Congratulations to our Alumni Candice Odgers and Susan Scott who’s film The Last Lions was nominated in the SAFTAS Golden Horn Wildlife Programme Nominations 2013 for Best Editor of a Wildlife Programme alongside 3 other nominations. Good Job!

For the past week, Durban has been abuzz with the excitement of a Bollywood film being made in the City, and local actors, production companies and other service providers have enjoyed the benefits that making films offers the local economy. AFDA Alumni (Johannesburg 2009) Kyle Ambrose, co-owner of Mannequin Films, is the line producer for the South African production team, and we caught up with him in Durban.

Produced by Prince Pictures and directed by Hari, the Tamil Singam 2, which will be released later this year, is described as an action-masala film and stars Bollywood actor Suriya, who was in Durban for the filming, with supporting roles played by Anushka Shetty, Hansika Motwani, Vivek and Santhanam.

“The Indian crew of close to 30 people, wrapped up the filming in Durban on Thursday, and have headed off to Malaysia for the next round of shooting.” says Kyle. “The Indian production team were considering using Kenya and Nigeria for the African country needed in the movie, but thought Durban was the perfect location. The crew has been filming for eight days and locations have included the Natal Command site for some gunshot and fighting scenes and the cut-off road overhang in Warwick Triangle for the car-crash scenes. “

“We are encouraged and pleased that Singam 2 is being shot in Durban,” says Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office. “We have some obvious links with India, notwithstanding a huge Diaspora for potential extras but also from a climate, cityscape, flora and geographical point of view there are good synergies that are in line with the subcontinent, so it makes it a comfortable marriage for co-productions between the countries.  We are keen to further develop our connections and relationships with the prolific and vast Indian film industry, and if we can continue to provide good locations coupled with the experience of local South Africa production teams, it will help strengthen the growth of the local industry. “

Kyle who studied writing and directing at AFDA Johannesburg began Mannequin Films with Delon Bakker and Morgan Pather in 2009, and the company has worked on some major films such as Karzzz (India), Clarissa’s Secret (Germany/Austria) short films such as The Drum (USA), as well as numerous commercials such as Orange AFCON, Love Life and Comiun. Kyle has also been directing Comedy Central presents for Comedy Central. The production company’s short film, Umkhungo, directed by Matthew Jankes is up for a SAFTA award nominated in the Best Short Film category.

After completing Singam he moves onto finishing up another short film directed by aspiring director Mark Middlewick, for the Google Focus Features Africa First initiative. Then he starts working on an international feature film, a period piece set in 1901, which will be filmed for 5 week in various locations around South Africa.

Congratulations to all AFDA staff and alumni on their nominations for the Naledi Theatre Awards.
Best Play:
Sunday Morning – directed by Jenine Collocot.

Best Director:
Sunday morning – directed by Jeanine Collocot.

Best Actress:
The Suitcase – Xolile Tshabalala.

Best ensemble production:
Delirium – directed by Greg Homann
From the mouths of babes – directed by Malcolm Purkey

The winners of the 2013 Jozi Film Festival were announced during a ceremony held at Villa Acardia in Parktown on Sunday evening.

Best Student Film – Mikles Manneke KANYE KANYE (AFDA Johannesburg)

Best Feature Film – Vickus Strijdom ZAMA ZAMA (AFDA Alumni)

Audience Choice Award – Henk Pretorius FANIE FOURIE’S LOBOLA (AFDA Alumni)

ZAMA ZAMA - BEST FILM AWARD
Production Designer: Jackie Lotz
Costume Designer: Mia Zwiegers

FANIE SE LABOLA - AUDIENCE AWARD
Written and Directed: Henk Pretorius
Cinematographer: Trevor Calverly
Lead Actor: Molatsi Mafatshe

VERAAIERS - A new feature film about the Anglo Boer War
Cinematographer: Tom Marais
Producer: Danie bester
Production Designer: Waldemar Coetzee
Sound: Christ Allsop
2nd Assistant Director: Saskia Schiel

FANIE FOURIE’S LOBOLA - The title says it all, a new Afrikaans comedy
Written and Directed by Henk Pretorius
Cinematographer: Trevor Calverly
Lead Actor: Molatsi Mafatshe

KLEIN KAROO - A romantic comedy that takes pace in the beautiful Swartberg mountains outside of Oudshoorn - Starring Chris Chameleon
Editor: CA van Aswegen
Writer: Etienne Fourie