Red Dust, the gripping Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) suspense drama was awarded a Special Jury Award and the Silver Peacock at the 36th International Film Festival of India in Goa on Sunday, 4 December. Director, Tom Hooper was bestowed with the award for the efficient use of the cinematic language in his first feature film and for dealing with great understanding, the issue of human rights. The film which is a co-production between BBC Films and Distant Horizon, is produced by Anant Singh, Helena Spring, David Thompson and Ruth Caleb and stars two-time Oscar Winner, Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Love Actually, Dirty Pretty Things) and Jamie Bartlett.
Since its World Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last year, Red Dust has been featured in a number of high profile festivals around the world, including the Cape Town World Cinema Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival, the Miami International Film Festival where it won the prestigious Audience Prize. the Bangkok Film Festival, Palm Springs Film Festival and the Human Rights Nights Film Festival in Bologna Italy.
Producer of Red Dust, Anant Singh commented, “We are delighted with the recognition that both the film and Tom Hooper have received from the International Film Festival of India. This award is certainly an achievement for Tom and it is also 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”.
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.
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.
