The Star E-dition

‘District Six’ doccie wins top honour at France festival

ALYSSIA BIRJALAL alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za

DISTRICT Six Rising from the Dust,a documentary set in Cape Town, adds to its many accolades by bagging the Best Documentary honours, at the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival in France.

The documentary, a deeply personal story, examines the microcosm within the macrocosm and the legacy of intergenerational pain of the people forcibly removed from District Six.

It unpacks the art, history and social landscape of Cape Town’s most remembered district, and takes a personal look at dispossession and restitution, and the legacy of intergenerational loss within the context of South Africa’s current restitution process.

Filmmakers Weaam Williams and Nafia Kocks completed District Six Rising from the Dust towards the end of 2019.

“I decided to submit the final film to international film festivals during the 2020 lockdown period. The documentary since has been selected to participate in festivals and competitions in India, Turkey, Italy, the US, Australia and France,” said Williams.

She added District Six Rising from the Dust was not just a film about the past, but rather a film for the future of District Six.

The film also won at the Florence Film Award for Best Original Story in 2021; at the Nordic Aurora Award of Excellence, and had a jury special mention as Best SA Documentary at the Cape Town International Film Festival.

The trajectory of District Six Rising from the Dust, on the international circuit, has also stirred local interest.

“I am very happy that the film will screen on the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival global streaming platform for free for a period of five days, which means South Africans will be able to watch it,” she said.

The film will stream live from June 25 to 30.

LIFE

en-za

2021-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

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African News Agency