17 DAYS OF PINK CINEMA IN DURBAN

This year’s annual Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (DGLFF) takes place at the KZNSA Gallery, in Glenwood, from Friday 20 June to Sunday 6 July 2014.

Established in 2011, the festival has become a fixture on Durban’s pink calendar and this year it once again coincides with Durban Pride, which takes place on Saturday 28 June 2014 at the Kings Park Stadium outer fields.

The festival’s growing popularity stems from the combination of diverse and interesting screenings, a sociable Festival Bar and free public workshops on filmmaking as well as human rights issues.

A relaxed, creative and open-air space, the KZNSA Gallery is uniquely situated close to a number of student residences and similarly creative spaces. It’s an inclusive and affirming venue for all Durbanites to enjoy alternative and pink cinema.

“The festival is about more than lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered and intersex (LGBTI) people” said Festival Director Jason Fiddler. “We have always tackled issues of gender, sexuality and orientation with an open mind, a respectful viewpoint and an inclusive mindset. A person’s self-identity, their gender, their orientation – whilst important and worthy of respect – are only a part of what makes up one.

“This festival affirms that uniqueness of the individual and through cinema we have a chance for differing viewpoints to converge over a drink and a chat after a film – the kind of inter-personal communication our society so dearly needs these days,” he explained.

This year, a number of international feature films, South African and international documentaries and a series of shorts constitute the 17-day line up, unified by an important theme: 20 Years of Democracy.

“When South Africans voted for the first time in a free and democratic election in 1994, a new era was ushered in on our great continent” exclaimed Fiddler. “For the first time in African history, especially the post-colonial modern era, LGBTI people had their inalienable human rights affirmed in a constitution that forbade unfair discrimination, and specifically highlighted sexual orientation. You were finally free to see what you wished, love whom you wanted and be recognised as an equal citizen.”

Fiddler added: “With the support of the Royal Danish Embassy, for instance, we are strengthening our ties with Denmark and two filmmakers will be joining us to run workshops. South African veteran producer Marc Schwinges, who made the ground-breaking Below The Belt series for SABC 3 in 2003, will also be joining us as a guest with a retrospective of 20 years of his LGBTI productions included in the programme.”

The popular Festival Bar will have a soft opening on Friday 20 June, where locals and festival guests can mix before the schedule gets under way. The opening night film, on Saturday 21 June at 8pm, is Los Angeles-based filmmaker JC Calciano’s The 10 Year Plan, a gay romantic comedy.

The screening schedule is available at www.dglff.org.za and at www.facebook.com/DGLFF.

A Gold Festival Pass is available for R500: You get to see everything at the festival, share with whomever you like, and get R150 drinks vouchers to spend at the Festival Bar. Or buy a Silver Festival Pass for R250: you get to see 10 screenings, share with whomever you like, and get R75 drinks vouchers to spend at the Festival Bar. For more info, call 031 811 0959 or email bookings@dglff.org.za.