Real stories – and a winner
FEATURE: A STORY ABOUT COMING TO JOZI AND THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE
Vaya scooped Best Screenplay and Best Director at the Africa Movie Academy awards
Akin Omotoso’s award-winning feature film Vaya will screen at the kykNET Silwerskermfees in Cape Town this week, ahead of a limited, Oscar-qualifying release in cinemas on September 15. Vaya is one of the films being submitted for consideration as South Africa’s official submission for next year’s Oscars.
The feature had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016, before going on to screen at several prestigious film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the Sydney International Film Festival and the New York African Film Festival. Recently, Vaya scooped Best Screenplay and Best Director at the Africa Movie Academy awards, in addition to Best South African Feature Film at this year’s Durban International Film Festival.
Helmed by Omotoso, the film is produced by Rethabile Molatela Mothobi, Robbie Thorpe, Harriet Perlman, Ronnie Apteker, Matthew Moodley, Jan du Plessis, Cecil Barry and Omotoso. The stars include Mencius Shaban, Sahel Saba, Sibusiso Maiming, Smitha Ndyuka, Awhile Charmaine, Warren Ademola and Nonmodem Mmusi.
One train, four people – strangers bound for Johannesburg, each on their own mission.
But one event will irrevocably change their lives forever.
Based on real stories, Vaya weaves three separate plots that intersect in a gripping, edgy and deeply moving story about coming to the city and the struggle to survive in the metropolis.
It is about strangers who never meet, but share a moment when all their lives explode and change forever.
Vaya is the product of The Homeless Writer’s Project, set up by producers Robbie Thorpe and Harriet Perlman, and comprising David Majoka, Tshabalala Leboneng, Anthony Marella and Maddi Natali, who meet once a week to share stories and ideas. These lived experiences were written down and crafted into a film script.
The film is distributed in South Africa and goes on general release on October 27 this year.