Editor's blog

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) which takes place from 19 to 29 July, with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, has announced the introduction of a new multi- and block booking facility through GoingPlaces SA, a Durban-based entertainment and leisure website with a shopping portal.
“We are pleased that we are able to offer our festival goers, the opportunity to plan and book for the entire festival in advance” says Peter Rorvik, Director of DIFF. “As we are using different business units – the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Ster Kinekor at Musgrave, Cinema Nouveau at Gateway and Cinecentre at Suncoast, each with their own booking systems, in the past we have not been able to offer a comprehensive booking facility which enables people to book tickets in one go for all these venues. GoingPlaces has come up with a solution to this, and we go live on 2nd July.”
GoingPlaces (www.goingplacessa.com) was founded by well-known journalist Ailsa Windsor in 2003 to promote entertainment and leisure in Southern Africa and provides movie, theatre and concert reviews, a daily updated events guide and profiles on artist(e)s, places to visit and more. The service has now expanded to include handling of block and multi bookings for a number of entertainment organisations in KZN including Sue Clarence- and KickstArt Productions.
“Over the years I have realised that it is essential to make it easier for members of the public to have access to a booking facility that caters for all their entertainment needs. In other words – a one-stop-shop,” says Ailsa. “This means that DIFF audiences have the choice of booking online through the GoingPlaces webshop or talking to me directly about their movie selection... and their tickets will be waiting for them at their venue of choice.”
Benefits of multiple booking
“We hope to encourage people to plan their festival with friends, so are offering some incentives” says Rorvik. “Festival-goers booking multiple tickets through Going Places will receive a festival souvenir catalogue for the first ten tickets booked. The first 20 people booking a single transaction of over 20 tickets will also receive a free ticket to the closing night film on July 28, plus a free DIFF T-shirt.
Ailsa, who also reviews movies for the site, and is the host of the monthly screenings of SterKinekor’s Movie Connoisseur Club says “I look forward to servicing one of Africa’s biggest film festivals through GoingPlaces, and hope that those audience members who want to plan their festival in advance take advantage of this new service.”
The programmes for the DIFF are available at all the venues, and online at www.durbanfilmfestival.co.za.  Multiple and block bookings (only) can be made from July 2 from the DIFF website www.durbanfilmfest.co.za or directly with GoingPlacesSA’s webshop (http://shop.goingplacessa.com) or contact editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com or 083 250 2690.