MultiChoice and M-Net is rolling out the first local South African film, the Afrikaans romantic movie Droomdag [Dreamday], directly to DStv BoxOffice.
Droomdag, produced by Westel Films under the kykNET banner, is not going to the South African cinema circuit but is made available directly, and first, straight to DStv subscribers through the MultiChoice's DStv BoxOffice service from today, Monday 24 April.
In this sense Droomdag, now available on DStv's movie rental service, is making history as the first-ever exclusive release of a local South African film directly on DStv BoxOffice not following the normal distribution path from cinema to video rental to TV.
DStv subscribers can rent and watch Droomdag either online or through their PVRs. Droomdag was produced by Westel Films, the production company of Willie and Pieter Esterhuizen, with the assistance of M-Net and kykNET Films.
"We're honoured to premiere Droomdag exclusively on our BoxOffice service," says Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice general manager for content.
"In the past year Afrikaans local films have performed exceptionally well on our DStv BoxOffice service and the overwhelming number of rentals of films such as Vir Altyd, Vir die Voëls and As Jy Sing indicate that our customers love romantic dramas and comedy with a strong South African flavour."
Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity, said people who were crucial to the making of Droomdag and getting it on DStv BoxOffice were Jan du Plessis, director of M-Net channels she called "Mister Movies of South Africa" and Karen Meiring, director of kykNET channels "who support local films".
"We are extremely excited about this film produced by legends in the industry. It's a very special film, I had some tears in my eyes at the end, so beware. We hope that people will enjoy it."
"We think Droomdag will do very well on DStv BoxOffice. Romantic comedies and romantic dramas are the stuff that BoxOffice is made of and especially Afrikaans romantic films as well - there's a very dedicated audience," said Lani Lombard.
Droomdag is a romantic film aimed at a female audience. It tells the story of Tanya
Stark, played by Juanita de Villiers, a young woman who finally finds true love - with an unexpected and tragic twist.
Also in Droomdag are actresses Natania van Heerden and Sharleen Surtie-Richards, as
well as Greta Keet, Maki Mokitli, Keyuri Naidoo,
Adriana Faling and Leandry Smith.
Soapie star Marcus Miller from Egoli and Villa
Rosa fame is the guy who sweeps Droomdag’s heroine off her
feet. Other actors include Kaz McFadden, Thiart Li (also known as former Idols
SA contestant Shenay) as well as Neels
Clasen and Dambuza Nqumashe.
