NRI's AIDS movie heads for s

September 22, 2004

IANS [TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 08:44:51 PM ]

JOHANNESBURG: A film produced by leading South African-Indian

filmmaker Anant Singh is the country's nomination for the 2005 Academy

Awards in the category of Best Foreign Language Picture.

Yesterday , South Africa's first full-length feature film in the

indigenous Zulu language, deals with the trials and tribulations of a

rural woman fighting HIV/AIDS.

The movie has been acclaimed at film festivals across the globe in

recent weeks and is drawing huge audiences locally.

" We are proud that Yesterday has been chosen to represent South Africa

at the s next year, " Singh said.

" Although we have had fantastic reactions to Yesterday in South Africa

and at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals, the

selection of the film for consideration is the first step in a

long process that will see it competing against films from a number of

other countries across the world.

" We hope that we will find success in this extremely competitive

category. "

Singh added that the selection of the film was " an achievement for the

Yesterday team, especially director Darrell Roodt, actress

Leleti Khumalo and all the talented cast and crew of the film. "

The film was made with support from the Mandela Foundation and

the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF).

Eddie Mbalo, chief executive of NFVF, was confident about the film's

chances at the s: " We are delighted to have backed the production

of an indigenous language film, which will be the country's entry for

the 2005 Academy Awards.

" The selection of Yesterday for consideration is indeed

encouraging for local cinema. We believe in the film and its potential

to bring an home to South Africa. "

" We need films like Yesterday , which tell us about the challenges and

about difficulties but more than that, it is about hope. Mandela has

been full of praise for this film because he sees the film as an

important way of fighting discrimination and stigma that is attached

to the AIDS pandemic, " said , chief executive of the

Mandela Foundation.

Recommended Posts