Glamour at Joburg Film Festival premiere
MC Nomzamo regaled audience
Festivities kicked off to a glamorous start at the 3rd annual Joburg Film Festival premiere in Sandton.
The MC for the night was sultry Coming To America 2 actor Nomzamo Mbatha, who walked into the venue to the beat of drums in a Maxhosa design with a thigh high slit. With a queenly roar she regaled the audience with the tale of Jozi in the style of a praise poet as she walked the purple carpet. The bubbly actress kept her cool as the sound cut and we missed hearing the rest of the opening. Like a consummate professional she did the opening again to give the people what they want. Filmmakers, thespians, A-listers and dignitaries also took a turn on the purple carpet, among these were novelist Zakes Mda, former continuity presenter Claire Mawisa, Happiness Is a Four-letter Word director Thabang Molaya and actor-turned-singer KB. Wakanda actor Connie Chuime stunned in a feathered, bedazzled creation accompanied by Florence Masebe. One of the judges for the festival American actress Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder famed for her appearances in the hospital drama ER and the movie Avatar, among many, had great things to say about the 3rd annual festival.
“It’s a topper, it’s well on it’s way to becoming a major festival. I think in the future, it’s getting enough films, enough varieties from other countries...” she said.
The festival opened with the showing of locally produced horror film, 8. The festi- val will be showcasing 60 films over six days, from countries such as SA, Nigeria, Mozambique,
Brazil, the US, the UK and Morocco. Atendees will be spoilt for choice as an array of feature films and documentaries will be available. Film lovers can catch the shows at six venues within A&G Theatre on the Square and at a free outdoor screening area at the Nelson Mandela Square, Ster-Kinekor Sandton City, Cinema Nouveau Rosebank, Maboneng’s Bioscope and Kings Theatre in Alexandra from November 19 to 24.
The films that have been mentioned as part of the playbill is the documentary about iconic performer and model Grace Jones. The film titled Grace Jones: Bloodlight & Bami aims to shine the many facets of Jones as a lover, daughter, mother, sister and even grandmother. Music lovers can walk down the cinematic path to find the legendary reclusive founding father of Bossa Nova, Brazilian musician João Gilberto in the documentary Where are you, João Gilberto? The South African offering is from Fanney Tsimong, titled My Culture, My Music, delves into how music has always been a powerful tool within South African culture.