The best of Africa, BRICS films to roar
RAPIDLION – the South African International Film Festival – is back with its fifth edition to showcase and celebrate films and filmmakers from Africa and the BRICS countries.
Kicking off the festivities at the Market Theatre today is the screening of the award-winning South African film, Letters of Hope.
Directed by Vusi Africa, Letters of Hope tells the story of 16-year-old Jeremiah, who wants to be a policeman and can’t understand why his father, a local postman, expects him to follow in his footsteps.
He later discovers dark secrets that led to his father’s killing. He also learns that his father was operating a secret courier service that delivered letters from exile and prison.
Eric Miyeni, festival director, said:
“We are very happy to have this subtle but profound indie film open RapidLion 2020. It is one of those films by the emerging talent that only uses apartheid as a backdrop, not as the main focus, in order to explore deeper psychological battles that humans face.
“We wanted a platform that is serious about promoting South African films to South Africans. And is serious about helping South African filmmakers get better by interacting with filmmakers from other territories and in the process, help improve the South African film product.”
He added: “That’s what Cannes does. That’s what the Oscars do. They’re essentially a promotional tool for national films, masquerading as international events.
“The Oscars are 92 years old; that takes a lot of diligence to keep that kind of thing alive that long, and they put the money behind it. We are hoping in time, that the country and the corporate sponsors will catch up with what this can do for the nation.”
As the world commemorates International Women’s Day on Sunday, Myeni said they will be screening 10 women-made movies, both local and international.
For more information, visit www. rapidlion.co.za