Free State scoops best director at Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt

Free State scoops best director at Luxor Afrian Film Festival in Egypt

Locally produced period drama Free State, has won the coveted Best Director award at the Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt. This marks the film's first outing at an African festival.

The film premiered at the Kolhapur International Film Festival in December 2015 and has dcreened at a number of festivals since then including the Chennai International Film Festival, Bangalore International Film Festival, the Sangli International Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

This is a wonderful accolade, made even more special by the fact that it comes from an African festival , says director Sallas de Jager. It was particularly exciting to screen the film at this festival and we are thrilled that it has been so well received. With every festival that we attend, we realise just how well the film travels and touches audiences far beyond South Africa's borders .

Written and directed by multi-award winning filmmaker Sallas de Jager, Free State is a collaboration between de Jager's Bosbok Ses Films and Utkarsh Entertainment in association with Indian production company, Parnam Entertainment. Former supermodel Nicola Breytenbach and ex-Mr South Africa Andrew Govender head up a cast which includes some of the country's most celebrated and well-loved actors including Leleti Khumalo (Sarafina, Yesterday), Deon Lotz (Roepman, Skoonheid) and Rolanda Marais (Wolwedans in die Skemer, Ballade vir 'n Enkeling). It marks the first international appearance for Marathi and Bollywood star, Mangesh Desai.

Free State is set in South Africa during the 1970s and tells the story of Jeanette (Breytenbach), a beautiful open minded law student. During a summer holiday spent with her father in the Free State, a random act of kindness by Ravi (Govender), an attractive Indian man, sparks an unexpected love affair. Despite being warned not to act on her feelings, Jeanette decides to pursue a secret relationship with Ravi. When their relationship is exposed, it leads to a very tragic turn of events.

Free State will now screen at the Garden State Film Festival which takes place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA from 31 March through 3 April.

Free State is distributed by Times Media Films and will be released on circuit on 27 April 2016.

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