South African film opens One World Human Rights Festival

Miners Shot Down, a documentary in the political thriller genre, will then be screened exclusively at Cinema Nouveau theatres across the country from Friday, 30 May 2014.

Desai was at Marikana in August 2012, covering the wildcat strike by Lonmins rock drill operators in the days leading up to the massacre. At the time, he had intended to make a film about enduring inequality faced by mineworkers and mining communities across the countrys platinum belt.

Since the massacre, unpacking the events that led to the countrys first post-colonial massacre has become Desais obsession.

What is really remarkable is that the film shows the whole incident from literally all sides. The forensic care with which both the immediate circumstances and the overall political context are explained make riveting viewing. It is impossible not to be both appalled and deeply moved by not only the human injustice but also the political tragedy which Marikana represents. It is an extremely important document not simply to understand the specifics of this incident but also to understand the profound challenges for South Africa. It is essential viewing. It is impossible to watch without feeling a profound sense of outrage.

The film has an impressive creative team, including Brian Tilley and Bhekisizwe Peterson (Consulting Producers) and a spread of local and internationally acclaimed film editors.

Miners Shot Down has already attracted international attention. In March alone, the film travels to the Paris International Film Festival, Amnesty International's Movies That Matter (Le Hague) and to I Represent in Lagos, Nigeria.

During March, there will also be a number of special screenings across the UK, including one at the Houses of Parliament, and a screening in Cape Town aimed at Parliamentarians. In April, the film is expected to screen at Hot Docs, North Americas largest documentary festival.

The production of the film has been made possible through generous support from international and local foundations. The major sponsor is the Ford Foundations JustFilms, with Bertha Foundation and South Africas National Film and Video Foundation also making generous contributions. A raft of international public broadcasters from Finland to Japan have also partnered the film.

For more information about Miners Shot Down, click here.

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