Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Sundance makes history by selecting First Narrative Film directed by a South African

20/12/2019

20 December, 2019 - 07:53

They say dynamite comes in small packages, Sadla, a narrative short film produced by Kude Media is proof of that, Clocking in at 5 minutes and forty-five seconds exactly, this powerful film has made history by being the very first narrative film by a black South African filmmaker to be selected for the Sundance Film Festival.

Sadla is a simple study in shifting power paradigms. Sadla draws a comparison between the most common and visible manifestations of racism and sexism in public spaces. It is an uncomfortable film that rests almost entirely on the shoulders of little known actor, Kuthula Magubane as he moves between being a victim of racism to victimising others with sexism. Veteran actors Abena Ayivor and Justin Strydom are also part of the cast.

According to the Sundance Institute, submissions reached a record high of 15,100 this year. Among those, only 29% were created by female filmmakers. The festival will take place in Park City, Utah between the 23rd of January and the 3rd of February, 2020. Sundance is widely regarded as the largest American independent film festival. Its the festival that launched the careers of the likes of Ava DuVernay and Black Panther director, Ryan Coogler. This will be the USA premiere of Sadla. The films world premiere was at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada earlier this year.

Sadla was written, directed and produced by accomplished filmmaker, Zamo Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi works between South Africa and Switzerland. In 2011 she wrote, directed and produced her first short film, Philia. Her second short, The Call, premiered at Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival and screened at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival. Her short film, Gallo Rojo premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival Directors Fortnight. Mkhwanazi has written more some 200 hours of aired television on over 25 television shows. She is currently developing her first feature film, Laundry.

When questioned about her choice of police brutality as the films main themes, Mkhwanazi had this to say, The violence of the police towards black bodies has become ever more highlighted with the global impact of the Black Lives Matter movement and in South Africa, with the student protest movements sweeping the country. It occurred to me that this progression, from staring and inciting fear for fun, to outright murder is not a very different path than what most women experience on a day-to-day basis in urban streets. From having men making women uncomfortable with stares and following, to the extreme horror of rape and brutal murders of women that make our country number two for rape and five for femicide, in the world. Thus the purpose of this film is an attempt to start talking across these divides amongst the victimised.

It is clear that South African women like Mkhwanazi want their voices to be heard. The selection of Sadla at a platform like Sundance means the world is ready to listen however attending Sundance is a costly exercise. Furthermore, the announcement of the final line-up comes at a time when most of the film funding bodies have exhausted their 2019 budgets. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to cover Mkhwanazis flights, accommodation and living expenses. To make a financial contribution, all you have to do is visit Zamos Backabuddy crowdfunding campaign page: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/zamo-mkhwanazi

For more updates, follow the Sadla page on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Sadlashortfilm/

Film Festivals

Africa South Africa

Zamo Mkhwanazi, zamobleach@gmail.com
LINK: https://www.filmcontact.com/news/south-africa/sundance-makes-history-s...
See more stories from filmcontact

Africa Stories

28/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Marks Youth Month by Empowering Future Creatives Through Film & TV Bursaries

Johannesburg, 27 June 2025 - As the nation commemorates Youth Month 2025, the N...

13/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Opens Call for Public Film Screenings on GBV Awareness as South Africa Confronts Ongoing Femicide Crisis

Johannesburg, 12 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an a...

11/06/2025

Press Release:NFVF Reaffirms Commitment to Transparent Funding and Fair Access Amid Industry Commentary By Ms Weaam Williams

Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...

10/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Reaffirms Commitment to Transparent Funding and Fair Access Amid Industry Commentary By Ms Weaam Williams

Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...

06/06/2025

CALL FOR CO-DEVELOPMENT AND WORK-IN-PROGRESS PROJECTS OF FEATURE AND DOCUMENTARY ON THE AFRICAN DIASPORA SO PAULO (BRAZIL) SOUTH AFRICA

S o Paulo Film and Audiovisual Company (Spcine) and the National Film and Video ...

05/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Celebrates Xoliswa Sithole's Selection for the 2025 Documentary Slate

Johannesburg, South Africa 4 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundatio...

29/05/2025

PRESS RELEASE: Remembering a South African Icon - Presley Chweneyagae (1984-2025)

Rest in Power, a True Legend of Our Screens Johannesburg, South Africa 27 May...

29/05/2025

Statement on the NFVF CEO's resignation

Johannesburg, South Africa 28 May 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Vincent Blennies, has resigned from...

22/05/2025

Call for Public Screening Proposals in Raising Awareness on Gender-Based Violence through Film

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

13/05/2025

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) call for Applications for the Marketing and Distribution Cycle 1 Funding is Open

The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that was create...

10/05/2025

The National Film and Video Foundation Members of the Appeal Review Committee Call is Open

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

09/05/2025

The National Film and Video Foundation Marketing and Distribution Advisory Panel Call.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

09/04/2025

Call for NFVF funding applications to attend Film Festivals and Markets taking place from 1 June 2025 to 31 July 2025

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...

