October 2011 Festival

Welcome! From all of us, staff and Board – Nodi, Sharon, Theresa, Carol, Maureen, Arthur, Amanda, Sibahle, Fanney, Nhlanhla, Jack, Sheryl, Duncan, Shahindran and Mandisa.

We’d like to thank all those institutions that regularly support the Festival: Atlantic Philanthropies, the National Lottery, the National Film and Video Foundation, and we welcome the return of the Cape Film Commission and the US Embassy. Commercial enterprises include Nu Metro, The Times, 6 Spin Street Restaurant, Graton Guest House and Rutland Lodge.

You’ll notice that we have a number of advertisers whose cash helps pay for the printing of this programme, and others are trade swops, and no matter how small they contribute to the finances of the Festival.

These sponsors and advertisers are vital for the Festival and our community, for they not only inject funds, but provide crucial “moral” support for this minority. For support we need – there are sinister inroads to our constitutional rights happening before our eyes. The recent appointment of Mogoeng Mogoeng as Chief Justice and the soon-to-be-passed-into-law Protection of Information Bill are significant erosions of our Constitution. And no doubt there’s more to come. We’ve only just rid ourselves of one totalitarian regime, let’s not see our Constitution slide away before our disbelieving eyes. In the words of Bob Marley, ‘Get up! Stand up! Stand up for your rights!’

As for the Festival … sure, you can get the dvds and stay at home, but that feels like a return to the closet. Come, be visible, and play with us at the Festival!

Last, we’ll be selling Opening Nights tickets (R100) once we’ve settled all the invites and they’ll be available in the week before we open … in JHB and CT the wine is sponsored by Cronier.