Dirk de Villiers

Born in 1924, Dirk De Villiers can easily lay claim to the title of being the South African filmmaker with the longest professional career. His career started chiefly as an actor in productions such as Ivan Hall's Kruger Millions in which he played the traitorous member of the Cavalier suicide commando who attempts to derail the plans to mint the gold coins by disposing of them in the Blyde River Canyon. His first feature film as director was in the light comedy Jy Is My Liefling, starring Franz Marx (also in his first film role) and Min Shaw, where he also acted as Franz Marx's boss. He followed this up with one of his finest films, Die Geheim Van Nantes, an adaptation of the famous Springbok Radio serial, starring the entire voice cast including Pieter Hauptfleisch, Francois Du Bruyn, Dawid Swart and Raedawn Stevens. Among his other films, his 1972 thriller My Broer Se Bril, the adoption drama Met Liefde Van Adele (1974), the adventure film The Virgin Goddess (1974) and the euthanasia - oriented drama Decision To Die (1978) as well as his international successes Glenda (1976) and The Diamond Hunters (1976), based on the book by Wilbur Smith and starring David McCallum and Hayley Mills. Dirk De Villiers was honoured at the 2008 Klein Karoo Arts Festival for his contribution to the South African film industry.