On June 18, the Durban International Film Festival is going to be "Opening the Window" on UNESCO's Africa Animated! 2.0 five-week professional animation workshop.

This open day will start with screenings of the Africa Animated 1.0 pilot animation project and facilitator Cilia Sawagogo's animation Spirit of the Trees/L'esprits des arbres.

The event will provide an opportunity for local animators and public to enter into discussions with UNESCO animation course facilitators Cilia Sawagogo (Burkina Faso/Canada), Paula Callus (Malta/UK), Kwame Nyong'o (Kenya/USA) and Gcina Mhlope (South Africa).

Script facilitator, author and actress, Gcina Mhlope, will also give a lecture that will concentrate on African storytelling techniques. Participants will also include those southern African artists whose applications were successful for the five-week Africa Animated! 2.0 project.

The workshop will take place from 09h30 to 16h00 on June 18 at Studio 5, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Attendance is free but prior booking is recommended on 031 2602506. After-hour enquiries on 073 169 3715. Further information is available at www.cca.ukzn.ac.za