Red Dust, the gripping Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) suspense drama was awarded the coveted Audience Prize at the Miami International Film Festival. The film which stars two-time Oscar Winner, Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Love Actually, Dirty Pretty Things) and Jamie Bartlett will be released in South Africa on 6 May 2005.
Producer of Red Dust, Anant Singh commented, “We are delighted with the Audience Award from the Miami International Film Festival. This award is indicative of the impact the film has on its audience. Red Dust shows that through the TRC, South Africa was able to emerge victorious against the atrocities of apartheid, and establish a harmonious, peaceful country and we hope that Red Dust plays a role toward conflict resolution around the world”.
Red Dust is an intense, suspense drama set during South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings and explores its decisive struggle to heal the wounds of apartheid atrocities. The film masterfully blends powerful characters with serious political and ethical questions about oppression and healing. In the film, African National Congress Member of Parliament Alex Mpondo and human rights lawyer Sarah Barcant find their lives changed forever by a hearing in the small town of Smitsriver.
Red Dust had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year where it was lauded by critics. Canada’s national daily newspaper, The Globe And Mail declared, “Red Dust is masterfu, nuanced and engrossing,” while the Hollywood Reporter said, “The film serves as an example to all damaged peoples of how best to seek justice,” and Screen International called the film, “Powerful…superior in every way.”
Since its World Premiere in Toronto, Red Dust was featured in a number of high profile festivals around the world, including the Cape Town World Cinema Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival, the Bangkok Film Festival, Palm Springs Film Festival and the Human Rights Nights Film Festival in Bologna Italy.
Directed by Tom Hooper and written by Troy Kennedy-Martin (Italian Job, Bravo Two Zero), Red Dust is a Distant Horizon and BBC Films production in association with Videovision Entertainment and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd and is produced by Anant Singh, Helena Spring, David M. Thompson and Ruth Caleb and executive produced by Sanjeev Singh, Sudhir Pragjee and Joe Oppenheimer. Red Dust was shot in South Africa on location in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape and in Johannesburg.
Red Dust will be released in South Africa on 6 May 2005 by United International Pictures (South Africa) for Videovision Entertainment.
