Migration, identity and confronting one's past are at the heart of current global debates. It is this theme, coupled with superb cinematic aesthetics, that struck the chords of the international jury that selected the winner of the Best Feature Film, RICEBOY SLEEPS, directed by Anthony Shim, at the 44th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The festival came to a close on Saturday night with the announcement of the award winners.
This year's festival was an overall success with audiences watching over 89 films from 54 countries at CineCentre Suncoast, KZNSA and five community arts centres. Festival Manager and Head of Programming, Andrea Voges, expressed her appreciation for the audiences who attended the festival: "It was inspiring to see audiences coming to the cinema. It shows us that there is huge enthusiasm from our South African audiences for high-quality arthouse films at the festival. It encourages us to continue to develop and we look forward to DIFF2024."
The festival jury described RICEBOY SLEEPS as an epic tale of a single parent's journey of forging a new future for her son in a foreign land. The movie touched on themes of identity, parental love, mortality, and confronting one's past, while being lyrical and cinematically tender in its offering. Moreover, the jury was particularly impressed with the lead actress, Choi Seung-Yoon, who was awarded Best Actress. Her mannerisms, tone, and dialogue fully immersed viewers in the story and solidified her place as deserving of the award.
The winners were announced to an enthusiastic live audience at CineCentre Suncoast Cinema. Lila Avilés earned the Best Director award for her remarkable film TÓTEM, a co-production between Mexico, Denmark and France. Likewise, Baloji was unanimously awarded the Best African Feature Film award for his brave debut, OMEN, co-produced with Belgium, the Democratic Republic of Congo, France, and the Netherlands.
The awards for this year's Best Screenplay went to Amr Gamal and Mazen Refaat for their incredible work on THE BURDENED, a co-production between Yemen, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia. Although the theme of abortion is one that is universal, the jury found the writing and perspective of the film to be a welcomed fresh take.
The jury was impressed with Piyush Puty's work as the cinematographer for JORAM, awarding him the Best Cinematography award. They remarked that "There was no separation between the camera and the movements of the protagonist - a delicate dance of skill in pursuit of form was evident in each frame." Lead actor Manoj Bajpayee received the Award for Best Actor, with the jury praising him for his remarkable commitment to keeping a baby safe whilst on the run in a believable fashion.
The Best South African Feature Film award at the festival was presented to RUNS IN THE FAMILY, a film directed by Ian Gabriel that was commended for providing a space for greater inclusion, respect, and acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The festival management and features jury jointly awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to MAPANTSULA. "The film is a cultural touchstone for South Africa and continues to inspire younger generations of filmmakers. This award serves to not only recognise the talent of the filmmaker but also acknowledge the lasting contributions that Mapantsula has made to South African cinema. It is a reminder that films can be vehicles for inspiring social change", the award's citation states.
THE MOTHER OF ALL LIES (Morocco, Qatar, Saudi, Arabia, Egypt), directed by Asmae El Moudir, was awarded Best Documentary, with the jury finding themselves unanimously captivated by this cinematic masterpiece. Best African Documentary was awarded to LE SPECTRE DE BOKO HARAM from Cameroon, a sensitive and delicate film that the jury thought was approached with a deeply respectful eye by director Cyrielle Raingou. Lastly, the Best South African Documentary was bestowed upon MILISUTHANDO, directed by Milisuthando Bongela. The jury found Milisuthando to be a strikingly poetic piece of work that truly strives to invent a cinematic language that can accurately express the nuances and complexities of South Africa and her people.
This year's shorts jury had the challenging task of selecting the winners from an impressive selection of 25 short films. Even more excitingly, the Best Short Film category was approved as a qualifying award for the Academy's Short Films Qualifying Festival List; and thus making the Best Documentary and Best Short Film categories at the DIFF now eligible to submit for an Oscar win.
WILL YOU LOOK AT ME, directed by Shuli Huang, was awarded the Best Short Film for its delicate, potent, and masterfully composed filmmaking. Tanzanian APOSTLES OF CINEMA, directed by Darragh Amelia, Gertrude Malizana, Jesse Gerard Mpango, and Cece Mlay, was awarded Best African Short Film for its captivating and entertaining depiction of the lasting legacy of cinema in remote corners of the continent.
MIRROR MIRROR, directed by Sandulela Asanda, was awarded Best South African Short Film, "This is a step in the right direction for local cinema, with its visible changing landscape and widening representation. Looks to be a crowd pleaser and will play well with local audiences, and the potential to grow into a feature film is quite clear," said the jury.
This year's festival saw the 2nd edition of the Isiphethu International Student Film Festival which aims to create a platform and gateway for students by exposing them to the role players in the film industry and showcasing their work on big cinema screens. The Best Student Film was won by A ROADSIDE BANQUET, directed by Chinese student Peiqi Peng for its exceptional ability to weave a potent visual narrative, effectively portraying the inner emotions of the protagonist.
The Afrikaans Student Film by Leandros Brown and Daniel Howells, HIBERNATION, took the award for Best South African Film, "The film is highly engaging and effectively maintains suspense until the very end. The camera work and mise-en-scène are executed in a truly magical manner," said the jury.
Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award was awarded to BEYOND UTOPIA, for raising awareness of the long hidden gross human rights violations in North Korea.
The 44th Durban International Film Festival, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu- Natal, is presented with support from the National Film and Video Foundation, Kwazulu-Natal Film Commission, the Durban Film Office, The National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Avalon Group. The management of the festival promises an even more exciting and bumper 45th-anniversary edition of the festival in 2024.
Durban FilmMart Announces Award Winners for 2023 Projects

