The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, is widely regarded as a leading film festival in Africa. Founded in 1979 by Teddy and Ros Sarkin, it is the oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa, presenting over 100 screenings, most of which are premieres in this region. The festival also offers workshops, seminars and outreach activities that include screenings in township areas where cinemas do not exist. DIFF offers an opportunity for filmmakers to expand their networks, by attracting local and international stakeholders and is a gateway to global cinematic gems that will enrich South African audience experiences.
The festival has a competition, with the Best Documentary and Best Short Films automatically qualifying for the Oscars race. One of the awards presented, each year, is the Amnesty International Durban’s Human Rights Award.
The DIFF program includes a section for student films, currently enrolled at any tertiary institution, and is aimed at supporting young filmmakers in shaping their careers as they debut their first films and creating opportunities for them to engage with industry professionals.
