"It’s difficult to think that the majority of that enthusiastic and fresh-faced bunch of AFDA film and performance students of the year 2003 in Cape Town are probably 30 years old today and some probably older," says Garth Holmes, chairperson and co-founder of AFDA. "Tempus fugit (time flies) as the Romans would say."

"It’s like yesterday – I remember it so vividly,” enthuses Holmes. “The hot and dusty first assembly - the painters were still completing the walls of the lecture room; the pervading smell of paint only second to the screeching sound of the grinder and the large clouds of dust emanating from a worker hurriedly completing the laying of a floor; the installations of a plaster wall and huge activity in the midst of new students, staff, parents and VIPs."

"The staff had had a welcome party the night before and most were feeling the effects of all the excitement that pervaded Cape Town and its new AFDA campus. An address by myself about the frontier-spirit, the role of those in the vanguard, the responsibility of creating a vibrant local industry – tempered by the noise and the odd worker passing through the assembly - and some words of wisdom and encouragement to the staff and students from CEO and co-founder Bata Passchier – all soaked with sweat as the air-conditioners were still in the process of being installed."

Some of the original staff are still with the school including Steve Drake (Post Grad course director), Dr Gerda Dullaard (chief academic standards council), Jaco Janse van Rensburg (dean of AFDA Cape Town), Archie Birch (production design lecturer), Farieda Cozyn (finance), Aneesa Abels (librarian assistant) and Peter Dodo (groundsman). Besides a line up of staff, recent appointments include: prolific producer, director of photography and photographer, Roy Zeitsky as head of the Film School; with highly experienced TV presenter, producer and news editor Megan Rusi, as head of the TV School; and well-known academic and director Dr Christopher John as head the Performance School.

The original intake in 2003 was 141 students and in 2013 numbers have grown to 400 students. Over the years the school has produced a lineage of highly acclaimed and accomplished filmmakers and live performance practitioners. These include among others: Jozua Malherbe (graduated in 2004) director of Wolwedans in die Skemer and Getroud met Rugby; Bronwyn Reddy (2006) cast in Kramer Petersen Song Book, performed in Prison Codes, Grease and Jesus Christ Superstar, with a debut album out called Love Constant; Shimmy Isaacs (2008), now a freelance writer, actress, comedian and producer widely regarded as one of Cape Town’s funniest female comedians; Tristyn von Bergh (2006) won silver and bronze at the Loerie Awards for his debut advert for the Organ Donor Foundation and Kyle Lewis (2010) director for a production company called Dirty Soul Productions which has had two of their videos nominated for MK Awards.

“It has been an exciting and fascinating journey,” says Bata Passchier, AFDA CEO. “What has been possibly the most rewarding part of the journey is to watch how empowered the graduates are to go out and tackle this tough industry, creating work, and make such incredible successes of their careers. We are in constant contact with our alumni, and it is so encouraging and satisfying to see their careers in full flight. It is thanks to the team within the school who have fostered and nurtured their entrepreneurial skills providing the industry with highly trained and motivated individuals.”

AFDA in Cape Town celebrates its tenth birthday in 2013, while, in Durban the first AFDA school opened its doors this week, and in 2014 AFDA Johannesburg celebrates its 20th Birthday.

For more information about AFDA go to www.afda.co.za or call 021 448 7600.