|
 The film tells the story of the political ramifications of an
extra-marital affair between a Palestinian man and an Israeli
woman. Variety described it as a "taut psychosocial drama."
In a pre-recorded message from Jerusalem, Alayan offered thanks
to the audience in South Africa - a country, he said, "which we
as Palestinians hold in a very special place in our hearts" -
while dedicating the award to "all the filmmakers out there in
this world who are fighting all forms of injustice with their
films and their art."
The award punctuated a DIFF whose 2018 edition "had a very
special focus on hearing and seeing the marginal voices, with a
focus on celebrating diversity," according to Lliane Loots,
speaking on behalf of the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Center
for Creative Arts, which manages the festival.
"There's been a very special focus on voices of women...and
other marginalized identities find[ing] a platform to be heard.
The focus has offered some wonderful levels of controversy and
some fierce criticism, and also some ferocious dialogue. And we
love all of it."
She continued, "Spaces for artists...are places for controversy.
They are spaces that push boundaries and push tolerance.
Remember that none of us will be of one mind around what is
good, bad, or even mediocre filmmaking, around who is included
or excluded. But I am grateful that we will all be of one
heart."
It was something of a rallying cry for a festival that's been
faced with a leadership crisis in recent years, and which
received a scare when DIFF manager Chipo Zhou was hospitalized
just weeks before opening night. Durban Film Office head Toni
Monty has been widely credited with almost willing this year's
fest into being, even while balancing her own responsibilities
at the helm of the successful Durban FilmMart.
This week in Durban, Monty was resolute about the future of
DIFF, telling Variety that "there will be some positive news in
the coming months that will bring confidence to the industry
that things are moving forward in a positive direction."
[to top of second column] |
Loots' closing words, meanwhile, were a reminder that a festival
born out of the anti-apartheid struggle remains a vital platform
for South African filmmakers. "No matter what our different
opinions are, spaces like DIFF need to survive to support and
nurture and promote the critical voices of our nation's
filmmakers," she said.
The festival closed with the South African premiere of "Rafiki," by
Wanuri Kahiu, which world premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard
this year.
Also on Saturday night, the award for best South African feature
film went to "High Fantasy," directed by Jenna Bass and produced by
David Horler and Steven Markovitz. The jury heralded it as "a unique
film that we found surprising and challenging," while celebrating it
"for its originality and innovativeness in cinematic approach."
Best documentary went to "New Moon," produced and directed by
Philippa Ndisi-Hermann, described by the jury as "a poetic,
well-edited, soul-searching documentary," whose director "bravely
bar[ed] herself as the central subject character that many a woman
in today's cynical and fast-paced world can totally relate to."
The prize for best South African documentary went to "Sisters of the
Wilderness," directed by Karin Slater and produced by Ronit Shapiro,
"a film which dares to leave the beaten pack of traditional
documentary filmmaking in exploring the cinematic wilderness,"
according to the jury's citation.
(Editingby Bill Tarrant)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
