Two new local films produced by young filmmakers who have graduated from M-Net's Magic in Motion Academy, Wa Lepelle and Themba Lam, will be shown on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) this month on Saturdays, starting on Saturday, 8 June at 19:30.
During the week M-Net and MultiChoice held a cinema screening in Sandton, Johannesburg where Wa Lepelle and Themba Lam had a big screen premiere.
Wa Lepelle on Saturday, 8 June at 19:30 is the story of a nurse who loses her little sister to a forbidden river and is forced to return 20 years later when her daughter is also taken.
Themba Lam revolves around Mike, who pays for his lover Fezeka’s final year of studies. Fezeka becomes a high-flying engineer and supports Mike who is now unemployed. The movie delves into money, class and status.
To date, 58 students have been trained by M-Net's Magic in Motion film academy since it started in 2014 and 15 local films produced by the academy's interns have been broadcast on Mzansi Magic.
"Like many incredible works
of art, TV shows or movies, it often starts out with a dream. We dreamt of
using our experience as Africa’s most-loved storyteller to empower the next
generation of Africa’s storytellers, by practically developing their skills in
the film and TV industry," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment.
"Beyond the entertainment value, it’s rewarding to see how our investments in infrastructure, technology and skills development are empowering the next generation by harnessing the emerging talent of the youth and enabling them to achieve their goals."
Some Magic in Motion interns have now started their own production companies, for instance Eccentric Circus, that was started
by Xolani Nhlapho, Neo Sibiya and Thabo Mashaila who were part of the Magic in Motion class of 2016.
"Last year, our company Eccentric Circus was kickstarted through the
MultiChoice Group’s Enterprise Development Trust. Our vision as a company is to
tell stories about young black people trying to navigate post-democratic South
Africa’s changing landscape," says Neo Sibiya, the writer of Themba Lam, that was produced by Eccentric Circus.
Actor Ben Kgosimore
says that "Working with these graduates was incredible. They were very
professional. Every one of them was truly amazing."
