'Vaya' is set to represent SA when it is screened at the prestigious 67th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany next month. The film, which weaves together three stories of people who have been homeless, will become the latest SA film to be featured at the festival.
Vaya is directed by award-winning director Akin Omotoso and stars Mary Twala, Sihle Xaba, Zimkhitha Nyoka and Warren Masemola. The film's producer and writer Robbie Thorpe spoke of the honour it is to represent SA. He added that he and Akin would be flying to Berlin early next month to introduce the film at the festival. "To be selected for the Berlin Film Festival is a great honour. The festival is, in terms of the business of films, in the top four or five film festivals in the world. It brings together some of the world's most important players in the film industry. So, for our film to be shown on such a prestigious platform is humbling," Robbie said.
"The film got an incredible response at the Toronto Film Festival. We had three sold-out screenings in massive cinemas and our director Akin was signed by a Hollywood agency because they had seen the film. We hope that a similar audience will enjoy the film this time, Robbie said.
The festival will also feature South African director John Trengove's film The Wound, which earlier this month made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, America. The film depicts the story of Kwanda, a gay factory worker, who travels from the city to the rural area of his family's origin to be circumcised in a traditional rites-of-passage ceremony.
The Berlin Film Festival which is one of the largest independent festivals in Europe, will run from 9 to 19 February. Vaya is expected to be released to local cinemas later this year.