting a master class on music in film and Darrell Roodt the director of the film Sarafina! The Master Classes will take place at the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission newly established Film Hub in Musgrave Towers, 115 Musgrave Road, Durban.

Masterclasses

• Daryl Roodt - Learn the tricks of being a director with great credits – 17 June 2016
  The master class by South African film director, screenwriter and producer – Darrell Roodt. Roodt known for his 1992 film Sarafina! is regarded as one of South Africa's most prolific film directors. He has worked with the late Patrick Swayze in Father Hood, James Earl Jones in Cry, the Beloved Country and Ice Cube in Dangerous Grounds.

• Caiphus Semenya - Music meets Film – 18 June 2016
  Music can make or break a film, how do you select good music for your movie? Caiphus Semenya will host this master class. Semenya is one of South Africa’s foremost musical directors and composers, with recent credits including the music scores for the SABC series Molo Fish, Vicious Circle and Gaba Mootho, as well as a lifetime of work as a performer and arranger of African music. Semenya left South Africa in the 1960s, together with his wife, singer Letta Mbulu. Whilst in exile, he worked with compatriots Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Hotep Galeta and Miriam Makeba amongst many others. He subsequently took up residence in Los Angeles, where his talent resulted in work with the top range of American artists and producers, and saw his compositions being performed by Cannonball Adderley, Harry Belafonte, The Crusaders, Lou Rawls and Nina Simone, amongst others. Most notable have been his regular collaborations with Quincy Jones. The association has seen Semenya composing all the African music for Alex Hayley’s Roots Pt 1 and Pt 2 and the African music for the Steven Spielberg directed Colour Purple. Semenya’s work for Colour Purple earned him an Oscar Nomination.

• Kirk Cooper - Market Readiness Workshop – 22 June 2016
  Our filmmakers often attend markets and festivals, locally and internationally. It is important therefore that they are equipped to maximise on their attendance and have a beneficial experience. Cooper’s involvement in the film industry began with the ‘Black Film and Video Network’, a stint that led to independent programming and publicity for several festivals, where he achieved success on numerous films selected for ‘ReelWorld’, ‘Toronto International Film Festival’ (TIFF), ‘Montreal World Film Festival’, ‘Hot Docs’, and ‘CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival’. His work has taken him to Cannes, LA and his accumulative network of contacts now extends beyond North America to include Europe, South Africa, India and the Caribbean, successfully contributing to creating ‘Film Market Access’.

• Film Policy Review – 22 June 2016
  The National film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission will host an industry consultation session on the proposed changes to the Dti Foreign Film and Television Production rebate. The proposed changes have come about as proposals from members of the film industry. The Dti will be in attendance.

• The Film Mrs Right Guy. A Story Development Case Study. – 24 June 2016
  Mokopi Shale and Cati Weinek, the writing team of the recently released hit film Mrs Right Guy, will explore the journey of producing the film at the development phase. In particular, they will look at balancing the creative needs of the writing team against the needs of the funder.

For more information, go to www.kwazulunatalfilm.co.za.