City is sewing up film capital status
nicola.daniels@inl.co.za THE CITY is cementing itself as a world film capital, as the Cape Town International Film Festival and market is in full swing at the Artscape theatre.
The opening night kicked off with a grand red carpet featuring South Africa’s official selection to the Academy awards, Sew the Winter to my Skin.
Written and directed by Jahmil XT Qubeka, this explores the true story of legendary black rebel folk hero John Kepe.
The film had audiences clearly engrossed with its cinematography of the open land and authentic performances.
In the rural Great Karoo region, the bandit John Kepe terrorises white farmers, stealing their livestock and supplies to give back to his impoverished community.
General Helmut Botha, an embittered World War II veteran, becomes obsessed with the capture of the notorious Kepe and leads an epic manhunt for him through the mountains, where he is rumoured to occupy a mysterious cave.
Evading capture for more than a decade, outwitting Botha and the settlers, Kepe’s raids become ever more brazen and his escapes from the authorities ever more daring.
Festival executive chairperson Rafiq Samsodien said: “The great global disruptor is culture.
“The demand for exposure to learn about new cultures plus low capital costs of distribution and supply makes Africa a fertile territory for investment.
“The contribution and influence South African stakeholders such as Dr John Kani and others had on key elements such as language and dialect and costume design in Black Panther is an emphatic demonstration of our relevance in the global film arena.
“We need to create more such opportunities through which we demonstrate our global relevance and competitiveness.”
Italy was chosen as the “guest of honour” for this year’s festival. There is a special focus on the country. The Italian consul was asked to carry out the symbolic “handing back of the festival candle” to the festival director on opening night this week.
A selection of nine Italian films is being presented at the festival, which is on until October19 at Nu Metro and Ster Kinekor Cinema Nouveau at the V&A Waterfront.
Entrance is from R50 a screening. THANDIWE MESELE thought she had struck gold when she found a two-bedroom repossessed house for her mother in Ilitha Park, Khayelitsha, in 2016.
Her dream turned into a nightmare as she still has no house and is struggling to get back her R195 000 from Clifton Goldridge who advertised the home on Gumtree for that price.
Clifton Goldridge buys, sells and holds commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural real estate globally, according to its website.
Mesele, 36, said that at the time it seemed like a bargain because houses were selling for twice the price. “I really wanted to buy my mom a house.”
Mesele contacted the seller and was told to visit their offices at 11 Essenhout Crescent, Plattekloof, where she said she met the owner of the company, Leno de Villiers, and signed the contract.
“I then paid the money. After a few months of waiting I sent him an email requesting to cancel the contract.
“Najwa Taliep from Clifton Goldridge sent me a form to cancel the contract which I sent back in July last year. Since then they’ve been quiet.”
Mesele has obtained the services of a lawyer and opened a fraud case with the police. Spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed the police in Parow were investigating.