Durban: Videovision Entertainment’s Sarafina!, the vibrant musical motion picture which was created by Mbongeni Ngema and directed by Darrell James Roodt, won the coveted Audience Prize of the Durban Film Festival tonight. The film, which was featured at the 27th edition of the Festival played to capacity audiences at official Festival venues, i.e. eKhaya Centre in Kwa Mashu, Ster Kinekor Musgrave and the Stable Theatre in Durban. The Audience Prize is awarded to the most popular film of the Festival. Sarafina! was also released nationally on 15 June to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising of 16 June 1976, which was the inspiration for the film.
Producer of Sarafina!, Anant Singh commented, “We are thrilled that Sarafina! has won the Audience Prize of the Durban International Film Festival. The version shown at the Festival is Digitally Enhanced Director’s Cut of Sarafina! which we released as a tribute to 16 June 1976. The Audience Prize is a strong testament to the popularity of the film which was initially released in 1992. Sarafina! has truly stood the test of time.”
Sarafina! is currently on release in South Africa, playing at 41 cinemas across the country. Sarafina! which was created by acclaimed playwright, Mbongeni Ngema, is directed by Darrell James Roodt and stars Leleti Khumalo, Mbongeni Ngema, John Kani, Robert Whitehead and Miriam Makeba with Oscar winner, Whoopi Goldberg. Sarafina! is produced by Anant Singh with Associate Producers Sanjeev Singh and Helena Spring and is Executive Produced by Sudhir Pragjee.
Murderball, the gripping feature about quadriplegics who play full-contact rugby in Mad Max-style wheelchairs – overcoming unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece received a Special Mention Jury Award. Murderball was acquired for distribution in South Africa by Videovision Entertainment.
