DO read about THEMBA – A boy called Hope
| Production Company: | Zeitsprung Entertainment, Rheingold Films. DO Productions |
|---|---|
| With: | Nat ‘Junior’ Singo, Simphiwe Dana, Patrick Mofokeng, Kagiso Motsei, Emmanuel Soqinase, Melabantu Maxhama |
| Producers: | Michael Souvignier, Ica Souvignier, Josef Steinberger, Brigid Olën, Marlow de Mardt |
| Director: | Stefanie Sycholt |
| DOP: | Egon Werdin |
| Format: | 16mm & 35mm |
| Genre: | Coming of Age Drama |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Awards: |  Diploma for contribution by the Young Audiences of the Festival, Polish Film Festival CIFEJ Prize - 29th Annual Rimouski International Festival of Youth Cinema, Canada Aichi Cinema & Theatre Association Award - Aichi International Women’s Film Festival, Japan Grand Prix for Best Film, & a Special Mention from the International Youth Jury - Ciné-Jeune Festival, France Audience Award for Best Film - Bermuda International Film Festival Honorary Award 2011 - Cinema for Peace UNICEF Child Rights Award for Film Award Premio Scuole (Schools Award) - XXX African Film Festival of Verona Audience Award, World Cinema - 33rd Mill Valley Film Festival Jugend Filmpreis - Fünfseen Film Festival Golden Dhow - Zanzibar International Film Festival Bernhard Wicki Prize & DGB Film Award - 21st International Filmfest Emden-Norderley |
| Description: | THEMBA is an inspiring and beautifully filmed original drama set predominantly in the spectacular Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is a moving story of a young Xhosa boy, who like so many boys the world over, dreams of following in the footsteps of his heroes and becoming a football star. Themba breathes and lives soccer but the reality in the rural round-hut village he calls home is very different from the life he dreams of. THEMBA’s community is ravaged by unemployment, poverty and HIV. He has to pursue his dreams by calling on his own endurance, courage and self-belief. On his road to self-discovery he finds out how pain, shame and prejudice can be temporary. THEMBA escapes a life of hardship and desperation to achieve footballing success at the highest level but his triumph is also a personal one, as he learns that illness can be managed and a normal life lived. Themba is much more than a soccer film, it’s a universal message of hope. For trailer and more – see www.thembathemovie.com |