South African producer Anant Singh’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom premiered in Berlin, Germany on Tuesday 28 January, preceded by a benefit banquet which was held for the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Monday where popular international singer Katie Melua and Joy Denalane, a South African-German singer, performed.
Producer Singh, director Justin Chadwick, Idris Elba (who plays the role of Nelson Mandela), Zinzi Mandela (former President Mandela’s daughter) and Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, represented the film.
Since Berlin’s historic Zoo Palast cinema re-opened in November 2013, after a major renovation, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom was the first film to premiere there. German celebrities, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Federal Foreign Minister), and Oscar nominee Armin Mueller-Stahl, who starred in Singh’s production, The Long Run, formed part of the VIP contingent at the event.
“The reaction was amazing and the standing ovation all through the credits was incredible,’ said Singh. “We are proud to be working with (distributor) Senator Film in Germany and look forward to the opening tomorrow,’ he added.
In honour of the film, Makhenkesi Stofile, South African Ambassador to Germany and former Minister of Sport and Recreation, hosted a post-premiere reception at the South African Embassy in Berlin.
The film about the iconic late struggle hero has been dubbed in German, and is distributed by Berlin-based Senator Film. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom will be released across Germany on Thursday 30 January on 280 screens.
