Local film gets nod at film festival in London
The short flick has been nominated for Baobab award
A local short film, Nomfundo, has been nominated for the Baobab award at a film festival taking place in London.
The film, shot in Siswati and currently showing at the Africa Film Festival, is shortlisted from among 100 films that are being screened at the festival.
The festival started last Wednesday and ends on Sunday. The film, shot in Walkerville, south of Joburg, is jointly created and jointly produced by Dineo Lusenga and Sihle Hlophe.
Lusenga, who portrays the lead role of Nomfundo, said the whole team was excited to get an international nod.
“I actually feel very confident that we can win because it was chosen among many films from different countries,” said Lusenga.
The film is about a tormented and impulsive young woman who is pregnant with her first child. The film explores relationship dynamics between Nomfundo, her mother and her unborn baby.
“When the people Nomfundo holds close to her heart betray her, she makes an erratic decision of running away.”
Lusenga, who has an established profile on radio, said the script changed many times before they settled on the final one. The film premiered at the Black Star Film Festival in Philadelphia, US. It then went to Helsinki African Film Festival in Finland.
Recently, it was also screened at the Africa On Screen Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia; the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in San Francisco; and at Shnit Worldwide Film Festival in Cape Town.
Lusenga, who previously worked for Metro FM, also starred in Intersexions. The star, who has an honours degree in dramatic arts from Wits University, furthered and completed her studies at the New York Film Academy.