A Film Festival with a Twist To it

The biggest film festival is taking place yet again at the Nu Metro in Hyde Park on 23 March 2012 till 01 April 2012. This festival is known to be 'Out in Africa Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Johannesburg' where they show case the best made movies, nominees and awards are then given out to those who have earned them. Three international guests will be hosted at the Festival; Dreya Weber, who is a Lead actress and producer; Josefine Tengblad, who is a Swedish actor and producer and Belgian director Bavo Defurne; also not forgetting the the writer and director of The Secret (Imfhilo), Soweto-born Fanney Tsimong who is also a guest at the festival. The following films will be presented by the guests; 'A Marine Story', which has won 16 major awards, 'The Gymnast', 'Kyss Mig' (Kiss Me), 'North Sea Texas' which was named Best Feature Début at the Montreal World Film Festival and won the Fipresci International Press Award and 'The Secret' which will play with two South African short films: 'Anders' by Werner Coetzee and Mthokozisi Lembethe’s 'Paving Forward'.

Other festival highlights include:

• The award-winning, wickedly funny British film 9 Dead Gay Guys - the queer flick Guy Ritchie should have made…
• Christopher and His Kind, a lush drama and the real story of Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin, fabric of the cult classic Cabaret
• The award-winning Chilean My Last Round, an exquisite South American sleeper in the fashion of the runaway hit Undertow
• German must see Romeos, a trendy, unconventional and very contemporary take on the issues facing queer teens.http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/out-in-africa-gay-and-lesbian-film-festival-johannesburg/

Albert Nobbs will première at this film festival and Glenn Close received her sixth Oscar nomination for her role as a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th Century Ireland. Janet McTeer, nominated as Best Supporting Actress, also has a cross-dressing role, and the film is up for Best Makeup. Rising star Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre) is the love interest. The director Rodrigo Garcia, son of the Nobel Price winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is an Emmy-nominee.

This Film Festival was launched back then in 1994 to celebrate the inclusion in the South Africa Constitution, of the clause in prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. In our societies, cultures and communities we have different views, opinions and beliefs and in most cases gays and lesbians are taken as a sensitive topic to most families. It is not an open topic and generally it is seen as 'wrong, not normal and not christian' to be in love with the same sex, these people are judged, hated on and are called nasty names when walking down the streets. The scary thing with such attitudes we hear stories about the rape, murders that occur all the time because its some sort of message being sent out to gays and lesbians in order for them to change their lifestyle. Funny enough the constitution ways back from 1994, but still I have not seen change in peoples attitudes about the lifestyles of gays and lesbians yet I thought we are all humans and have the Right and Freedom to believe in what we want to and be what we want to be. Then I ask Who are we to tell them how to live their lives? Always keep in mind that Love has no Gender.

 

The Pink Girlfest.

Its on again the annual Pink Girlfest Festival taking place from the Thursday, 22 March 2012 to Sunday, 25 March 2012, at the Malonjeni Guest Farm situated between the Vereeniging and Heidelberg in the Vaal Triangle. It is a three day festival for ladies who come from all walks of life, who gather together to share the different variety of cultures, activities and music going to take place at the event. Ladies who would want to be all glam this season will go to then fabulous fashion show, going to take place at the event in giving ladies tips on how to look and feel like a million dollar without them saying a word. The fashion show will be hosting a competition at the grand finale with the PGF Ms Girly and Ms Boi, a first ever Ms Gay SA. Now that is pretty awesome staff, it shows the growth of South Africa and its people in terms of accepting and not discriminating.

Different workshops will be taking place, with well known South African personalities going to address their topics in a more diverse and realistic manner. If you are interested in Gardening or would like to start your own, you'll be attending the Gardening workshop, which is going to be addressed by Tanya Visser an editor of The Gardener magazine, will be involving ladies to enjoy their greens and Sharon Tattersol from Supa Quick will teach the ladies a easy 10 step program in the Car Maintenance DIY workshop. There is also a Self Defence workshop, in which ladies who are interested could attend, to learn a thing or two on how to protect themselves. If your interests lie else where and you are more of the adventurous and outdoor type of person, Caryn Louw will help you with a Golf Clinic and Shred Betty's will offer a Mountain Biking and Paddle Boarding clinic.                   

