Earlier this year, the South African film Shepherds and Butchers, directed by veteran movie maker Oliver Schmitz (Mapantsula), garnered a prestigious Panorama Audience award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Now, it’s making its South African debut at the kykNET Silwerskerm movie festival which kicks off in Cape Town on Wednesday, 24 August.
Shepherds and Butchers will be screened at the Bay Hotel’s Rotunda on Friday, 26 August at 16:30 while legendary local movie mogul Anant Singh, one of the film’s producers, will also visit the festival for the first time.
Inspired by a true-life story, and starring Oscar-nominated British actor Steve Coogan (Philomena) Shepherds and Butchers forms part of an impressive list of full-length films that benefitted from M-Net’s financial and creative assistance over the past year. “We are immensely proud of each of these films,” says Jan du Plessis, Director: M-Net Channels. “ Spanning a variety of genres, they bring different aspects of our society to life and the production quality of each of the films is of the highest standard. It’s also wonderful to be able to screen films crafted by experienced film makers, such as Shepherds and Butchers, alongside exciting work of first-time film local film makers.”
Sheperds and Butchers, which is set in the politically turbulent 1980s, tells the story of a lawyer (Coogan)who takes on a case of a 19-year-old prison guard who is traumatised by the executions he has witnessed – and then guns down seven men himself.
While everyone believes that the Leon Labuschagne, played by Garion Dowds, deserves nothing but the gallows, the compassionate defense lawyer Johan Webber intelligently explores and dissects the country’s conflicting views on capital punishment.
The cast also includes Andrea Riseborough, Deon Lotz, Marcel van Heerden, Eduan van Jaarsveldt and Nicola Hanekom.
But there's more...
But there is more to KykNet's Silwerskermfees than just award-winning movies. You can get direct access to M-Net's top brass during panel discussions on Friday 26 August at The Bay Hotel.
M-Net Local Content panel - 12:00
A panel consisting of Yolisa Phahle (CEO - M-Net), Karen Meiring (Director - KykNet Channels), Jan Du Plessis (Director - M-Net Channels), Nkateko Mabaso (Director - Local Entertainment Channels) and Ricky Human (Head: Independant Film and Development) will answer all your questions around M-Net's local content offerings.
M-Net is South Africa’s largest pay-TV funder of local content. The broadcaster’s demand covers a variety of genres in various official languages. However, getting a programme on air or a film onto screens, can become an arduous process. This is a unique opportunity for the industry to participate in direct dialogue with the top management of M-Net’s content hub. How do you get your pitch read by the right people? What does the broadcaster expect to see in your project pack? What is the difference between a commission, a pre-sale and a licensing contract? Our panel is here to answer all your incisive questions.
Blitz Pitch - 18:45
There is also the opportunity to take part in our Blitz Pitch lottery. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for any writer or producer! If you think you have the next big South African film or TV idea, this is your chance to pitch it to M-Net’s top management. The Blitz Pitch is a very special lottery. Get your lucky number at the door. If your number is drawn, you get three minutes to pitch your idea to our panel. Three lucky finalists will secure themselves a seat at our glamorous awards evening, where the winner of the Blitz Pitch and their prize will be announced.
To find out more about what's happening at Silwerskermfees 2016, visit www.kyknet.tv or join the conversation on facebook (www.facebook.com/silwerskermfees), Twitter (@silwerskermfees) and Instagram (@silwerskermfees2016) using #Silwerskermfees2016.