Republic of South Africa’s Department of Arts & Culture Presents
South African Arts Festival 2013
Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6, 2013
A Weekend of South African Film & Music
Free Public Events in Downtown Los Angeles

Venues Include Grand Performances at California Plaza,
Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 & the Omni Hotel

LOS ANGELES, CA [updated 10/2/13] – The Republic of South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture will bring its South African Arts Festival 2013 (SAAF), a weekend of South African film and music, to Downtown Los Angeles for the first time, with events on Friday, October 4 through Sunday October 6, 2013. The inaugural SAAF 2013 will showcase seven South African films and seven musical artists representing the diversity of the South African experience at free events over two days.  Highlights include Saturday’s outdoor “South African Music Festival” at Grand Performances and a day of South African films screening on Sunday at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 and Grand Performances.  Friday’s private preview and the Sunday closing night event both combine the screening of a South African feature film with an invitation-only reception.  Screenings will include animation, narrative, and documentary works.  Complete details on featured films and artists are listed in the schedule below.  To learn more about the festival, please visit www.sa-artsfest.org and www.facebook.com/southafricanarts.

SAAF 2013 will also host a series of professional film and music panel discussions at the Omni Hotel over the weekend.  Subsequent annual SAAF events will feature other artistic genres (such as theater, dance, and the visual arts).  All public events at Grand Performances’ WaterCourt outdoor stage are free, no advanced reservations are required.  Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 screenings are also free with advanced reservations required at http://www.sa-artsfest.org/film_rsvp.  Grand Performances at California Plaza is located at 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071 (http://www.grandperformances.org; 213-687-2159).  Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 (http://www.lalive.com/movies; 213-763-6070).  The Omni Hotel is located at 251 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 (http://www.omnihotels.com; 213-617-3300).

Saturday’s outdoor “South African Music Festival” at Grand Performances showcases music reflective of the country’s colorful diversity yet speaking to contemporary artistic movements, with Hugh Masekela’s jazz grooves, the Mahotella Queens’ uplifting acapella infused with Jozi‘s Zulu hip hop mix, the Parlotones’ arena rock anthems, Simphiwe Dana’s sultry Afro soul, and The Soil’s harmonious new voice from South Africa, plus more.  Showcased films, screening at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 on Sunday and at Grand Performances, represent the broad range of South African cinema – from uplifting family-friendly fare Felix (think Billy Elliott with African jazz), to gritty dramas such as the critically-acclaimed Otelo Burning, about a group of kids who learn to surf against a backdrop of conflict, to documentaries such as The African Cypher, which explores Soweto’s street dance sub-culture. Filmmakers will be present for question and answer sessions at several of the screenings.

In addition to cultivating audiences for South African films and music, a primary objective of this year’s festival is to offer participating South African artists and entertainment industry professionals the opportunity to meet with members of the Los Angeles area creative film and music communities.  Industry professionals from US production and distribution companies are encouraged to participate in screenings, receptions, and discussions.

The African Cypher

SCHEDULE: 

◈ Friday, October 4, 2013

6:30pm-10:00pm – PRIVATE Preview Reception & Film Screening
location revealed upon attendance confirmation

– Red carpet reception featuring South African wines and hor d’oeuvres by Heirloom L.A.
– The legendary Mahotella Queens, noted for their three-part harmonies, Mbaqanga township music, and fast-paced Mgqashiyo dancing, will perform a short set of traditional songs in their signature high-energy style.
– Private screening of Otelo Burning (drama, 102 min.), the critically-acclaimed South African feature film that tells the story of a group of township kids that discover the joy of surfing, against a backdrop of conflict brewing between two political groups.
– For press and invited guests only. Contact lynn@greengalactic.com for details.

◈ Saturday, October 5, 2013

10:00am-5:00pm – Film Panel Discussions
at Omni Hotel, Los Angeles

– Free film panel discussions for industry professionals.  With presenters such as Tom Rooney (Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation), Tony Lynn (Agile Enterprises), and Jon Kuyper (Lionsgate), the conversation points will cover everything from co-production treaties to US filmmakers’ South African experiences and international film incentive comparisons.  This discussion will provide solid information on an industry where global production schedules and distribution are the norm more often than the exception.  Interested parties should email panels@sa-artsfest.org for additional information.

3:30pm-10:00pm – South African Music Festival
at Grand Performances WaterCourt Stage, Los Angeles

– Participating artists at this free event represent the diversity of South African experience, based in tradition yet speaking to contemporary artistic movements.
– Each group will perform a 30-60 minute set.
– South African food by Graham Perkett, of Deli-SA, will be available for purchase.
– A hosted bike valet will be available beginning at 3:00pm.
– Invited* musical guests include (in order of planned appearance):

• Wouter Kellerman – Versatile flautist fusing classical and contemporary
• The Soil  – a new voice from SA featuring traditional acapella sounds updated with beatbox
• iFani – Socio-political young Xhosa rapper, cultural futurists
• Mahotella Queens featuring Jozi – Uplifting multigenerational mix of acapella infused with Jozi’s Zulu hip hop

(20 minute intermission)

• Simphiwe Dana – Sultry voice of Afro soul
• The Parlotones – Joburg’s platinum-selling rockers, supported Coldplay’s South African tour
• Hugh Masekela – Grammy Award nominated jazz icon and social activist

* Due to the nature of live events, this schedule is subject to change.

