90th BIRTHDAY FILM TRIBUTE TO MADIBA ON SABC 2

Viva Madiba: A Hero For All Seasons, a feature length film produced by Anant Singh and Videovision Entertainment as a 90th Birthday Tribute to former president, Nelson Mandela, will have its World Premiere when it is broadcast on Friday, 18 July 2008 on SABC 2 at 21h00.

Viva Madiba: A Hero For All Seasons is a celebration of Nelson Mandela’s epic life and his status as an international icon. In this, the year of his 90th birthday, he remains a man at the centre of attention, not only in South Africa, but around the world as a moral leader, an elder statesman and an exceptional human being.

Viva Madiba: A Hero For All Seasons takes one on a journey behind the headlines and away from the public eye and looks at Madiba as a loyal friend, a dependable comrade, a trusted confidant, a respected mentor, and a man who has touched and transformed countless lives. For the first time his complete story is being told – a life of struggle, humanity, destiny and greatness is recalled and celebrated by those who knew him best and who worked with him in the quest to break the chains of oppression, taking us beyond the political and into the personal. The programme features exclusive interviews with politicians, close friends and comrades of Madiba, among whom are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Oliver Tambo, George Bizos, Ahmed Kathrada, Pik Botha, Dorothy Masuka, Nthato Motlana, Cyril Ramaphosa, Helen Suzman, Zolani Mkiva, Jessie Duarte, Francois Pienaar, Sydney Kentridge, Mac Maharaj, Christo Brand and Gill Marcus.

Producer Anant Singh commented, “We are thrilled to have made this special tribute to Madiba for his 90th Birthday and our thanks to the SABC for making a special effort to broadcast it on his birthday. This is our 90th Birthday present to Madiba. Viva Madiba: A Hero For All Seasons tells Madiba’s story and as a South African it makes me very proud to have him as a friend and mentor and to be able to do this. We wish him a Happy 90th Birthday and a Happy Anniversary to Graca and Madiba.”

Viva Madiba: A Hero For All Seasons is a Videovision Entertainment production in association with the SABC, Globalvision Media and Distant Horizon. It is produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring, Executive Produced by Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh with Danny Schechter as Consulting Director and is Edited and Directed by Catherine Meyburgh.