AFDA Durban
The AFDA Durban campus celebrated its official opening on the 11th February 2013 with a pioneering group of 71 first-year students in the Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium degree. Over the last ten years since its inception, AFDA Durban has continued to grow and now boasts close to 300 students and five programme offerings, ranging from Higher Certificates, undergraduate degrees through to Postgraduate qualifications.
The AFDA Durban Campus is situated in the suburb of Glen Anil (Northern area) with easy access from the N2, R102 and Umhlanga Rocks Drive. The 3-storey campus enrols over two hundred students annually, who reflect the diverse culture and strong work ethic typically exhibited by AFDA students.
Durban, also known as eThekweni, boasts the Golden Mile promenade, beachfront restaurants, mediterranean weather all year round and a host of water sport, leisure and cultural activities. Students interested in the political and cultural scene can explore Inanda Heritage Route and also City Hall which brings together neo-Baroque architecture and an array of international and local artworks plus ample opportunity to learn more about the provincial government and municipal chambers.
For students from Lesotho and Swaziland, Durban is a stone’s throw away compared to other study destinations abroad and prides itself on the personalised support and care to all local and international students studying on campus.
Students from Mauritius and Madagascar can enjoy a similar coastal climate environment but with an added opportunity of learning and improving on their isiZulu and English.
Students from India will be pleasantly surprised to know that Durban is also known as the largest “Indian” city outside of India with a selection of familiar eateries, spice markets, festivals and Embassy representation. It is the ideal adventure city for both first time and more experienced study abroad students.
The campus offers industry-standard studios, post-production suites, lecture and rehearsal rooms, as well as student recreational areas, storage and parking facilities. All programmes offered on AFDA Durban have year for year parity with the other AFDA campuses, to ensure the same world-class curriculum delivery and standard of facilities.
AFDA Durban has had an unmistakable impact on the local as well as international entertainment industry. AFDA Durban graduation films and alumni won the Best Student Film award at the Simon Sabela Awards 8 years in a row. AFDA Durban is also the home to the official statue of the Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Award.
Recently, the AFDA 2022 Durban Honours film ‘Winterslaap’ won the Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Award for Best Student Film, as well as the Best South African Student Film at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), and completed the trifecta with the Gold Award at the 2023 Loeries for Best South African Student Film. The AFDA Durban 2023 undergraduate third year graduation film ‘Warm’ won the Best Student Production Award at the 11th African Emerging Filmmakers Awards. A host of AFDA Durban Live Performance alumni have also become household names, acting in key roles on the soapies Uzalo and Durban Gen.
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10 Good Reasons to Study at AFDA Durban
- The AFDA Durban campus proximity will reduce the overall cost for fee payers and students.
- AFDA Durban has some of the top lecturers in the country.
- AFDA Durban utilizes the exact curriculum and learning systems that has proved to be highly successful at its JHB and Cape Town campus.
- AFDA Durban facilities and equipment have year for year parity with both the Cape Town and JHB campus.
- An economic opportunity exists for Durban graduates to create a sustainable industry through growing its intellectual capital.
- Similarily an economic opportunity exists for Durban to optimize its first world infrastructure, locations, exchange rate and diverse population through facilitating international Film and Television production.
- An opportunity exists for Durban to take advantage of the DTI rebate scheme, (35%) to create local content for cinema.
- An opportunity exists for Durban graduates to create and reach both national and international viewers through the production, distribution and monetization of on-line content.
- AFDA Durban has a rich cultural voice and audiences that are able to contribute to growing the arts and culture of the province as a revenue stream.
- People create industries – Industries do not create people.