Professional Documents
Culture Documents
4.
As part of our offer to the Durban International Film Festival this year, we proposed a special
screening of SARAFINA! as the Festival opens on 16 June which will mark the 40th Anniversary of
the Soweto Uprising. We felt that as the film is based on this historic event in our history, it
would be a good opportunity for the Festival to commemorate this important occasion. We
were advised that there may not be a place in the programme for this film.
I considered the withdrawal of SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS from the Festival due the mire of
controversy, but believe that it would be counterproductive, and unfair to the team involved in the
production.
As the selection process for the opening night position is vehemently opposed and has become
controversial, I propose a fair process be adopted where an independent group of 5 or 6 people be
formed to view all of the films under consideration for the opening night slot, and have a fully
transparent process and whatever decision results, we should all accept.
I understand that every filmmaker may feel a sense of entitlement to that prestigious position but
only one film can prevail.
Lastly, I feel that I have been unfairly treated in the assumption that I enforced undue influence over
the university executive, and I am now being blamed for this situation which could have been
avoided.
This correspondence takes the position of an open letter and sets out our side of the story for clarity.
Anant Singh
13 May 2016