Out in Africa at Hyde Park

HYDE PARK – The 20th Out in Africa South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festival opened to a full house at the Hyde Park Corner Nu Metro cinema.

The festival brought with it a selection of local and international films that focus on a variety of issues and stories across various genres.

After a welcome and introduction by festival organiser Nodi Murphy, Justice Edwin Cameron took to the podium to deliver a keynote address.

“It’s wonderful to see a full house, and it’s wonderful to be here,” he said.

Cameron spoke fondly of the first festival, held in 1993 at Cape Town’s Constantia Cinema, and then turned to the subject of homosexual rights in South Africa.

The Constitutional Court justice asked the audience if anyone had ever felt threatened or experienced acts of violence and discrimination because of their sexuality. The majority of the audience responded that they had.

“We approach this with mixed emotions. We have come a long way, but not far enough… Gay rights are human rights, and our struggle is an important one,” he said.

Cameron also weighed in on the Pride in Johannesburg debacle, in which several new pride events were launched this year following the dissolution of the Johannesburg Gay Pride Festival Company earlier this year.

He said he disagreed with people who said that Joburg Pride wasn’t “political enough”.

“For thousands of young black queens, [Joburg Pride] was the first definitive political statement they made, and I salute them for that,” said Cameron.

Following Cameron’s address, the audience was treated to a screening of the three South African short films on the programme; Duan Myburgh’s ‘corrective rape’ drama, The Brave Unseen, Oko Macanda’s consideration of homosexuality and Xhosa initiatory rites, Somagwaza, and Benedicte Roumega’s 2003 comedy White Lies.

Murphy said several guests would be present for the festival, among them Lose Your Head director Patrick Schuckman from Germany, burlesque dancer Louis(e) de Ville of Portrait of a Bad Girl, and filmmakers Roumega, Macanda and Myburgh.

The festival will run until 27 October.

See photos from the opening night here.

Details: 021-461-4027; www.oia.co.za