Under African Skies will open the 14th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, which runs from 7-24 June 2012 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Directed by Emmy and Peabody winner Joe Berlinger, the documentary tells the inside story of Paul Simon’s trip to South Africa to record Graceland and his return last year to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The bestselling, Grammy-winning album introduced South African music to the world and has been included in numerous Best Album of All Time lists by the likes of Rolling Stone and Time, but the trip was heavily criticized at the time, as it undermined the cultural embargo against Apartheid.
Under African Skies was a favourite at Sundance earlier this year, where The Hollywood Reporter called it “pure bliss.”
After wins at Berlin Film Festival, Jozi Film Festival and most recently Monaco Charity Film Festival, Man on Ground is proving to be a huge success world-wide; and with a cast including Hakeem Kae-Kazim (24/Hotel Rwanda), Fabian Adeoye Lojede (Jacob's Crosses) and Fano Mokoena it's no surprise why.
With wins such as Best Feature Film at Jozi Film Festival already under their belt, Mokoena went on to recently scoop the award for Best Actor in a supporting role as well as Akin Omotoso receiving Special Jury Prize for this incredible film at the African Movie Academy Awards.
Man on Ground is a bold and exacting portryal of rising xenophobia in South Africa. Omotoso casts the story of Femi, a young Nigerian man played by Fabian Adeoye Lojede living in the African refugee tenements of Johannesburg who disappears against the backdrop of animosity against immigrants flaring into violent rioting. In the pan of a single night, his brother (Ade) played by Hakeem Kae-Kazim, on a short visit from London, tries to elucidate the mystery.
South African Charlie Vundla scooped Best Director and his debut, film noir thriller How to Steal 2 Million, was named Best Film at the eighth Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), held last night, 22 April 2012, at The Expo Centre, Eko Hotel & Suite in Lagos, Nigeria. South African actress Terry Pheto was named Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, which also won Best Achievement in Editing (Garreth Fradgely). With four awards, How to Steal 2 Million was the most awarded film on the night.
Nigeria’s Benin-set historical epic Adesuwa was a close second with three awards, for Costume Design, Visual Effects, and Best Nigerian Film. South Africa’s crime drama State of Violence won Best Film in an African Language and Best Achievement in Sound.
Man on Ground, a Nigerian/South African xenophobia-themed coproduction, won the Special Jury Award – given for only the third time since the inception of AMAA – and Best Supporting Actor for South African Fana Mokoena.
Nigeria’s Rita Dominic was named Best Actress for her role in Kenyan film Shattered, while Ghanaian Majid Michel won Best Actor for his role in Somewhere in Africa. Toussaint Louverture was named Best Diaspora Film. Nigeria was the most awarded country on the night, receiving 12 awards, followed closely by South Africa with 10.
Some of the biggest names from black Hollywood were at The AMAAs, including Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Lynn Whitfield (The Josephine Baker Story and Without a Trace); Morris Chestnut (American Horror Story, Boyz in the Hood); Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break, Sons of Anarchy) and Maya Gilbert (General Hospital, Days of Our Lives).
Heroes star Jimmy Jean-Louis hosted the prestigious awards, which included performances from Asa, 2Face Idibia and Senegal’s Viviane Ndour.
The Brothers Streep are a duo of South African musical comedians best known for their breakthrough appearances on SA Idols and The Graham Norton Show. After four years of podcasting and appearing on other popular shows, Simon van Wyk and Dylan Hichens decided to host their own show on 2OceansVibe Radio.
Spling was invited to be a guest on their special movie edition show on Friday the 13th to chat about being a movie critic, film etiquette, favourite films with a special movie ideas pitch session. Here's what went down...
Under African Skies will open the 14th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, which runs from 7-24 June 2012 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
