Durban - The BRICS summit presents the BRICS Film Festival at the Durban Playhouse from July 22-27. Each BRICS Country presents five films and has a day dedicated to cinema from that country. Hosted by Department of Arts and Culture, entry to films is free and all are welcome.
Sunday July 22 - Opening night
5.30pm for 6pm: A programme which allows Durban artists to represent the member states though film, music, song and dance. It is compered by LeAnne Manas and Thulie Zuma and directed by Ralph Lawson.
The evening starts with Mandela, a short film comprising five, 5-minute short films produced by the BRICS countries paying tribute to the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. It is followed by live performances representing the member countries.
South Africa: Amazebra Indlamu and musician Mbuso Khoza and his group
China: The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra under baton of Christopher Chen performs Chinese opera: The Mulan Psalm
India: Acclaimed Nateshwa Dance Company with Smeetha Maharaj, The Playhouse Dance Residency; and Kathak dancer Manesh Maharaj.
Russia: The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra under baton of Christopher Chen performing Act 2 Grand Pas de Deux from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Dancers Casey Swales and Rachel Abrahams perform.
Brazil: Dancers Angelique Allison and Ryan Hammond doing the Brazilian Samba with the Playhouse Dance Residency.
Monday July 23: South Africa
pm Deep End: Eubulus Timothy’s story of Sunita who defies her father, to become a competitive surfer: a coming of age, surf love story with Greg Kriek and Carishma Basday
3pm Skulls of My People: A deeply affecting and important documentary about the 1904-1908 genocide of around 80% of the population of Nama, San and Herero people in Namibia.
4.45pm The Whale Caller: Set in the seaside town of Hermanus and based on a novel by Zakes Mda, an enchanting tale of isolation, infatuation and human connection.
6.15pm Beyond the River: The moving true story of Piers Cruickshanks and Siseko Ntondini's journey to gold in the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon. With Lemogang Tsipa and Grant Swanby. (competition entry)
8pm Five Fingers for Marseilles: After leaving the town of Marseilles 20 years ago, a disgraced former hero returns to establish a quiet life only to find a new threat. With Vuyo Dabula. (competition entry)
Tuesday July 24: Russia
1pm Thawed Carp: In this darkly humourous Russian comedy, an old woman makes preparations for her own funeral following a fatal diagnosis.
3pm The Crew: A young pilot receives a distress call from a volcanic island and takes a decision to fly a dangerous rescue mission. Only together the crew can survive the disaster.
5.15pm Arrythmia: A devoted paramedic slowly descends into a self-destructive cycle that puts his marriage and his patients on the line in this tense but heartfelt emotional drama.
6.30pm How Viktor “the Garlic” Took Alexey “the Stud”: A fast-paced and unconventional road-trip movie about a former orphan reconnecting with his estranged ex-con father and their journey across rural Russia. (competition entry)
20.15 The Age of Pioneers: A Russian historical drama about the Cold War-era space-race and cosmonaut Alexey Leonov, the first human to perform a spacewalk. (competition entry)
Wednesday July 25: India
(Times to be confirmed)
Sinjar: A 2017 Indian Jasari film by Sandeep Pampally. Based on true events, a British insurance agent recruits the help of an ex-Army ranger to help him rescue his sister from ISIS.
Bahubali 2 – the Conclusion: Fantasy action film. When Shiva, the son of Bahubali, learns about his heritage, he begins to look for answers.
Bhayanakam: A Malayalam–language Indian film by Jayaraj; a World War II postman delivers money orders and letters from men in the battlefield, until one day…
Newton: 2017 Indian comedy drama by Amit Masurkar about a government clerk trying to run a free and fair election in a conflict area in central India. With Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and Anjali Patil. (competition entry)
Village Rockstars: A 2017 Indian Assamese language coming-of-age film by Rima Das, about a young village girl who wants to start her own rock band. (competition entry)
Thursday July 26: China
11am Big Fish & Begonia: A lush animated adventure based on ancient Chinese legends and tells the tale of a spiritual world that exists beneath the ocean floor.
1.10pm Hold Your Hands: Chronicles a former soldier's efforts to lift his family out of the hardships of rural poverty.
4pm Kung Fu Yoga: Jackie Chan's latest hit sees him playing a professor on a wild adventure chasing an ancient Indian treasure stolen by mercenaries. (competition entry)
6.30pm I Belonged to You: Three stories of love, loss and devotion intertwine in a romantic drama set against stunning Chinese cityscapes and green country sides. (competition entry)
9pm Half the Sky: The second multilingual, participative BRICS co-production: Chinese-produced and directed by five BRICS women film-makers, it weaves together poetic vignettes about archetypal women.
Friday July 27: Brazil
8am Boy and the World: A multi-award winning animated feature, a visually captivating and inventive cautionary tale of the dangers of globalization.
9.40am Two Irenes: A young girl discovers another girl named Irene living in her small town, and soon they uncover a well-kept secret.
11.10am Elis: The turbulent and charismatic life and times of Elis Regina, one of Brazil's greatest and best-loved singers of all time.
1.30pm Araby: A teenage boy finds a sick factory worker's memoir, transporting him into the story of the man's travels across south-eastern Brazil in search of work over the last decade. (competition entry)
3.30pm Gabriel and the Mountain: Follows the true story of Brazilian backpacker Gabriel Buchmann's travels through Africa before meeting his end on Mount Mulanje in Malawi. (competition entry)
7pm Awards Ceremony
Programming may change: for more info: durbanfilmmart.co.za
The Independent on Saturday