DFM Talents Durban Award:
Jua Kali (Kenya)
Director and Screenwriter: Joash Omondi
Joash Omondi will present Jua Kali at the DFM 2024 Pitch and Finance Forum.

OIF-ACP-EU Award:
Graft (Zimbabwe)
Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya and Director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Sue-Ellen Chitunya and Naishe Nyamubaya will receive mentorship from the OIF collaboration.

JCC Carthage Pro / Chabaka Prize:
Coconut (South Africa)
Producer: Bongiwe Selane, Dineo Lusenga and Director: Karabo Lediga
Coconut will participate at Carthage Film Festival (28 October - 4 November 2023).

The Sheffield DocFest Award:
Beyond Fela (Nigeria)
Producer: Aderonke Adeola, Bolaji Kekere Ekun and Director: Aderonke Adeola
Beyond Fela will participate at Sheffield DocFest (12 - 17 June 2024).

Fagukesi / The Digital Lab Africa Award:
Boy Boi (Kenya)
Producer: Shadrack Munene, J. Njogu Macharia and Director J. Njogu Macharia
Boy Boi will participate in a residency programme at Digital Lab Africa

Visions du Réel Award:
Flying Like a Bird (Morocco)
Producer: Hicham Falah and Director: El Mahdi Lyoubi
Flying Like a Bird will participate at Visions du Réel in 2024.

The Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents / IFAS Award:
Every Stitch a Lonely Thread (South Africa)
Producer: Tiny Mungwe and Director: Jannous Nkululeko Aukema
Every Stitch a Lonely Thread will participate at Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents (24 November - 4 December 2023)

The FIDA DOC Award:
ZERRI3A MORRA (BITTER SEED) (Algeria)
Director: Camélia Gadhgadhi
Camélia Gadhgadhi will participate at FIDA DOC's Pan-African Writing Residency (2023 - 2024).

The Special GZDOC Invitation:
In My Father's House (Morocco)
Producer: Merieme Addou and Director: Rachida El Garani
In My Father's House will participate at the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival Market Pitch in 2024.

MiradasDoc Award:
In My Father's House (Morocco)
Producer: Merieme Addou and Director: Rachida El Garani
In My Father's House will participate at MiradasDoc 2024.

