Thina Sobabili selected as South Africa's Oscars entry
21 September 2015: Thina Sobabili, a film by Ernest Nkosi, has been confirmed as South Africa's official entry for consideration into the Annual Academy Award's (Oscars) Best Foreign Language Film category. The South African Academy Award Selection Committee and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) made the announcement after intensive deliberations. If the film is approved by the Oscars Academy Award Selection Committee, it will move forward to the next step of the Oscars selection process.
Set in South Africa's biggest township, Thina Sobabili is a story of siblings; Thulani and Zanele as they journey through life knowing that they have no one but each other to lean on. With Alexandra Township serving as a vibrant backdrop, the siblings escape one tragedy and build a life together where big brother Thulani is over protective of his younger sister.
Winner of 2015 Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) and Jozi Film Festival's Audience Choice Award, Thina Sobabili, marks the directorial debut of Ernest Nkosi. It stars Emmanuel Nkosinathi Gweva, Busisiwe Mtshali, Mpho Popps Modikoane, Richard Lukunku, Thato Dhladla and Zikhona Sodlaka.
It is a great honour to be selected as South Africa's consideration for Oscar's 2016. Although we produced the film on a very limited budget, we believed in its quality and were confident that it will dazzle the world. Earlier in the year we were honoured with the Audience Choice Award at PAFF and at the Jozi Film Festival, and believe that more is yet to come for the film, said Ernest Nkosi after receiving the news.
As the custodian of film in South Africa, the NFVF is recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences as the body that represents the country's film industry, thereby affording the organization the authority to make submissions on behalf of the South African film industry.
The committee deliberated on the films submitted this year, and concluded that Thina Sobabili will best represent the country. The film is engaging, it is of high quality and addresses issues that we are faced with on a daily basis, said Vuyo Sokupa, Head of Production and Development at the NFVF.
Should the Oscars Academy Award Selection Committee nominate Thina Sobabili as a South African entry, the film will join award-winning Tsotsi (2006) and previously nominated Yesterday (2005) as South Africa's representatives at the Oscars. The Oscars will be held on February 28, 2016.
The NFVF and the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee wishes the team behind the film best of luck.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR MEDIA QUERIES
Naomi Mokhele
Manager: Communications
Tel: +27 11 483 0880
naomim@nfvf.co.za
www.nfvf.co.za
Twitter: @IamNaomiM
@FilmFound
OR
Sean Bracegirdle
Communications Coordinator
Tel: +27 11 483 0880
seanb@nfvf.co.za
www.nfvf.co.za
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is governed by the National Film and Video Foundation Act 73 of 1997 as amended by Cultural Laws Amendment Act 36 of 2001. The mandate of the NFVF, in terms of section 3 of the Act, is:
To promote and develop the film and video industry;
To provide and encourage the provision of opportunities for persons, especially from disadvantaged communities to get involved in the film and video industry;
To encourage the development and distribution of local film and video products;
To support the nurturing and development of access to the film and video industry;
To address historical imbalances in the infrastructure and distribution of skills and resources in the film and video industry.
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Thina Sobabili selected as South Africa's Oscars entry
