23rd Durban International Film Festival award winners

The winners of the Durban International Film Festival have been announced. Over the two-week period a total of 45 feature films, 28 documentaries and 23 shorts were screened.

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.

Source: NTVA