The Sørfond Award:
Every Stitch a Lonely Thread
Producer: Tiny Mungwe and Director: Jannous Nkululeko Aukema
Every Stitch a Lonely Thread will participate at the Sørfond in November 2024.

IDFA Spotlight Award:
Cirta (Tunisia)
Producer: Olfa Ben Achour and Director: Saif Chida
Cirta will participate in a tailor-made programme at IDFA (8 - 19 November 2023).

The DOK Leipzig Award:
EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED (South Africa)
Producer: Thandi Davids and Director: Beverley Ditsie
EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED will participate at the DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market in 2024.

The DOK.fest München Award:
Cirta (Tunisia)
Producer: Olfa Ben Achour and Director: Saif Chida
Cirta will participate at DOK.forum Marketplace at DOK.fest München in 2024.

The Cinemart Award:
Graft (Zimbabwe)
Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya and Director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Graft will participate at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam Cinemart Lab.

The Whickers Bursary:
Wildfire (South Africa, Canada)
Producer: Seregeo Kirby, Laura Colucci and Director: Zahra Moloo
Wildfire will receive a bursary to the value of £3,000.

Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Award:
The Circuit (Cameroon)
Producer: Martinel Nemalieu and Director: Arice Siapi
The Circuit will receive an award to the value of $1,000 CAD.

International Documentary Association Award:
Cirta (Tunisia)
Producer: Olfa Ben Achour and Director: Saif Chida
Cirta will receive a grant to the value of $5000, 1 Getting Real Fellowship and free one-year Doc Maker Membership to IDA.

TRT Cinema Award:
Coconut (South Africa)
Producer: Bongiwe Selane, Dineo Lusenga and Director: Karabo Lediga
Coconut will receive an award to the value of $5000.

Sisters in Cinema Filmmakers Sustainability Award:
EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED (South Africa)
Producer: Thandi Davids and Director: Beverley Ditsie
EAGLETTE - A SUPERSTAR ERASED producer Dr. Beverly Ditsie will receive an award to the value of $2500.

Red Sea Development Grant:
Nomvelo and the Wolf (South Africa)
Producer: Leanne Gail Kumalo and Director: Lindokuhle Langa
Nomvelo and the Wolf will receive a grant to the value of $10,000.

Red Sea Development Grant:
Wildfire (South Africa, Canada)
Producer: Seregeo Kirby, Laura Colucci and Director: Zahra Moloo
Wildfire will receive a grant to the value of $10,000.

Red Sea Post-Production Grant:
In My Father's House (Morocco)
Producer: Merieme Addou and Director: Rachida El Garani
In My Father's House will receive a grant to the value of $20,000.

NFVF Best Fiction:
Graft (Zimbabwe)
Producer: Sue-Ellen Chitunya and Director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Graft will receive an award to the value of R100,000.

NFVF Best Non-Fiction:
Flying Like a Bird (Morocco)
Producer: Hicham Falah and Director: El Mahdi Lyoubi
Flying Like a Bird will receive an award to the value of R100,000.

Announce N.E.F.T.I. AFRICA Competition Award Winners At Durban FilmMart Event 22 July 2023

This year's winning filmmaker of the $5,000 prize was Moreetsi Gabang from Botswana. His film is called, "Zombie Date Night in Tlokweng" and revolves around a young couple whose date night takes an unexpected turn when a roommate returns home possessed by a demonic spirit after attending a religious sermon. A fun and thrilling story about being courageous in spite of our fears in order to protect the people we care about from danger.
The Audience Viewers Choice Winner of the $2,000 prize goes to: Moreetsi Gabang from Bostwana.
The other finalists were: Lwazi Duma (South Africa) whose film, "Forbidden Taste," is set in 1960 apartheid South Africa where interracial sexual relations and alcohol consumption were strictly prohibited. The story follows a black and white couple who meet to share a forbidden drink only to discover that both couples are unfaithful to one another. And Emma Tollman (South Africa) whose film, "Rage," takes place at a romantic crossroads, one woman's search for healing takes her on a transformative road trip weekend away with her girlfriends.