Mhlope film headed for Durban festival
GCINA Mhlope is a storyteller like few others – and now a story about storytelling featuring the iconic South African is set to hit our screens.
Produced and directed by Aaron and Amanda Kopp‚ Liyana follows five young orphans living in Swaziland as they create a mythological tale.
The animation-documentary hybrid is drawn from the experiences and dreams of the children‚ aged 10 to 13. It is due to be screened at the 38th Durban International Film Festival next month.
The film goes into the festival with a huge buzz‚ having won the Documentary Award at the prestigious LA Film Festival last week.
“Liyana is a lyrical film that gives our young storytellers the stage‚” Aaron Kopp said. “We hope the audience will be enchanted by the children’s imaginations in the same way that we are.”
The Emmy-nominated cinematographer‚ who grew up in Swaziland‚ believes the film will play a role in deconstructing stereotypes and “challenging the prevalent‚ simplistic narrative of African orphans”.
In a workshop led by Mhlope‚ the five children developed the character Liyana as a Swazi girl who undertakes a dangerous quest to rescue her young twin brothers.
Durban-based Mhlope, who was unable to get to the screening in Los Angeles, said : “It was exciting to get involved with the children and to realise they happily made the leading character a girl.”
Mhlope‚ an actor‚ storyteller‚ poet‚ playwright‚ director and author‚ has written children’s books that have been published globally and translated into several languages.