A short film written and directed by South African Jan-Hendrik Beetge, The Abyss Boys, has been nominated in the best short film category of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs), which take place on 10 April in Nigeria.
The film has also been accepted for the 17th Annual New York African Film Festival, the Athens International Film and Video Festival, and the Cannes Short Film Corner in May 2010.
Produced by Ten10film’s Rachel Young and Tendeka Matatu, The Abyss Boys was funded by: Focus Features as part of its Africa First 2009 initiative, Goethe Institute – Art in Africa, South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation, and I&J. It was shot in and around Cape Town and stars Travis Snyders, Moegammad Ja’Qoob Isaacs, and Brendon Daniels.
The film is set in the slums of a small fishing community on the Southern coast of South Africa, where the world of illegal abalone poaching has become so dangerous a life that a legendary ex diver decides to escape, wanting to save his rebellious young brother at the same time.
Jan-Hendrik Beetge, who has worked as a commercials director for three years, previously made the short film Triomfeer while still at film school before where he graduated cum laude.
Rachel Young has produced over 150 film commercials and stills campaigns for both the local and international clients. Her film credits include BBC’s Gourmet Girls and The Bird Cant Fly.
Tendeka Matatu is one South Africa’s most prolific feature film producers. His credits include the multi award-winning Max & Mona, Crazy Monkey, Footskating 101 and Jerusalema. Matatu is also involved in sales and distribution and his latest release, White Wedding, broke local box office records on its opening weekend.
