Four AFDA alumni genre filmmakers are killing it this year, terrifying audiences worldwide, at local and international film festivals, in cinemas and on a range of different film streaming platforms.
Alumnus, Ryan Kruger’s feature film “Fried Barry”, which was originally made as a four minute short film in 2017, receiving over 30 international awards, is starting to enjoy similar success as a feature film.
The film, shot on a shoe-string budget has been selected to screen at festivals around the globe and is already picking up several awards: Three at the Rapid Lion Film Festival, including Best South African Film, Best Editing and Best Cinematography, Best Actor at the Fataspoa International Fantastic Film Festival and Best International Film at the Macabro Film Festival.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cZewr5nxLk
Alumnus Henk Pretorius’, known for writing and directing the South African feature films Leading Lady, Fanie Fourie’s Lobola and Bakgat, new film, “The Unfamiliar”, has broken the mould of territorial restrictions regarding independent films and has been rewarded with a North American distribution deal and global representation.
The horror film has been picked up for distribution by Lionsgate UK, Vertical Entertainment for North America and represented by Scoundrel Media, the genre label of Myriad Pictures for worldwide sales. “In the highly competitive world of filmmaking, a lot of people try to hold you down. The trick is not to listen to them, to focus on what you are authentically born to do and to keep pushing forward. Creating a film that will be seen by a global audience has been my vision since childhood.” says Henk.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD43OQnTMWU
AFDA Durban lecturer, film director, producer and AFDA Master of Arts (MA) graduate, Richard Green’s Masters degree outcome horror film, ‘Tokoloshe The Calling’, has been officially selected to screen at the Durban International Film Festival this year.
‘Tokoloshe: The Calling’, co-written and produced by AFDA Durban Head of Business Innovation and Technology School, Arish Sirkissoon and Richard was shot in Durban, South Africa. The film’s diverse cast includes AFDA alumni Shezi Sibongiseni and Angela Balkovic, AFDA Durban Registra Lloyd O’Connor and Head of Live Performance School Roel Twijnstra.
The film, renamed ‘Tokoloshe: An African Curse’ for the American market, was recently released on VOD in the USA. Sanjeev Singh, Videovision Entertainment’s Director of Distribution and Acquisition announced today the acquisition of Tokoloshe.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyVUE__HUVc
Alumnus Alastair Orr is no stranger to the horror film genre, having released the horror film, “From a House on Willow Street” in 2016. Now four years later, Alastair returns with his follow up film “Triggered”, which premiered at the London FrightFest 2020. Further good news for Alistair saw Samuel Goldwyn Films announce that the company has acquired North American rights to “Triggered”. The film is set for release in the USA in fall.
