Wendy Bednarz’s “Yellow Bus,” which follows a mother’s quest for justice after suffering an unthinkable tragedy, won the prize for best film at the Joburg Film Festival during an award ceremony Saturday night at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg.
The film, which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, is set in an unnamed Arabian Gulf country and follows an Indian family that endures a tragedy when their daughter is neglected on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat. Consumed by grief, mother Anada (Tannishtha Chatterjee) sets out to find the truth about who is accountable.
In its citation for the prize-winning film, the jury noted: “This film spoke to the core challenges faced by marginalized immigrants. The protagonist’s nuanced performance brought to light the resilience and determination needed when an individual faces a social-political system.”
Bednarz was not in attendance to accept the award.
The film, which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, is set in an unnamed Arabian Gulf country and follows an Indian family that endures a tragedy when their daughter is neglected on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat. Consumed by grief, mother Anada (Tannishtha Chatterjee) sets out to find the truth about who is accountable.
In its citation for the prize-winning film, the jury noted: “This film spoke to the core challenges faced by marginalized immigrants. The protagonist’s nuanced performance brought to light the resilience and determination needed when an individual faces a social-political system.”
Bednarz was not in attendance to accept the award.
- 3/3/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The nights were dark and stormy for many of the days on the five-week call sheet of “Death of a Whistleblower” but although South African director Ian Gabriel personally detests night shoots, he pushed through since his latest conspiracy thriller about cover-ups and a journalist’s dogged pursuit of the truth simply wouldn’t have felt the same shot in sunshine.
“There’s always been a struggle for the truth in South Africa — in the past, and now,” says Gabriel, who also came up with the story.
His taut topical political thriller, produced by Tshepiso Chikapa Phiri for Known Associates Entertainment, will have its African premiere on Feb. 28 at the Joburg Film Festival with a same-day release on Amazon’s Prime Video. Pic premiered at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival last fall.
Corporal Albert Loots tries to mask his anxiety in “Death of a Whistleblower.”
Starring Noxolo Dlamini, Irshaad Ally,...
“There’s always been a struggle for the truth in South Africa — in the past, and now,” says Gabriel, who also came up with the story.
His taut topical political thriller, produced by Tshepiso Chikapa Phiri for Known Associates Entertainment, will have its African premiere on Feb. 28 at the Joburg Film Festival with a same-day release on Amazon’s Prime Video. Pic premiered at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival last fall.
Corporal Albert Loots tries to mask his anxiety in “Death of a Whistleblower.”
Starring Noxolo Dlamini, Irshaad Ally,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Thinus Ferreira
- Variety Film + TV
Following on the heels of a successful post-pandemic reboot one year ago, the Joburg Film Festival kicks off its sixth edition on Feb. 27, with the glitzy capital of South Africa’s media and entertainment industry showcasing a selection of top talents from the host country and across the African continent.
The event opens with the world premiere of Gordon Main’s apartheid-era documentary “London Recruits,” a film that sheds light on a pivotal moment in the South African liberation struggle, and wraps March 3 with the premiere of “Snake,” a psychological thriller from veteran filmmaker Meg Rickards.
After returning to Johannesburg cinemas last year for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, this year’s edition looks to grow the event’s footprint, increasing the number of festival venues as well as the amount of films on offer, with a program that includes more than 60 titles from 30-plus countries.
The event opens with the world premiere of Gordon Main’s apartheid-era documentary “London Recruits,” a film that sheds light on a pivotal moment in the South African liberation struggle, and wraps March 3 with the premiere of “Snake,” a psychological thriller from veteran filmmaker Meg Rickards.
After returning to Johannesburg cinemas last year for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, this year’s edition looks to grow the event’s footprint, increasing the number of festival venues as well as the amount of films on offer, with a program that includes more than 60 titles from 30-plus countries.
- 2/26/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Death Of A Whistleblower
It might not be among the biggest name offerings at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, but Ian Gabriel’s Death Of A Whistleblower is definitely one of the highlights. Few countries can hold a candle to South Africa these days when it comes to thrillers, and this film finds its substance in the country’s own history. Set 37 years after the death of a young white woman (played by Inez Robertson) at a secret military testing facility, it follows Albert (Irshaad Ally), the soldier who leaks information about the cover up, and Luyanda (Noxolo Diamini), the journalidt who unexpectedly acquires it. As she pursues the story, hitman Mohale (Anthony Oseyemi) pursues her. There’s also some strong supporting work from S’Thandiwe Kgoroge as a corrupt major general whose activities in the present may be connected to the secrets of the past. Though Inez was delayed,...
It might not be among the biggest name offerings at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, but Ian Gabriel’s Death Of A Whistleblower is definitely one of the highlights. Few countries can hold a candle to South Africa these days when it comes to thrillers, and this film finds its substance in the country’s own history. Set 37 years after the death of a young white woman (played by Inez Robertson) at a secret military testing facility, it follows Albert (Irshaad Ally), the soldier who leaks information about the cover up, and Luyanda (Noxolo Diamini), the journalidt who unexpectedly acquires it. As she pursues the story, hitman Mohale (Anthony Oseyemi) pursues her. There’s also some strong supporting work from S’Thandiwe Kgoroge as a corrupt major general whose activities in the present may be connected to the secrets of the past. Though Inez was delayed,...
- 9/7/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Speakers include Guillermo del Toro, Ladj Ly, Nadine Labaki, Viggo Mortenson, Jeremy Thomas.
TIFF top brass have unveiled the bulk of the TIFF Industry Conference line-up with sessions and speakers including Spike Lee, Lucy Walker, AI and film, and African cinema and film industries.
The Conference is divided into six sections and encompasses Doc Day and the new Sloane science and technology project pitch initiative funded by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Public Understanding of Science and Technology programme.
Besides Lee and Walker, whose acquisition title Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa will premiere in TIFF Docs, speakers include Guillermo del Toro,...
TIFF top brass have unveiled the bulk of the TIFF Industry Conference line-up with sessions and speakers including Spike Lee, Lucy Walker, AI and film, and African cinema and film industries.
The Conference is divided into six sections and encompasses Doc Day and the new Sloane science and technology project pitch initiative funded by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Public Understanding of Science and Technology programme.
Besides Lee and Walker, whose acquisition title Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa will premiere in TIFF Docs, speakers include Guillermo del Toro,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
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