Director of Searching for Sugarman dies

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Director of Searching for Sugarman dies --

Wed, 14 May 2014 12:22

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Malik Bendjelloul, a Swedish filmmaker who directed the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugarman, died on Tuesday 13 May, at the age of 36.

Stockholm police have stated that they are not suspicious that any crime took place however; the circumstances of Maliks death are still unknown.

Jan Goransson, spokesperson for the Swedish Film Institute said, This terrible news has put us all in a state of shock. Malik Bendjelloul was one of our most exciting film makers, which the Oscar award last year was a clear proof of.

Swedish film critic Hynek Pallas added, He was an incredibly talented storyteller. He had the strength of a marathon runner; to work on his film for so many years and sometimes without money, then you have a goal.

In addition to the 2013 Oscar, Searching for Sugar Man, received a BAFTA, a Directors Guild award, a Producers Guild award, a Writers guild award as well as the 2012 International Documentary Association award. The film told the mysterious story of Sixto Rodriguez, an anonymous musician who, unbeknownst to him, had gained a large following in South Africa despite having fallen off the public radar. After Searching for Sugar Man was released the singer experienced new found fame and an unexpected revival of his career.

Bendjelloul directed a number of other documentaries about singers including Elton John, Rod Stewart, Bjork and German electronic group Kraftwerk.

View the Searching for Sugar Man interview with Malik Bendjelloul and Sixto Rodriguez.

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