Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile on Wednesday congratulated the team that produced the film “Layla Fourie” which has received an award at the Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin.
“South Africa has so many stories to share with the world, we are encouraged that our creative talents, both film makers and actors in this case, are giving voice to these tales,” said Mashatile in a statement.
Layla Fourie is a feature film by Berlin-based South African filmmaker Pia Marais. It played at the Berlinale International Film Festival where it won a Jury Special Mention award last weekend.
Mashatile said through the “Mzansi Golden Economy” strategy government would continue to give support to local film production for artists to showcase their work.
“It's through these efforts that we hope to create more jobs, and enhance skills within this crucial sector.”
The “Mzansi Golden Economy” strategy is a mechanism used by government to help local organisations in hosting arts and cultural events in communities.
South African actors playing in Layla Fourie include Terry Norton, Rapulana Seiphemo and 9-year-old Rapule Hendricks. It also features German actor August Diehl.
Layla Fourie is due for release in South Africa in July.
It is a film about a single black mother in post-apartheid South Africa. Tired of working odd jobs, Layla is pleased to land a steady position at a casino that uses lie detector tests to vet potential employees.
But while en route with her young son from Johannesburg to her new place of employment, her car hits a white man on a dark road.
Layla tries to take him to hospital but he dies on her back seat and when she goes to tell the police what happened, she panics and races off to dispose of the body at a garbage dump. - Sapa