Cape Town's biggest film festival opens on a high note

From 12-20 November 2004 Cape Town will play host to a major event, the Cape Town World Cinema Festival (CTWCF), which has doubled in size since last year to include over 90 films at 195 screenings from more than 25 countries. The event has been planned around South Africa's 10 Years of Freedom celebrations and themes of films selected for screening will focus on issues such as forgiveness and reconciliation.

The opening event takes place in the Opera House of the Artscape on 12 November 2004. The opening film and African Premiere confirmed for screening is Drum, the long awaited film based on the life of iconic Sophiatown journalist, Henry Nxumalo (Taye Diggs). Directed by Zola Maseko, Drum is a true story and the first of its kind to bring to life one of black South Africa's legendary folk heroes. American Diggs has big shoes to fill playing Henry, but he steps out in style with the help of a fine supporting cast including Motshegwa.

"We have decided to screen Drum as the opening film because it marks a coming of age for South African film and for two of its brightest young talents: director Maseko and producer Dumisani Dlamini. Unfortunately Dlamini has tragically passed away before the film was completed and he never saw the fruit of more than ten years of labour. The screening is dedicated to him," says Festival Director, Michael Auret.

The CTWCF promises an exciting lineup of events. To start proceedings at 07.00pm, Dr. Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture, would officially open the much-anticipated Festival. Other dignitaries as well as celebrities that have been invited to attend the Festival includes guest director Zola Maseko (Drum) Tumisho Masha (who plays Dumisani in Isidingo) Moshidi Motshegwa (SOS, Hijack Stories, Zero Tolerance), as well as Zola from the documentary series, Zola 7 who also stars opposite Moshidi in this film.

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