The Independent on Saturday

Pink flag flies high at city film fest

- TANYA WATERWORTH

EIGHT internatio­nal filmmakers jetted into Durban this week for the 6th Durban Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (#DGLFF2016).

Two young South African film-makers, Mlungisi Msomi and Sekara Mafisa, are making history with the screening of the first South African lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgende­r (LGBT) feature films I am The Rose and The Rose Ministry.

The festival has been taking place this week at the KZNSA Art Gallery in Glenwood and the two features will be shown this weekend, as well as a number of other screenings.

Yesterday, Msomi said the two films would form part of a series of nine, which he hoped would educate the public as to issues the LGBT community face every day. “The films are based on six scriptures in the Bible used to condemn homosexual­ity. This is the real interpreta­tion,” said Msomi.

Festival organiser Jason Fiddler said: “More than a dozen countries are represente­d at #DGLFF2016 and I’m proud to have South Africa’s first LGBT features. The film tackles the … subject of sexuality and religion… from a contempora­ry African perspectiv­e.

“With multiple local languages used and a message of Christians embracing love and not hate, this film will… resonate with our audience… I encourage broader audiences to come and see some unique storytelli­ng through the medium of cinema,” said Fiddler.

Visit: www.dglff.org.za or e-mail info@dglff.org.za

For more on the festival see page 13.

 ?? PICTURE: ZANELE ZULU ?? MOVIE STARS: South Africa’s first LGBT feature films featuring, from left, Label’z D Glamour, Thandeka Mathonsi and Tebogo Realest Staple will be shown in Durban this weekend.
PICTURE: ZANELE ZULU MOVIE STARS: South Africa’s first LGBT feature films featuring, from left, Label’z D Glamour, Thandeka Mathonsi and Tebogo Realest Staple will be shown in Durban this weekend.

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