Thank you VSAFF fans!

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What a terrific opening day at the 2013 VSAFF!

There was great support for the films all day long and the gala showing of Material sold out!

Deputy Mayor Tony Tang was on hand to declare April 11-16 South Africa Week in Vancouver, on behalf of Mayor Gregor Robertson.

The South African High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Membathisi Mdladlana, spoke beautifully and even sang for us.

The Vancouver Whitecaps kindly donated tickets and a signed jersey, and young defender Ethen Sampson, from Mitchells Plain near Cape Town, was there to present to the winners.

Material was a huge hit and we were thrilled to have on of the actors, Nik Rabinowitz, in the crowd.

Thanks to all our gala sponsors for the delicious food and drinks!

See you again Sunday for four more films, closing at 7 p.m. with Little One, South Africa’s nominee for the best foreign language Oscar.

All proceeds from the VSAFF go to Education without Borders, a fully-volunteer local charity that does educational development work at schools in Gugulethu and the surrounding townships near Cape Town.

 

Nik Rabinowitz kicks off VSAFF in style!

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What a great night at Studio 16, VSAFF fans!

Thanks to everyone who came out to laugh and mingle and support the VSAFF and Education without Borders. And, of course, thanks to Nik Rabinowitz, who had the sold out room in stitches.

Thanks, also, to our food and drink sponsors for the event: African Breese, Taste of Africa, Wines of South Africa and Ceres Juices.

If you missed Nik on Thursday, you can still see him on screen Saturday in our gala film, Material.

For pictures of Thursday night’s comedy show, follow us on Facebook!

Nik Rabinowitz in Vancouver: SOLD OUT

NikRabinowitzVSAFF fans, thanks for your continued success of the festival! The Nik Rabinowtiz show in Vancouver on Thursday is now SOLD OUT.

But you can still see Nik on screen in our gala showing of Material on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. And join us after for a delicious spread of South African food and drinks.

Material, a humorous and emotional look at the struggles of a South African Muslim family facing the modern world, walked away recently with five Golden Horns, as the South African Oscars are known.

It won for best feature film, best director (Craig Freimond), best actor (Riaad Moosa, pictured), best supporting actor (Vincent Ebrahim) and best sound designer.

VSAFF tickets and passes are NOW ON SALE.

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All proceeds from the VSAFF go to support the important educational development work Education without Borders has been doing in South Africa since 2002.

The VSAFF presents: Nik Rabinowitz in Vancouver!

VSAFF fans! In conjunction with this year’s festival, we are pleased to announce that beloved South African comic Nik Rabinowitz will perform in Vancouver, with all proceeds going to Education without Borders!

Nik plays a role in our Gala film, Material, but two nights before you see him on screen, you can see him on stage at Studio 16 (1555 West 7th Ave.). That’s Thursday, April 11, with doors at 6:30 p.m. for a wine and cheese reception. The shows starts at 7:30 p.m.

Capacity is limited and we expect to sell out.

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Nik has performed alongside some of the country’s finest comics, including two hits with Marc Lottering  and Riaad Moosa, under the direction of David Kramer (Three Wise Men & Three Wiser Men, 2008 & 2009). In 2010, he starred alongside a selection of SA’s top stand-ups in Bafunny Bafunny, which included a performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He followed that up with a television appearance on BBC 2’s Mock the Week.

Nik currently presents “The Week that Wasn’t” for 702 and Cape Talk Radio, plays a host of characters in the online satirical production ZA News, and has produced and performed five one man shows.

We hope you can join us for this unique opportunity to see Nik in Vancouver!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

“Material” to open 3rd annual VSAFF

“Life is not a funny business,” reads the tag line from Material, a heartwarming film that we are proud to announce as part of our 2013 VSAFF Gala Opening.

Cassim is a young Muslim man working in his father’s textile store. It’s Ebrahim’s dream for Cassim to take over the shop, but Cassim has discovered a talent for stand-up comedy, and he soon finds himself in direct conflict with his father, his family and his community.

Material is a warm, funny and emotional look at the struggles of a Muslim family facing the modern world, exploring, destiny, responsibility and what family really means. The film is entirely set in the Indian enclave of Forsdburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. If you like Bend It Like Beckham, you’ll love Material!

Tickets for Material and the rest of the VSAFF films will go on sale later in March.

Nik Rabinowitz to appear in Vancouver in support of the VSAFF and EwB

Starring Cape Town stand-up comedian Riaad Moosa as Cassim, Material also features well-known South African comic Nik Rabinowitz, who we are thrilled to announce will be in Vancouver for the festival! Nik is going to perform a stand-up show on April 11 in support of Education without Borders, the festival’s presenting charity. Full details to come soon!


Get the latest VSAFF news!

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook! Ticket and complete film and schedule info will follow later this month!

All proceeds from the VSAFF go to support the important educational development work EwB has been doing in South Africa since 2002.