VSAFF gala opening film Material and closing film Little One each won awards over the weekend at the 7th annual South African Film and Television Awards in Midrand.
Material, a humorous and emotional look at the struggles of a Muslim family facing the modern world, walked away with five Golden Horns, as the South African Oscars are known.
It won for best feature film, best director (Craig Freimond), best actor (Riaad Moosa, pictured), best supporting actor (Vincent Ebrahim) and best sound designer.
Little One’s star Lindiwe Ndlovu took home best actress in a feature film and none other than Samuel L Jackson presented her award.
“Life is not a funny business,” reads the tag line from Material, a heartwarming film that we are proud to announce as part of our 2013 VSAFF Gala Opening.
Cassim is a young Muslim man working in his father’s textile store. It’s Ebrahim’s dream for Cassim to take over the shop, but Cassim has discovered a talent for stand-up comedy, and he soon finds himself in direct conflict with his father, his family and his community.
Material is a warm, funny and emotional look at the struggles of a Muslim family facing the modern world, exploring, destiny, responsibility and what family really means. The film is entirely set in the Indian enclave of Forsdburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. If you like Bend It Like Beckham, you’ll love Material!
Tickets for Material and the rest of the VSAFF films will go on sale later in March.
Nik Rabinowitz to appear in Vancouver in support of the VSAFF and EwB
Starring Cape Town stand-up comedian Riaad Moosa as Cassim, Material also features well-known South African comic Nik Rabinowitz, who we are thrilled to announce will be in Vancouver for the festival! Nik is going to perform a stand-up show on April 11 in support of Education without Borders, the festival’s presenting charity. Full details to come soon!
