South African filmmaker Ettiene Kallos received a Global Filmmaking Award from the Sundance Institute and Mahindra at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in the US this week in recognition of his visionary project.
The Global Filmmaking awards are given in recognition and support of emerging independent filmmakers from around the world, and were presented at a private ceremony at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Set during the annual corn harvest in the Free State, Vrystaat, to be directed by Kallos and produced by Izidore Codron, explores the rites of passage into manhood for a new generation as they navigate identity and sexuality within the fractured realm of post-Colonial Africa.
Kallos has an MFA in film directing from NYU. His work has screened at festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, and Telluride. His film Eersgeborene was the first Afrikaans-language film to be awarded a Lion for Best Short Film at the 2009 Venice Film Festival. He recently developed Vrystaat at the Cannes Cinefondation Residence programme in Paris.
National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) acting CEO Karen Son said the NFVF is thrilled to receive such exciting news about one of South Africa’s stars.
“We thank the Sundance Institute and Mahindra for honouring and recognising South Africa’s talent. There is no higher honour than having the global world recognize young talent. This is an encouragement to other filmmakers to believe in their talents. Congratulations to Etienne for making the country proud,’ said Son.
Other Sundance Institute/Mahindra Global Filmmaking award winners are Ariel Kleiman, Partisan from Australia; Dominga Sotomayor, Late To Die Young from Chile; and Shonali Bose, Margarita With A Straw from India.
“The Sundance Institute/Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award is part of a multifaceted collaboration that exemplifies a commitment to and support of world cinema by the Mahindra Group, one of the largest companies in India known throughout the world for its dedication to excellence and to social responsibility, and the nonprofit Sundance Institute, one of the world’s leading cultural organizations.’
The Sundance Institute and Mahindra announced that each of the four winning filmmakers will receive a cash award of $10,000, attendance at the Sundance Film Festival for targeted industry and creative meetings, year-round mentoring from Institute staff and creative advisors, participation in a Feature Film Program Lab, and ongoing creative and strategic support.
For more information on the Sundance Institute and Mahindra visit www.sundance.org and www.mahindra.com or email Sarah Eaton on
sarah_eaton@sundance.org.
