The of Jozi,Robbie Thorpe he is looking foward to taking best picture home at SAFTAS on sunday

Date: 16 Fabruary 2011
Article: Zama Hlongwane

We got to catch up with Robbie Thorpe of T.O.M pictures who has been nominated for six South African Film and Television Awards, which will be taking over two consecutive weekends of February on the 20^th and on the 27^th.  Film producer extrodinaire got to share  some light on the up and coming SAFTAS and on the year ahead. 

Zama: How does it feel to be nominated for six SAFTAS?
Robbie:I got to be honest with you, it feels great to be nominated 6 times it’s always good to get acknowledgement for your hardword work. I don’t mean to brag but I have been nomitaded about 40 times over the years it,s not  a new feeling but it always feels good. However getting nominated is just the cherry on top but it’s not the cake, instead one should not stop when they get awarded they should keep moving and achieve more,be better than the last production.
Zama: What was your insipration behind the film Jozi?
Robbie:My insipiration for Jozi was the drive to change the stereotype that people have, about Johannesburg which is where I come from, and my love for the city. To let them know that it’s the people who turn against the city and not the city turning against them.
Zama:Which award do you look forward to taking home?
Robbie: In all honesty I would love to take home the father of the year award(he laughs) but as a producer best picture would really do it for me.
Zama:lf you had a choice, which person would you not be in the same catergory with?
Robbie: No one I respect my colleauges, it’s just that i prefer on focusing on myself and my work. I mean what good does it do me to focus my energy on what the next personis doing?  Besides a little competion is healthy it keeps you on your toes.
Zama:What more can we expect from you in the coming year?
Robbie:Oh yes what would be the point of living if we stopped. I am currently busy with my next film Material on the14th of March the movie feature Riaad Moosa it’s going to be a comedy. As well as a film about people, authentic experiences in South Africa,watch out for those two films.he concludes

Sibikwa Arts Centre; Alive and Kicking!

Date: 16 Fabruary 2011
Article: Madoda ntuli

There appears to have been some rumour-mongering within the arts community that the Sibikwa is on the verge of disintegration. The source of these malignant whispers is unknown, but even a glancing inspection of the company’s itinerary reveals that Sibikwa is anything but a crumbling concern!

A very busy year ahead

Sibikwa’s Dance Company enjoys the patronage of Rand Merchant Bank, whilst the African Indigenous Orchestra, also under the Sibiwka umbrella, is supported by MMINO. Sibikwa Dance Co. is about to host their popular annual Dance Explosion in March, and the vibrant outfit has appearances booked for Goethe on Main in April, and the Grahamstown Festival in July. Other festival appearances are also in the pipeline. Sibikwa’s lecture/demonstrations on the schools circuit continue unabated, with the latest series on George Orwell’s Animal Farm having risen from enthusiastic teacher demand.

At the end of March, members of the Sibikwa Orchestra embark on an exciting trip to Sri Lanka, and the company also has a rigorous programmes of school lectures and demonstrations throughout the year - in addition to a full slate of corporate gigs!
Refusing to bow out: The Saturday Arts Academy Sibikwa’s SAA (Saturday Arts Academy) is an arts education programme targeted at young people between the ages of six and 24 which offers classes in Dance, Drama, Music and the Visual Arts. It’s true that the SAA was on the brink of closing down last year because of a lack of funding. However, parents and concerned leaders who appreciate the programme’s value to their community stepped in and, after a series of meetings held at the end of last year, worked on a plan to ensure the SAA’s survival.

New shows Sibikwa’s hit show, D.E.T. Boys High, is currently being revived in association with The South African State Theatre, and will be presented from March 10th -27th. The show will be directed by Sibikwa heads Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba, who will be directing together again after a break of ten years.
Klotz is also currently working on an exciting new project in partnership with Wits University and a group of American exchange students.

The challenges of 2010

Towards the end of last year, because funds were not forthcoming as expected, Sibikwa was forced to downsize its staff in order to keep afloat. But it is heartening to see how people and organisations have rallied round, validating Sibikwa’s input to the world of the arts in the last 22 yearsLooking ahead.

Those who know Sibikwa founders Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba will know that they don’t see hurdles - they see challenges. Sibikwa, which was founded during the State of Emergency in 1988, has faithfully maintained its output, despite unfavourable political and economic circumstances. The company has many exciting new projects in development, with sponsors waiting in the wings.

Sibikwa, with its strong focus on the community, is not the kind of organisation that would just fade away with a whimper. The fact that fewer companies are offering sponsorships is to be expected, bearing in mind that the economy has yet to recover fully. The creative arts are all about moulding the world around one rather than standing by passively, and the challenges that the company has encountered over the years have only served to strengthen Sibikwa. Its 2011 schedule simply proves that this vibrant entity is moving into the 21st century
with gusto, and turning adversary into triumph!

To discover the full scope of Sibikwa’s work this year, or to find out about funding opportunities, visit http://www.sibikwa.co.za/