11 August 2017 Volume :5 Issue :38

UKZN Students in Durban International Film Festival Media Lab

The Media Lab team at the Durban International Film Festival.

Students from UKZN’s Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS) were members of a media lab team at the recent 2017 Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).  

Their participation in the project gave them real world journalism experience, helping to build their portfolio for work applications while submerging them in the fields of TV, film and video.

Participating students were trained in journalism, film reviews, communication management, events management and organisational communication. A team of experienced CCMS-based sub-editors and senior film students supported qualifying reviewers.

In partnership with the City Press newspaper, the newsroom of selected students wrote reviews on the Festival, featuring the films, cast, panels, directors and actors. Their stories were submitted for publication to several newspapers and the CCMS magazine, SUBtext, while they were also put on the African Cinema and TV page on the CCMS website. IsiZulu-speaking students were encouraged to write for the Isolezwe newspaper. 

CCMS student Ms Thabisa Ngcobo said: ‘The experience was phenomenal because we got a chance to rub shoulders with great directors and producers. We were also able to do a meet and greet and ask questions.’

Said student Ms Shannon-Leigh Landers: ‘The experience was invaluable. Not only did we get the opportunity to review amazing films; we had opportunities to network with some of the best professionals in the film industry. It was a great platform for aspiring reviewers and bloggers.’

Words by: Nomcebo Mncube

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