Animé Film Festival Coming To South African Cinemas

The popularity of Animé content, known as animation in Japan, has exploded in recent years, with an entire subculture passionate about the film and television series in this colourful and captivating genre. Following on the success of The Boy and The Heron’s release earlier this year in cinemas, Gravel Road Distribution Group is now bringing South African audiences a cinema-first…. a dedicated Animé film festival celebrating the iconic Studio Ghibli, on the big screen, starting this August.

The Japanese Studio Ghibli is one of the most acclaimed animation studios in the world, and the home of some of the most beloved Anime works to have ever released. Founded in 1985 by film directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, the globally renowned studio has produced twenty-two feature-length films, and won numerous accolades, including two Academy® Awards, a Golden Globe and the coveted Cannes Film Festival honorary Palme d’Or. (The first time in history a company has been bestowed this prestigious acknowledgement).

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical: South African Premiere at The Homecoming Centre


MotherCity Theatre Productions is proud to announce the professional South African premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical by Andrew Lippa, Marshal Brickman & Rick Elice, at The old Fugard, now called The Homecoming Centre.

Based on the beloved characters created by Charles Addams, THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical centres around the eccentric, macabre, and ghoulish Addams family, led by Gomez and Morticia Addams. With witty one-liners, crazy characters, spooky effects and all the weird wonderfulness fans of the most outrageous family ever have come to expect, the show will be a holiday hit for young and old alike.

When that beloved and moody princess of darkness, Wednesday, falls for a “normal” boy named Lucas Beineke, the two families come together for a traditional ‘get to know the parents’ dinner. But when one of those families is The Addams Family, only chaos, comedy and calamity can ensue. When the laughter dies down, however, deeper themes are explored – such as love, tradition, acceptance, and embracing one’s uniqueness… All with a darkly humorous twist, of course.

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Museum of Illusions now open in Johannesburg

The city of gold has added another diamond to its stellar constellation of unmissable attractions. The Museum of Illusions just opened its doors in the vibrant Rosebank node, becoming the 53rd Museum of Illusions in the world, joining the likes of Dubai, Chicago, New York, Paris, Istanbul, Milan, Shanghai, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur and Dallas who are all home to the remarkable experience. The Museum of Illusions Johannesburg is located just above Hamleys, across the bridge from Spur, and next door to EGG.

 

The concept first launched in Zagreb, Croatia in 2015 and soon became a global phenomenon with over 12 million people having visited the museums to date, and it is easy to see why. No two museums are the same, with each facility taking visitors on a memorable sensory journey through mind bending installations that leverage art, science, maths and psychology in a unique way. 

 

Watch a video with a sneak peek of what to expect at the Johannesburg Museum of Illusions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9JH3reI8CQ

 

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South Africa Celebrates A Cultural Treasure As The 50th National Arts Festival Begins

PICTURE: MARK WESSELS

Drums rolled and choirs sang out as Makanda celebrated the opening of the 50th National Arts Festival. A contagious sense of national and regional pride resounded from the dignitaries who attended the milestone Festival ceremony held in the very same auditorium where the Festival was first launched in 1974.

The Festival’s home town of Makhanda is also the childhood home of the National Arts Festival’s Deputy Chair, writer and academic, Dr Siphiwo Mahala. He remarked on the journey of the Festival from a gathering founded to preserve British language and culture to “one of the most inclusive and diverse arts festival’s in the world.” Mahala said this was possible in part because of the shared values and enduring partnership of the Festival’s partners.

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ZA Fest 2024

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural ZA Fest held on KwaZulu Natal’s North Coast, an even more exhilarating and expanded version of the festival is set to captivate attendees. Prepare for an action-packed experience filled with a diverse array of live music, arts, and culture to delight in! ZA Fest returns to much acclaim, at the enchanting Manor House in Sheffield from the 14th to the 17th of June 2024. Notably, this year’s edition welcomes the inclusion of South Africa’s largest artisanal market, Kamers Market, marking their first-ever appearance in KZN.

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