KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: The KwaZulu Natal Film Commission (KZNFC) is proud to be associated with the inaugural Amajuba Film Festival taking place in Newcastle. The festival, founded by FOE Foundation and Samkeliswe Sibisi has been scheduled to commence on Friday the 24th of September and conclude on Sunday 26th September 2021.
The festival will take on a hybrid format to accommodate all its target audiences, with an outreach programmes in Blaaubosch. According to the festival director, the festival was established in the “new normal” format to empower local and international filmmakers, enabling them watch films, attend workshops and discuss trends and issues affecting their society and communities. The programme will comprise the screening of feature films and workshops.
As per its mandate to develop people from disadvantaged communities, create awareness of the KwaZulu Natal as a film destination, and to encourage entrepreneurship the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission continues to support a myriad of film festivals and filmmakers in the province. Such festivals include the Kwasukasukela Film Project, KwaZulu Natal African Film Festival (KAFF), uMgungundlovu Film Festival and others.
The KZN Film Commission will on Saturday the 25th host a Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Day to enlighten the audiences about a legend born in KZN, who went on to be internationally acclaimed. As a revered actor and director in the early days of the local film and television industry, Mr. Sabela became South Africa’s first Black Director with a successful career which saw him feature in over 34 movies both locally and internationally. In his honour, the KZN Film Commission and the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in 2013 launched the Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards. The Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Day will feature the screening of Mr. Sabela’s films as well as an engagement about the KZN Film Commission offerings.
For more information about the Amajuba Film Festival and the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission visit www.amajubaff.co.za, www.kznfilm.co.za respectively.
About the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission
The KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission is a provincial state entity, under the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa established in terms of the KwaZulu-Natal Commission Act, 2010 (Act No 3 of 2010). Its mandate is to facilitate support throughout the value chain to the local and international film industry through creating opportunities and also growing the KwaZulu-Natal film industry.