The First Grader, co-produced by Videovision Entertainment, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival yesterday and also premiered at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival last week. The film has captured the hearts of critics and audiences. The film, shot in Kenya, is directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) stars Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo, Vusi Kunene, Tony Kgoroge and David Chege, written by South African born Emmy winner Ann Peacock, produced by David M. Thompson, Sam Feuer and Richard Harding and executive produced by Anant Singh, Helena Spring, Joe Oppeheimer and Norman Merry.
The First Grader, based on a true story, is set in a remote primary school in the Kenyan bush where hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied – even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. Moved by his passionate plea, head teacher Jane Obinchu, supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don’t want to waste a precious school place on such an old man.
The heavyweight industry journals, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have lauded the The First Grader. Variety reported that the film had an ‘enthusiastic, wet-eyed reception’ at Telluride and that it was “an effective, emotional uplift”. The Hollywood Reporter said the film was “one of the biggest crowd-pleasers at the Telluride Film Festival and that audiences will “embrace the film” and was a “perfect balance between humour and tragic gravity….certain to stir the hearts of audiences worldwide.” Toronto’s respected Globe and Mail newspaper predicted that The First Grader is a possible Oscar contender.
Executive Producer, Anant Singh said, “The screening of The First Grader at the Toronto Film Festival with the director, Justin Chadwick and lead stars Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo and myself in attendance, was a resounding success. It screened at the prestigious Elgin/Wintergarden Theatre, and received an enthusiastic standing ovation. It is very satisfying to see an African film embraced by Canadian and American audiences and we are optimistic that the film will have a strong life in these markets. We are delighted with the rollout of the film from Telluride and then onto Toronto and that additional screenings had to be added at both festivals due to the demand from audiences.”
The First Grader is a BBC Films and UK Film Council production in association with Videovision Entertainment, Lipsync and ARTE France. It is a Sixth Sense / Origin Pictures production directed by Justin Chadwick and stars Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, Vusi Kunene, Tony Kgoroge and David Chege. It is written by Ann Peacock, produced by David M. Thompson, Sam Feuer and Richard Harding and executive produced by Anant Singh, Helena Spring, Joe Oppeheimer and Norman Merry.
The film will be released at cinemas in South Africa early next year through United International Pictures.
