John Barker’s film “Bunny Chow’ has been selected to compete in the Rotterdam Film Festival’s Tiger Awards, to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from 24 January to 4 February. This screening will be its European premier.
The film has already played successfully at the Toronto International, American Film Institute (AFI) Festival in Los Angeles, and won Best Actor and Best New Director at Sithengi in November last year.
“The film is outstanding and innovative, and it will be an honour to have it as one of the 14 films competing for three major Tiger Awards,’ said Sandra Den Hamer, Director of the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
“Way cool’ says a jubilant Barker. “It is an honour to be selected in such a prestigious competition. Rotterdam is a vital festival and the criteria for getting into the Tigers is tough. It is great recognition for the cast and crew who put so much time and hard work into the project. The timing is spot on, and it’s a very positive way for “Bunny Chow’ to start the year’
“This is more great recognition’, says Joel Phiri of Dv8/Deviant Selling. “To be selected for Competition in Rotterdam is brilliant and important, both from an audience and business point of view. It now needs to be seen by a local audience.’
Directed by John Barker, and written by Barker and David Kibuuka, “Bunny Chow’ follows the raucous and often ridiculous journey of three stand-up comedians as they make their way to a popular rock concert, Oppi Koppi. Along the way we get to indulge in their trails and tribulations, and generally unsuccessful attempts at relationships with women. “Bunny Chow’ is a contemporary urban South African tale about young people and their journeys to self discovery, self destruction, self delusion and a good dose of selfishness.
Starring some of South Africa’s funniest stand-up comedians the film is based on a story by Kibuuka, Barker, Salah Sabiti and Joey Rasdien. “Bunny Chow’ also stars the increasingly popular Kim Engelbrecht. It is produced by Kagiso Lediga and Leanne Callanan of Dog Pack Films, and Michelle Wheatley of Dv8 Films.
The film is co-produced by Film I Vast and Republiken Films in Sweden, and SABC2. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Ster-Kinekor Distribution, Magus Visual, Terraplane, and Ministry of Illusion (MOI) are also partners on the project.
The feature film will be released in South Africa at the end of March 2007.
Dv8 Films’ new sales entity, Deviant Selling, together with MTV Films Europe, are handling worldwide sales.
