To mark the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, Anant Singh, Leleti Khumalo and Videovision Entertainment have announced the release of a digitally remastered IMAX version of Mbongeni Ngema’s SARAFINA! on 5 June, in honour of the courageous young people who marched on 16 June 1976 in protest against apartheid.
SARAFINA! was acclaimed around the world and became the first South African film selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection, where it had its world premiere on 11 May 1992 and received a twenty-minute standing ovation.
16 June 1976 was a pivotal moment in the anti-apartheid struggle where the youth of Soweto became agents of change by accelerating the struggle. It was their courage that inspired the creation of SARAFINA!
The digitally remastered IMAX version features footage that was not in the original version and includes the heartwarming song, ‘Thank You Mama’, performed by Miriam Makeba and Leleti Khumalo.
Producer, Anant Singh commented, “SARAFINA! has, and will always be, a timeless tribute to salute the brave youth of 1976. The film is a testament to their courage. The film and Leleti Khumalo’s powerful performance, will continue to inspire the youth of today and generations to come.” Singh added, “It’s amazing that 34 years have passed since the World Premiere in Cannes where the film was lauded by critics and the audience.”
Leleti Khumalo said, “The youth of 1976 were my role models and they inspired my performance as the Sarafina character both on stage and in the film. I am honoured to have immortalised their courage in the film. SARAFINA! has become part of South Africa’s culture and I am pleased to that the film will be released in June to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of 16 June 1976. It was an amazing experience to take SARAFINA! to Cannes in 1992 where it was a big hit.”
SARAFINA! will be released for one week at selected show times at the following cinemas: Baywest, Blue Route, Brooklyn, CapeGate, Cedar Square, Cresta, Eastgate, Irene, Mall of Africa, Mooi River, Rosebank Nouveau, Sandton, Somerset, SunCoast CineCentre, The Grove, Vaal, V&A and Watercrest. The tickets to experience Sarafina at Ster Kinekor cinemas will be at a reduced ticket price of R 50.00 each to make it affordable for the public.
The World Premiere in Cannes in 1992 acted as a springboard for the South African film industry, pushing it to global prominence as the country tended towards democracy which was achieved two years later.
SARAFINA! is an Anant Singh presentation of a Distant Horizon and Ideal Films production in association with Videovision Entertainment, Les Films Ariane, Vanguard Films and the BBC of a Darrell James Roodt film starring Whoopi Goldberg, John Kani, Mbongeni Ngema and introducing Leleti Khumalo as Sarafina. Based on the play ‘Sarafina!’ by Mbongeni Ngema. Music and Lyrics by Mbongeni Ngema; Additional Songs by Hugh Masekela; Music Score Composed by Stanley Myers; Choreography by Michael Peters and Mbongeni Ngema; Edited by Peter Hollywood and Sarah Thomas; Production Designer David Barkham; Director of Photography Mark Vicente; Executive Producers Kirk D’Amico, Sudhir Pragjee, Helena Spring, Sanjeev Singh; Written by William Nicholson and Mbongeni Ngema; Producer for BBC David Thompson; Produced by Anant Singh; Directed by Darrell James Roodt.
SARAFINA! is a Videovision Entertainment release through United International Pictures (Africa).