08/04/2025

Press Release: The National Film and Video Foundation Announces its New Chief Executive Officer

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vincent Blennies as Chief Exec...

04/04/2025

ANNECY 2025 STUDENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to submit character designs inspired by lead characters from any South Afric...

14/03/2025

Call for NFVF Funding Applications To Attend Film Festivals and Markets Taking Place From 14 April 2025 To 31 May 2025.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...

01/03/2025

agua bacteriostatica comprar en lnea 18

Antis pticos Orales: Revisi n De La Literatura Y Perspectiva Actual Influenza son contradictorios, dadas las elevadas tasas de curaci n espont nea. De ser neces...

28/02/2025

The Future of Green Energy

The Future of Green Energy: Challenges and Prospects Green energy, also known as renewable energy, has emerged as a critical solution to global energy challenge...

27/02/2025

ai chat bot python 10

Beginner Coding in Python: Building the Simplest AI Chat Companion Possible AI-powered Personal VoiceBot for Language Learning by Gamze Zorlubas You can ear...

24/12/2024

PARTICIPATE AT SERIES MANIA FORUM 2025

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for applications from South African film and television filmmakers to be part of the NFVF's delegat...

30/11/2024

Call for NFVF funding applications to attend Film Festivals and Markets taking place from 15 January 2025 to 31 March 2025.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...

16/11/2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Call for Market and Festival Hosting Funding Applications is Open

The National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Ar...

16/11/2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Call for Current Masters Students to Attend Carthage Film Festival in Tunis, Tunisa.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites current masters students t...

30/10/2024

18TH ANNUAL SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTAS) HONOURED THE BEST OF THE SA FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY

Johannesburg, 26 October 2024 - The 18th Annual South African Film and Televisio...

30/10/2024

SAFTAs18 Winners List

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DOCUMENTARY !Aitsa Practitioner: Simon Kohler Production House: MED CINE BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING DOCUMENTARY Rise: The Si...

24/10/2024

PUBLIC INVITATION TO THE INTERVIEW OF NOMINATED CANDIDATE FOR THE COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FOUNDATION (NFVF)

In accordance with Section 6 (2) (c) of the National Film and Video Foundation A...

19/10/2024

Call for Applications: Masters Students to Attend the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, Nigeria.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites postgraduate students to s...

15/10/2024

EXTENSION OF: INVITATION TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTARY SLATE PROPOSALS 2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...

11/10/2024

NFVF Announces Old Righteous Blues as South Africa's Official Entry for the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars)

10 October 2024 Johannesburg, South Africa - The National Film and Video Found...

09/10/2024

SPORTEL Monaco 2024 Ravel Booth G06/07

Sportel stand number: Ravel Hall G06/07 After a summer filled with intense sport emotions in Paris, France and beyond, Globecast will be happy to welcome you...

04/10/2024

Press Release

SAFTAs 18 Announces Date and Theme: Honouring Excellence in South African Film and Television with the theme Back to Basics . Johannesburg, South Africa Wedn...

04/10/2024

SAFTAs18 Announces Date and Theme: Honouring Excellence in South African Film and Television with the theme Back to Basics

Johannesburg, South Africa Wednesday, 2 October 2024 The South African Film ...

01/10/2024

National Film and Video Foundation Announces Leadership Changes

Johannesburg, South Africa - Monday, 30 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (...

24/09/2024

Invitation for people with disabilities to submit proposals for short films under the theme: Not What Society Expects

Every little girl out there who has felt different because they are not what soc...

09/09/2024

INVITATION TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTARY SLATE PROPOSALS 2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...

06/09/2024

The 18th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs18) Nominees Announced.

Johannesburg, 05 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF),...

09/08/2024

National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Mourns the Passing of Veteran Actress Mme Connie Chiume

Johannesburg, 8 August 2024 - It is with profound sadness that the National Film...

01/08/2024

Globecast at IBC 2024 Booth 5.C75

Globecast to Showcase the Broadcast Industry's Most Advanced Connectivity and Hybrid Cloud Solutions at IBC 2024 PARIS, 1 August 2024 Globecast, the lead...

16/07/2024

18th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) open the call for Discretionary Award Nominations

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

13/07/2024

Invitation for South African filmmakers to submit films for the 97th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) International Feature Film category.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

09/07/2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) call for Marketing and Distribution cycle 2 funding applications is open

The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that is created...

02/07/2024

Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) renewed deal

Arabsat, ASBU and Globecast are commemorating 20 years with a renewed multi-year deal for Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) services, providing a wide range of DTH di...

11/06/2024

30 YEARS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRACY CELEBRATED THROUGH THE FILM LENS AT THE 77TH INTERNATIONAL CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Tuesday 11 June 2024, Johannesburg. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF...

31/05/2024

Statement on the alleged ill treatment of cast members

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the custodians of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), has learned of the allegations of ill-tr...

22/05/2024

Judge blocks auction of Elvis Presley's Graceland estate

Judge blocks auction of Elvis Presley's Graceland estateA judge in Tennessee has temporarily halted a foreclosure sale of Graceland, the historic home of El...