Cape Town – The fifth annual Silwerskerm Festival has a great line-up with something for every moviegoer.
The local movie festival will be held in Camps Bay at the Bay Hotel from Wednesday 26 to Saturday 29 August.
Apart from the 15 short films making their debut at this year’s kykNET Silwerskerm Festival, and the ten feature films, there is also a very strong offering of existing films including documentaries.
Here are four doccies that are a must-see:
204: Getting Away with Murder
This is the shocking story behind the murder of Brett Kebble where "204" means a full and permanent indemnity from prosecution in exchange for truthful testimony. In this documentary, the three self-confessed killers, as well as Jackie Selebi, Glen Agliotti, Piet Byleveld, and the Kebble family, are interviewed, exploring a fascinating account of greed, corruption, fraud and murder. Exclusive first-hand accounts of the murder are included, and the belly of South Africa's dark underworld is revealed.
A Tribute to the Frontline States
A Tribute to the Frontline States is presented by the inimitable Shaka Sisulu, a child of exile himself, and grandson of renowned freedom fighters Walter and Albertina Sisulu. The film tracks three generations of Sisulu's through to their return from exile from the Frontline States. Illustrious liberation movement icons Thabo Mbeki, Kenneth Kaunda, Joachim Chissano and Ketumile Masire, detail how the Frontline States put themselves in jeopardy in this high-risk venture to secure South Africa’s Freedom.
Bettie
A personal portrait of the life of the artist Bettie Cilliers-Barnard. She was born in 1914 in Rustenburg and grew up on farm after which she went to college in Pretoria. Her several visits to Paris as a young freethinking artist culminated to her passion for art. Her career in art walks parallel to the golden era of a fast growing Pretoria and a politically complex South Africa. Her daughter, Jana Cilliers, and granddaughter Lika Berning takes the viewer on an intimate journey of Cillier-Barnard’s remarkable life and successful career.
(Jana Cilliers, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard and Lika Berning. Gallo Images)
The Shore Break
Two cousins from a rural community have opposing plans to develop their homeland on South Africa’s Wild Coast. Nonhle wants to preserve their traditional Pondo lifestyle while Madiba plans a bustling mining town. Meanwhile, their king and queen, who oppose the development, are deposed by the South African government.
Tickets for the kykNET Silwerskerm Festival 2015 are available at Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.za).