DRAMATIC CHANGES FOR ‘OUT IN AFRICA’

The Out in Africa SA Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (OIA) – one of the country’s most popular film festivals – has announced that it will screen its movies at Nu Metro cinemas in 2007 – the first time in its 13 year history.

The change in venues will apply to both the Cape Town and the Johannesburg festivals.

OIA has also decided to split this year’s festival into two smaller events in anticipation of a final change of its annual scheduled date to November in 2008. The decision was taken so as to not clash with the Sithengi World Fim festival which will move to March as from next year.

Screenings at Nu Metro venues in Johannesburg’s Hyde Park commence on the 1 March and run until 18 March 2007, and the festival launches at Cape Town’s fashionable V&A Waterfront on 15 March until 1 April 2007. Another mini-festival will take place in November in those cities.

“Out in Africa, the largest film festival in South Africa, has gained the respect of the film industry and the attention of the media,” says Mark Harris – National Product Manager, Nu Metro Theatres. “We are proud to be associated with The Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and to present this exciting film genre to our audiences,” he adds.

Festival Director Nodi Murphy says, “This year marks an exciting change in venue for the Festival and we’re really thrilled to have Nu Metro Theatres partner us. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship with our new associates.”

The move may come as a disappointment to those in Johannesburg who had come to see Rosebank Mall – popular with the gay crowd – as the festival’s home in the city.

Nevertheless, Murphy remains enthusiastic about the change of venues, saying that, “we’ll have an increase in seating capacity – a 44% increase in Joburg and a 65% increase in Cape Town.”

She adds that another consideration in the move was the Nu Metro cinema chain’s enthusiasm to host the festival: “We’re getting a better deal. There are new frontiers in the relationship; it’s easier for Nu Metro to be flexible and try new things.”

Murphy promises the selected films will introduce fresh new voices in cinema and appeal to a wide audience. “It will not be ‘just watching a gay movie’, it will be an event that creates awareness, debunks stereotypes and attracts the attention of those interested in independent cinema,” she adds.

For more information visit the Festival’s website at www.oia.co.za.