Oliver Schmitz's critically acclaimed Life, Above All won the Best South African Feature Film Award at this year's Durban International Film Festival. By Theresa Smith
The film jury highlighted the film's "universal resonance", calling it "beautifully filmed and masterfully edited".
Thirteen-year-old Khomotso Manyaka, who played the role of Chanda in the film, was named Best Actress for a "natural and touching performance that movingly portrayed the resilience, determination and integrity of her character".
Based on Allen Stratton's book Chanda's Secrets, the story is about a teenager's search for the truth about her baby sister's death and her mother's illness. The film has been picked up by Nu Metro for local distribution early in 2011.
Iranian The White Meadows, directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, won Best Feature. It was lauded by the jury as a "timeless and poetic narrative". "It is an enigmatic and poignant political allegory," said |the jury.
While The White Meadows has not been picked up for local distribution yet, locals will get a chance to watch the Indian film Peepli Live, which won Best First Feature and opens here on August 13. Directed by Anusha Rizvi, Peepli Live is a black comedy that tells the story of a poor man who decides to commit suicide in order for his family to survive.
Produced by Amir Khan, it is the first Indian film to be accepted for a screening at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Best Director Award went to Debra Granik for Winter's Bone (US) while Waste Land (UK/Brazil) was chosen as Best Documentary. In addition, patrons voted Waste Land the Audience Choice Best Film and it was also awarded the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award as the documentary that best reflects human rights issues.