◈ Sunday, October 6, 2013

10:00am-4:00pm – Music Panel Discussions
at Omni Hotel, Los Angeles

– Free music panel discussions for industry professionals.  The competitive musical marketplace will be examined from myriad angles including: licensing and royalties, online media players, live music venues, nuts and bolts information for international artists touring the US.  Interested parties should email panels@sa-artsfest.org for additional information.

10:00am-4:00pm –Film Screenings
at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, Los Angeles

– Free screenings of six South African films showcasing the broad range of South African cinema from uplifting family-friendly fare, to gritty dramas, to documentaries that take you into Soweto’s street dance subculture, and more.
– Films selected by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa.
– All Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 screenings are free, but advanced reservations are required at http://www.sa-artsfest.org/film_rsvp.

Theater 12
10:20-11:40am – Man on Ground (drama, 80 min.) – A bold portrayal of xenophobia in South Africa, the film follows a successful London banker on a short visit to Johannesburg as he attempts to solve the mystery of his half brother’s disappearance.
12:00-1:48pm – Felix (family film, 97 min.) – Feel-good family feature telling the coming-of-age story of Felix (think Billy Elliott with African jazz).
2:10-3:42pm – Fanie Fourie’s Lobola  (comedy, 90 min.) – Cross-cultural romantic comedy where an Afrikaans guy and a Zulu girl fall in love and have to navigate their way through the complicated process of lobola, a traditional Southern African custom where the man pays the family of his fiancée for her hand in marriage.

Theater 13
10:00-11:42am – Otelo Burning (drama, 102 min.) – Critically-acclaimed feature film that tells the story of a group of township kids that discover the joy of surfing, against a backdrop of conflict brewing between two political groups.
12:05-1:38pm – Material (comedy/drama, 93 min.) – The story of a young Muslim man whose talent for stand-up comedy brings him in conflict with his father, family, and community.
2:00-3:22pm – The African Cypher (documentary, 88 min.) – Documents South African b-boys as they search for identity and purpose through the complex Soweto street dance sub-culture.

7:00pm-9:00pm – Free Outdoor Film Screening
at Grand Performances, WaterCourt Stage, Los Angeles

– US premiere film screening of Khumba (family friendly animation, 85 min.) – Rejected by his superstitious herd, a half-striped zebra embarks on a daring quest to earn his stripes but finds the courage and self-acceptance to save all the animals of the Great Karoo. The plaza opens at 5pm for picnicking.
– No reservation is required.

9:00pm-10:00pm – Private Closing Reception
at Grand Performances, WaterCourt Stage, Los Angeles

– Reception featuring catering by Heirloom L.A., South African wines, and an intimate music set by Simphiwe.

* Please check website for full presentation schedule and updates.  Due to the nature of live events, this schedule is subject to change.  For the most updated artist listing, please visit www.sa-artsfest.org.

iFani – “Shake”
view video here

VENUE DETAILS:

Grand Performances at California Plaza
WaterCourt Stage
350 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Map/Directions – http://www.grandperformances.org/en/gp/visit/directions.html
213-687-2159 (Concert Line)

Omni Hotel
251 S. Olive St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Map/Directions – http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/LosAngelesCaliforniaPlaza/MapAndDirections.aspx
213-617-3300

Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14
Theaters 12 & 13
800 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Map/Directions – http://www.lalive.com/movies
213-763-6070

ABOUT:

Commissioned by:
The South African Arts Festival is commissioned by the Republic of South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture as part of the Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy.  South Africa’s cultural and creative industries have become the new “gold” of the economy and are forces to be reckoned with, as outlined in the Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy.  The focus of the strategy, by the department, is to promote, open and create market access for South Africa’s arts, culture and heritage practitioners. Another key focus is to develop new audiences and consumers for creative and cultural products from South Africa.  The South African Arts Festival in Los Angeles presents an opportunity for the organization to showcase the country’s talent and take the industry to greater heights.

Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, in order to improve its global competitiveness abroad.  Its aim is also to build pride and patriotism among South Africans, in order to contribute to social cohesion and nation brand ambassadorship.  www.southafrica.info

Home Site:
Grand Performances –
Hailed as the “Best Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series” by Los Angeles Magazine and called “a grand gift to the public […] democracy in musical action” by the Los Angeles Times, Grand Performances, Los Angeles’ premier free outdoor summer performing arts series, presents high-quality music, dance, theater, and more at the breathtaking California Plaza in the heart of Downtown.  Grand Performances delivers the best of global culture to inspire community among the diverse peoples of Los Angeles, reflective of the many cultural interests across the region.  All are welcome to enjoy Grand Performances’ unique, awe-inspiring venue nestled under the spectacular Downtown skyline.  The venue is located right next to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).  Established in 1987, Grand Performances is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation located on Bunker Hill.  http://www.grandperformances.org

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For more information, photos, MP3s, screeners or to schedule an interview, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.

Simphiwe Dana
(Photo copywright Gallo Music)