Verskietende Ster to premiere at Silwerskermfees

Verskietende Ster, the new film directed by Darrel James Roodt, has been officially selected to premiere at the fifth kykNET Silwerskermfees, which takes place in Camps Bay, Cape Town. This year's festival features 15 short films as well as numerous full length and documentary films.

The film tells the story of musical prodigy Phillip Schuman, a talented 15-year-old pianist whose genius is threatened by the weight of the world. When subject advisor Max du Toit sees him performing one of his own compositions, he immediately recognises that the boy has the talent to become a modern Beethoven. He takes Phillip under his wing but soon realises that things are not going to be as easy as he might have thought.

Phillip's father Tomas is mourning the death of his beautiful wife Maria and forbids Phillip from ever touching a piano again. What follows is a true life drama about the conflicted relationship between a boy and his father. When Tomas reveals a shocking truth, Phillip is forced to choose between forgiveness and living in the past.

The film, which features a number of industry heavyweights, was produced by long-time collaborators Philo Pieterse and Stefan Enslin.

We are incredibly proud that Verskietende Ster has been selected to screen at the Silwerskermfees, says Pieterse. The film is not simply an inspirational tale that shows that there is a reason why certain people are born with special talents, but it's also a moving exploration of the power of forgiveness. It's a stirring story that is bound to move audiences, and we look forward to the response of the festivalgoers, who are true film lovers.

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A stalwart of the local film industry, Pieterse, and his production company Philo Films, has been involved with some of the highest grossing South African films, including e'Lollipop, the runaway success Platteland and, most recently, the hugely popular Strikdas - n Familie Gedoente.

Enslin, who wrote the screenplay for Verskientende Ster, also wrote the novel of the same name on which his screenplay is based. Enslin is the founder of Faith in Motion Productions, a film production company focusing on stories with an inspirational message. He acted as consultant producer and script editor for the box office hit Klein Karoo (2013), and also co-wrote and produced Strikdas - n Familie Gedoente.

Roodt is one of South Africa's most dominant and prolific directors and screenwriters. In 1992 he directed the critically acclaimed film Sarafina. His 2004 film Yesterday' was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The film stars young actor De nr Reiners in the role of Phillip Schuman. Reiners will be familiar to soapie fans for his role as Emil in Binnelanders. In 2014, his matric year, he appeared in Roodt's Seun , which premiered at the Silwerskermfees, and he won the Audience Choice award for best Actor. In the role of Tomas Schuman is Hykie Berg, a former Survivor SA winner, who appeared in Klein Karoo', Plek van die Vleisvreters' (2004) and Forsaken' (2015). Jana Strydom, best known for her television roles in 7de Laan', Erfsondes' and Swartwater', plays Maria Schuman.

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