Yaya Mavundla

  USA Dance on Screen at 22nd (DIGITAL) JOMBA  25 August - 6 September 2020   Ten dance films will be screened at the 22nd  JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience , in a carefully curated section of the programme called USA Dance on Screen which has been supported by the USA Consulate in Durban.   The JOMBA! festival which goes digital this year is presented by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, runs free of charge from 25 August to 6 September with an array of dance works.   The  USA Dance on Screen,  one of the  programmes on offer,  has been curated by  Lauren  Warnecke , Peter Chu, Rachel Miller and Tara Aisha Willis. All four of the curators hail from across the corners of the US and have come together especially for the JOMBA! screen dance programme. “ When seeking films for this project, we consciously sought out films which showcased a varied American experience both culturally and stylistically” s...

  “This element of the programme is a very important one for filmmakers in Africa. With such a severe disruption to our industry, it is vital that we work together to find solutions for the survival and development of African film content,”  - Toni Monty, Head of the DFM.  The film industry, like many other sectors, has been severely disrupted in this global pandemic. With no definitive end in sight, it may well be a long time before it will be business as usual. The disruption which has steered the 2020 Durban FilmMart to go online this year, has also given filmmakers an opportunity to gather in a virtual space to collaborate, plan, and discuss a way forward.   Special Focus,   African Content in the New Normal  is one of the thematic strands presented at this year’s DFM which takes place from 4 to 13 September. Speakers will discuss the challenges that national lockdowns present and the unique opportunities that these circumstances have offered filmmakers...

  Watch Carte Blanche, this Sunday 16 August 2020 at 19:00, only on M-Net To read a richer version of this email please click here   I N V E S T I G A T I O N S Macfarlane Moleli:   “Motorists on the R59 between Johannesburg and Vereeniging are being terrorised by the so-called Blue Lights Gang. Victims are stopped by a group masquerading as police, before they’re hijacked and kidnapped. So what do you do to prevent this from happening to you? How do you know whether you’re being pulled over by legitimate police officers?”   Driver Beware: Blue Lights Hijackers It was meant to be a quiet drive home from the office until an unmarked police vehicle pulled them over. “May I see your driver’s licence please? Sir, please step out the vehicle,” they said – a seemingly routine traffic stop. Then out of the darkness, three gunmen emerged. Suddenly the highly professional officers became ruthless criminals in a hijacking that would last for hours. Security experts say that th...

“Mzansi Magic is proud to be celebrating this achievement with The Queen. Over the years this production has opened up the industry and introduced new faces, who have since become household names, to our screens,” - Nomsa Philiso, Channel Director for Local Entertainment Channels. Popular telenovela The Queen’s seasoned production crew and brilliant cast have cemented themselves in delivering quality content and riveting performances. It’s not always suspense, drama, plot twists and entertainment, but edutainment too.   From inception, The Queen has tackled a few socio-economic issues – from abusive relationships and drug trafficking to gender equality. The mzansi audience fell in love with Patronella’s (Thembsie Matu) colourful and warm character and they were fascinated with Jerry Maake’s (Shona Ferguson) character and dubbed him robo cop.   “I would like to wish this fast-paced and thrilling show full of dedicated and passionate professionals 1000 more episodes. Each episod...

The most popular SA stand-up comedy on Showmax in 2020 So Far, from Schalk Bezuidenhout to Tsitsi Chiumya You won’t be able to laugh hysterically in a crowded comedy club anytime soon, but Showmax has stepped into the gap with an   ever-growing binge-fest of laughs guaranteed to put a smile on your dial, even in 2020. Here are seven of the top 10 most popular local comedians on Showmax so far this year, in alphabetical order:  Dillan Oliphant: In a Lonely Place   With his coy grin and wry, understated humour, Eldorado Park’s very own Dillan Oliphant gets you giggling while he quietly cuts to the heart of the matter, blindsiding you with some home-truths on township life, conflict resolution, looting, funerals, uncles, aunties and loneliness.    Since winning the 2012 Savanna Comics Choice Newcomer Award, Dillan has racked up laughs alongside the best in the biz on stage and screen, including  Trevor Noah’s  Nationwild , the Emmy-nominated  Late Ni...

Nnake,  Zama Zama,  Imbongi,  Exhibit A,  Balbesit and more on DStv from  14 to 20 August 2020.   Nnake (Drama) Saturday, 15 August on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) at 20:30 Starring Standile Nkosi of 2009’s Suga, Nnake tells the story of university graduate Lesego who returns home and attends a street party with her sister. But when she discovers her sister has gone missing, Lesego realises the fun may have gone a little too far.   Zama Zama (Drama) Sunday, 16 August on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) at 20:00 In this action-packed drama, themes of guilt, forgiveness and reconciliation are explored in the subterranean dimension of the illegal mining industry.   Imbongi (Drama) Thursday, 20 August on Mzansi Wethu (DStv Channel 163) at 17:00 Meaning Xhosa praise poet, Imbongi tells the tale of a rebellious city girl sent to stay with her father in a rural township by her mother. Through their mutual love of poetry, the estranged duo learns to con...

This week,  DStv  is offering plenty of light relief to help South Africans stay positive as the COVID-19 crisis moves into its fifth month. Wrestler-turned-actor John Cena leads a packed line up of laughs. Here are four must-watch lighthearted movies and shows to watch this week:   1.         Playing with Fire  (Comedy) Sunday, 16 August on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) at 20:05 and available on Showmax from Monday, 17 August John Cena stars in this funny family comedy. When stringent fire superintendent Jake Carson (Cena) and his elite team of firefighters come to the rescue of three siblings, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet - babysitting. As their lives, jobs and depot get turned upside down, the three men soon learn that children - much like fires - are wild and unpredictable.    2.         Swift aka Manou  (Animati...

"My life has been nothing but controversial." Superstar, Kelly Khumalo  Since the most anticipated reality show, a  Showmax ’s new Original,  Life With Kelly Khumalo , is now live and it's hashtag  #LifeWithKellyKhumalo has been a trending topic on social media since it went live on Showmax on the 6th of August. The show which showcased single mother and business woman at her house, in studio, with friends and much more. With not much of a surprised the show received a lot of thumbs up from fans and became a hit.  Life With Kelly Khumalo is produced by BarLeader which is responsible for Being Bonang ,  Somizi & Mohale: The Union ,  Kwa Mam’Mkhize.  In case you have not watched the hit reality show with 6 episodes to binge watch here is what you can  look forward to:    A single mother of two Kelly's son, Christian, and her daughter, Thingo, feature in  Life With Kelly Khumalo  alongside their super-star momm...