This is no work of fiction—this is as real as it gets. AFDA alumnus Adam Thal of Star Films is making waves in the film industry, and his journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
Last week, Adam, serving as executive producer, and his team from the South African feature film The Heart is a Muscle, directed by Imran Hamdulay, travelled to the Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin. Their dedication and talent paid off when the film won the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Prize.
Fresh off this incredible achievement, Adam packed his bags once more—this time for Los Angeles. He is set to attend the Academy Awards on March 2 as the executive producer of The Last Ranger, a South African short fiction film directed by Cindy Lee, which has been nominated for an Oscar.
Reflecting on the success of The Heart is a Muscle and The Last Ranger, Adam shared his excitement:
“From the streets of Berlin, where ‘The Heart is a Muscle’ won the Jury Prize in Panorama at Berlinale 75, to the bright lights of Hollywood, where ‘The Last Ranger’ is nominated for an Oscar, and I’m grateful to have been in attendance at both, it’s absolutely surreal and I’m totally living the dream! It’s clear that this journey is not just about one person or one film. It’s about the collective passion, creativity, and dedication of entire teams of people who work tirelessly to bring stories to life. I’m grateful to be part of this South African community, yes we are a small community but this proves that we do have a global voice and I celebrate not just our own achievements, but the hard work and commitment of every single person who has contributed to our films. This is what filmmaking is all about – collaboration, creativity, and the shared dream of telling stories that inspire and uplift us all. It also proves that if you put your heart to it you can do it, no matter where in the world you live! As RED says “Thanks to the filmmakers who decided good… wasn’t good enough!”
“I’m in awe of Imran Hamdulay as both a director and a human. To stand beside him as a producer and friend while he introduced the film to a sold-out screening at Berlinale was a huge privilege. Having a film at Berlinale has been a long-time dream of mine, and to see it come true is incredibly special. Working with executive producer Adam Thal and producer Khosi Dali was an added joy.
The Heart is a Muscle is a gentle, healing piece of cinema that features a career-defining performance from Keenan Arrison (AFDA alumnus). We can’t wait to share it with local audiences later this year.”
From Berlin to Hollywood, Adam Thal and the cast and crew from of these two films are proving that South African cinema is a force to be reckoned with.