There will be well known South African bands such as Karen Zoid; Toya Delazy, Margaret’s Daughter; Naledi King, Chix with Stix, Holly and the Woods, Attack of the Strawberries, Aneva and Splinter Town, now who would want to miss out on that? Now put on your dancing shoes and let the music take you places with the rocking line up of Djz going to make you dance until you ask for mercy... the line up is as follows: top DJ such as, DJ Lindi Lush who will be sharing her Electro Funk Fidget Trans tunes, joining her will be DJ’s Sky, Blend, Infinity, Lady Sultry and Cheecky Cherry to name a few. Other entertainment include Comedian Kellyn Coetzee and Drag Kings Androgeny. This is going to be one funky event so ladies clip your pink wings on and get ready for lift off in:.... 3..... 2...... 1....... its the Pink GirlFest! http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/pink-girlfest-gauteng/

A Fancy way to make Reading Fun

The Autumn harvest Faire taking place from the 17 March 2012 through to the 9 April 2012  at the Garden world, which is situated in the rural surroundings of Mulderdrift north west of Johannesburg in Gauteng. This event will be packed with a variety of activities for the whole family, the one I find most interesting is the reader days programme that's going to take place. This years reader day will be held by Linda Galvald, she'll be discussing heirloom seeds, organic and food security, from this one will gain the information of vegetable seeds, the importance to our health and about food security. The second speaker will be Jan Griffths who is a television producer, writer artist and traveller who will be giving a talk on 'A delicious herb and vegetable garden grown organically, with Caxton Westrand and Talborne organics.' .http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/autumn-harvest-faire/  

This talk will really help a great deal for anyone thinking of starting their own vegetable garden using organic seeds, since there is an emphasise on living a healthy lifestyle by going all organic, because organic seeds are those harvested from plants grown without the use of any chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers or any other chemical treatments that are generally used by commercial seed companies to protect their seeds against diseases, increase germination rates or the shelf life.www.organicseeds.co.za/content/6-hierloom+info

The reader day programme will be looking in on those topics and a healthy lifestyle for all generations, with tips such as increasing access to nutritious, sustainably grown foods as nutrition is key to good health and good health for all can be achieved by improving the environment in which people live. In this generation today reading seems to be such a difficult activity to do as we are too busy with our lives that we do not take time or make an effort in our busy schedules to pick up a book and read, so such events help and enhances the interests of people to read about relevant topics that would sustain, also grab people's attention and maybe change their view on opening up a book and exploring another world at the same time improving your reading skills and knowledge. A good healthy body = A healthy mind, which helps you grow in knowledge and sustain a better living, wouldn't you agree?

Rocking the stage with the Youth.

The Festival of fame will be hosting an annual event coming up next week from the 12 March 2012 through to the 17, starting from 09h00 everyday throughout the whole day. It is an annual event that show cases different talents of young people from all around. The theme of this event is 'the truly famous, newly famous and the about-to-be-famous,' there is also a variety of performances from an Open mic session, a musical, comedy acts, music and Dance Spectrum including Jazz, Contemporary, Flamenco, Gumboot dancing, Tap and many more to chose from. Clearly this event is looking out for the raw talent that we have in South Africa and which is a great start and opportunity for our young stars out there, so what are you waiting for? Go Rock the stages people. This project was first initiated by the National school Of the Arts and the Johannesburg Development Agency.

Is this the Big break you have been longing for? Then this is your opportunity to open up to a new world that will change your life dramatically, by living the dream you have always wanted to live and being recognised all around the globe. Climbing up the leader to all good, but also having to balance the changes that will come through with the fame. Hatching into the world of the glits and glam even though you have to work mighty hard to reach to the top as for the competition in this industry is tough. http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/festival-of-fame/ 

  Soul searching, making people spread their wings and yet giving you more opportunities for you to spread your wings and fly like a butterfly, showing of your bright colours and also making you aware of all the entertainment, fun spots and events you can go too. Get with the crowd be a VIP.