Liyana is the most beautiful thing at #DIFF2017

Durban - Visitors to the Durban International Film Festival (Diff) were among the first to get a look at a major new docu-animation, executive produced by none other than US actress Thandie Newton, which explores HIV and growing up as an orphan. Featuring the spectacular animation of Lagos-born Shofela Coker, it’s the sort of beautiful that doesn’t come around too often.

The film, which won the Documentary Award at the LA Film Festival last week, features the writing of local storyteller Gcina Mhlophe. Mhlophe organised workshops with orphaned children in Swaziland, who narrate the tale of Liyana, a brave heroine of their own creation realised in this unique format of a documentary animated film.