South African Film Festival
The fifth annual South African Film Festival ANZ will be a hybrid festival and will take place from 4 May to 31 May 2023 in Sydney and Melbourne.
Jewish South African/Australian SAFF Director, Claire Jankelson, said that net proceeds from the hybrid festival will support Education Without Borders (EWB).
EWB has been providing life-changing educational programmes for students from under-resourced and socially disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape of South Africa since 2002.
From hard-hitting documentaries to heart-warming short films, blockbuster features to personal stories – this year’s films give audiences unique insight into the creativity, strength and richness of South African cultures and languages.
The opening film Music is My Life is a compelling documentary about the incomparable Joseph Shabalala, founder of the wildly popular a-cappella singing and dance troupe, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The music, which has won multiple international awards, draws heavily on Zulu harmonies (isicathamiya and mbube) resonant of Shabalala’s traditional roots. The film charts Shabalala’s rise from humble farm origins to international stardom following his collaboration with Paul Simon on the Graceland album. Shabalala’s art was totally bound up with his life; his visions and dreams deeply influenced his work. Later on, his deep spirituality found expression in religious music. This is an uplifting film about a South African icon of extraordinary talent and charisma.
Director Mpumi Mbele said: “Having spent some time with Dr. Joseph Shabalala before his passing and getting to know him I feel it is very important to tell his story and the impact he and his music have had around the world and the legacy he has left behind. Music is My Life will reveal the pivotal milestones in Joseph Shabalala’s life, from the 1940s to the present day, with the use of interviews, archival footage and photographs. We will also film recreations that aim to illustrate some of the more moving moments in this compelling man’s story. We have selected ten songs from Joseph’s extensive recording library that significantly embody some of the many experiences he has had, some having been harsh and painful life lessons and some life-affirming spiritual ones. We will also include some new songs that he recorded at the end of his life that have never been heard before.
Director ‘SUPA’ is an award-winning film director who directed tv commercials for brands such as Converse, MTV Base and Channel O, Legit, Nikon, DSTV and music videos for artists like Thandiswa Mazwai and Tumi. His work has won awards, such as SAMA, Channel O and Loeries.
The full program can be viewed at saff.org.au
