The Mpumi "Supa" Mbele-directed biopic Music is My Life about Joseph Tshabalala has been chosen as South Africa's official Oscar entry for 2024's 96th Academy Awards with the NFVF that has once again submitted a film after snubbing the country's filmmakers last year with no entry.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) chose Music is My Life - Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as South Africa's official entry for the 96th Annual Academy Awards set for 10 March 2024 in Los Angeles.
Last year, for the first time in 15 years, the NFVF's secret selection committee courted controversy and angered South African filmmakers after it decided not to enter any of the submitted films, claiming that none of the films properly depicted their "marginalised communities".
To date the NFVF has refused to give any of the filmmakers any feedback on what it meant, what was allegedly specifically wrong with their films and how and what to improve.
This year four films made the shortlist and were evaluated by the group with Music Is My Life - Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo chosen as the official selection.
The biopic which was screened at the 2023 Joburg Film Festival at the start of the year as well as other international film festivals and was broadcast in August on SABC1, tells the story of the late Dr. Joseph Shabalala.
From his humble beginnings in rural KwaZulu-Natal until his death in 2020, Shabalala rose to international acclaim with his iconic band Ladysmith Black Mambazo and contributed to the success of Paul Simon's Graceland album.
The film was produced by Carolyn Carew over a period of half a decade inspired by an idea of director and filmmaker Mpumi "Supa" Mbele.
With the help of the Shabalala family archive, the film is an indelible collection of several never-before-seen recordings and frank conversations that help to illustrate Shabalala's illustrious life and career.
"It is always a great and privileged opportunity to have a South African film represent the country at the global industry's foremost awards," says Thobela Mayinje, acting NFVF CEO. "The fact that this particular film tells the authentic South African story of the iconic Dr. Shabalala is even more special".
