The new South African film, iZulu Lami (My Secret Sky), directed by Durban-based Madoda Ncayiyana, has won the DIKALO Best Feature Film prize at the International Pan Africa Film Festival in Cannes, France.
Written by Julie Frederikse and Ncayiyana, the film is produced by Dv8 Films and co-produced by Vuleka Productions. It is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), public broadcaster SABC, Ster-Kinekor Distribution, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Rebate, INK and the French film fund, Fonds Images Afrique.
Izulu Lami follows the story of two young children who journey to the city from their rural homestead after their mother’s death. The film features a cast of mainly young children who had never acted professionally before, discovered through extensive casting by the director, from the townships, informal settlements of eThekwini Municipality to the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
Producer Jeremy Nathan of Dv8 Films describes Ncayiyana as extremely compassionate. “He has brought a charm to the story unseen in South African films.”
“We’re thrilled to see My Secret Sky being awarded”, said Ryan Haidarian, Head of New Ventures at the NFVF.
Head of Drama at SABC Kethiwe Ngcobo adds: “It is very exciting for the national broadcaster to be part of such authentic, beautiful work. It’s wonderful to see that the world appreciates this work too.”
Izulu Lami (My Secret Sky) will be distributed by Ster-Kinekor Distribution nationwide in South Africa starting in August 2009. The film will be available on DVD through Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment shortly thereafter. It will be broadcast on SABC towards the end of the year.
