NEWS

TOP MANNHEIM FILMS

Top awards at last year's Mannheim-Heidelberg international film festival were Best Fiction Film: Den Attende (The Eighteenth) directed by Anders Rūnnow-Klarlund (Denmark); Best Documentary: Olika Tag (Different Trains) directed by John Webster (Finland) and Best Short Film: Sūnnen (The Son) directed by Ketil Nern (Norway). The special prize for the film with the most unique narrative structure was Zhou Mo Qing Ren (Weekend Lover) directed by Lou Ye (PR China).

The Jury's special award went to Fire directed by Deepa Mehta (India).

SMART TALK

D'ARTS Editor Caroline Smart writes Smart Talk every Wednesday in the Daily News Tonight. All events in D'ARTS are considered but anything too late for D'ARTS but could make Smart Talk must be received by the previous Saturday. Phone or fax 261-6036.

TEACHER'S DAY

The Playhouse Company has invited edu-cation directors, subject advisors, prin-cipals, teachers and cultural officers to attend its Teachers' Day on March 20.

Following the success of last year's event attended by more than 900 teachers, the company's education and development department aims to showcase aspects of its educational programmes.

These programmes, originating in the various artistic departments, are available to tour all schools in the region. They aim to entertain and inform scholars on all aspects of the performing arts, as well as support the teaching curriculum.

Additional special drama-in-education programmes have been designed to assist students in various subjects.

The Teachers' Day takes place in the Playhouse Opera. Contact Gerard Samual on 369-9436 for further information.

ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES

If you're interested in top quality antiques and collectables, then visit the Durban Antique and Collectables Fair which is held on the last Sunday of every month in the elegant atmosphere of the Royal Hotel (March 30).

On offer are a wide range of items from silver and porcelain to hand-painted crockery, old books and jewellery.

Entrance is free. Phone Shirley van der Walt on 84-3053.

JOIN FRIENDS

The Friends of the Durban Art Gallery set a project for students of The Centre of Fine Art Animation & Design to design a new poster. A high standard of entries were received and the winner was Saravan Reddy.

The `Friends' need support, particularly in view of the recent axing by Metro Council of the Gallery's acquisition budget. If you aren't a member, ring Riason on 300-6236 and join up fast!

BETTER SPEECH

Last year the Durban Theatre Academy, which has been operating for the past 15 years, received the highest awards in the local speech and drama festival.

The Academy is again accepting students from Class One to matric for speech, drama and communication training, teaching children how to speak correctly and gain confidence.

For more information phone 28-3201 or 082 440-1059.

BRIT AWARDS

On March 12 at 21h00, M-Net will screen the 1997 Brit Awards, a 100-minute `special' celebrating the best of British music held last month at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre with all proceeds going to charity. The 1996 awards raised more than R2m.

The 1997 Brit awards

nominations reflect the astounding diversity of British talent that charted in 1996, such as Alisha's Attic, Babybird, George Michael, Sting, Simply Red, Donna Lewis, the Light-house Family, Manic Street Preachers, the Spice Girls and more.

Successful international artists to have broken through and been nominated include Beck, the Fugees, Tony Braxton, Robert Miles and the Smashing Pumpkins.

This year's Brit awards show honoured the Bee Gees who received the presti-gious the British Music Industry award.

EISTEDDFOD SYLLABUS

For all aspiring young dramatists, musicians, artists and writers, a syllabus is the essential ingredient for entering the annual Grahamstown Eisteddfod. The syllabus for the 1997 Eisteddfod is now available and copies have been posted to schools countrywide.

The syllabus is a single booklet contai-ning details of the performing arts, original writing and visual arts sections. It also provides information about entering and explains the grading system.

The closing date for entries for the performing arts section is March 28, while the writing and art sections close on April 23.

For further information contact Eisteddfod officer Marcelle Gould on (0461) 27115, fax (0461) 24457, or by post at the Grahamstown Foundation, PO Box 304, Grahamstown, 6140.