30 January, 2017 - 06:45
South African short film The Suit , directed by Jarryd Coetsee, continues to dazzle audiences abroad as it makes its European premiere in competition at the Leuven African Film Festival (Afrika Film Festival - Leuven) in Belgium which is seen by many film professionals as the benchmark for Africa-focused film festivals in Europe.
Based on the treasured short story by luminary of the Drum era, Can Themba, the film is set in 1950s Sophiatown shortly before the forced removals and tells the story of a man who forces his wife to treat her lover's suit as if it were a person. The Suit will compete with 15 other short films for the festival's first prize, the Golden Young African Film Maker's Award (YAFMA). In addition to the Golden YAFMA, two other prizes will be awarded, the Silver YAFMA and the special jury prize.
On hearing the good news, director Jarryd Coetsee said: I feel excited and jubilant. I'd like to thank the festival co-ordinator, Barbara Brugmans, and her entire team of organizers for their hard work and passion for enabling African film-makers to express their voices on such an important platform in Europe.
The Suit won the Best Short Film competition of the Scotland African Film Festival held in Edinburgh and Glasgow in November as well as the Audience Award of the Cape Town leg of the Swiss-based Shnit International Short Film Festival. It has screened at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, where it was given a Special Mention by the jury, the Red Bull Amaphiko Film Festival in Soweto, the Durban International Film Festival and opened the Mauritius International Short Film Festival. The Suit has also been selected for the official competition of the upcoming Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Toronto Black Film Festival and the Vancouver South African Film Festival in Canada.
The Leuven African Film Festival presents the best films from and about Africa, the Arab world and their diaspora, from the 22nd to 23rd April 2017, in Leuven and other Belgian cities. Founded by Guido Convents and Guido Huysmans, the festival will celebrate its 22nd anniversary, realized with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation. The annual Golden YAFMA supports new African talent with the creation of high quality films. While seeking to encourage a positive vision of Africa in the media, the award not only helps individual careers, but serves as a hub for the African film world.
The film was funded by the National Film and Video Foundation and produced by Luke Sharland of Johannesburg-based Mandala Films. Mandala Films implemented a mentorship programme during production through a partnership with AFDA. Father and son acting powerhouse John Kani and Atandwa Kani, who are currently shooting the Marvel Comics' superhero blockbuster Black Panther in the USA, take top billing opposite rising star Phuthi Nakene. The Suit also features performances by Ayanda Seoka, Sabelo Ndumo, Thabiso Rammusi, Ezekiel Ratsooana and Tiny Falatsi.
Coetsee, who is currently in pre-production on his debut feature film, described the experience of working on the multiple-award winning short film: It was inspiring and charged with meaning to work on the set of The Suit . The film takes places in 1950s Sophiatown which was a vibrant township in the heart of Old Johannesburg comprising residents of mixed ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The apartheid regime forcibly removed the residents and bulldozed Sophiatown to pave the way for a new whites-only suburb. However, some buildings miraculously survived the demolition and we shot almost all of our scenes in them.
Coetsee studied English literature, and film-making in London on the Voices That Matter scholarship, as well as support from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. He first read Can Themba's short story The Suit in high school. The short story has also been adapted into a global hit play directed by prominent British playwright Peter Brook.
Coetsee says: Our cast and crew, comprising 102 artists and technicians of diverse races, ethnic groups, sexes, sexual identities, religions, ages, abilities and nationalities, were a constant reminder as we engaged in the edifying process of creative collaboration of how phenomenally South Africa has changed since the onset of the democratic dispensation in 1994. And this is another reason why I'm particularly grateful that The Suit has been recognized by the Leuven African Film Festival, because the festival encapsulates our guiding spirit as a celebration and determined champion of diversity and strong community. I'm motivated by the reciprocal relationship of sharing good stories with audiences across the world. The possibility of an award is just icing on the cake and ultimately means a broader recognition of this hauntingly beautiful and powerful story.
Short Films
Africa South Africa
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
07/05/2026
Recreating the 1974 Doctor Who Time Tunnel in After Effects
Graham Quince May 6, 2026
0 Comments
The Time Tunnel from Doctor Who titles is one of th...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
30 January, 2017 - 06:45 
