South African Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has expressed his delight that a South African film has been selected for a screening at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film “Vaya” which tells the story of homeless people in Johannesburg was selected to screen at the 41st annual Toronto Festival in September.
Mthethwa said he was “pleased” that the film, directed by Akin Omotoso and produced by Robbie Thorpe, Rethabile Mothobi and Harriet Perlman had been recognised.
He said that the filmmakers deserved the recognition as, “This production is fully rooted in South African reality but also addresses notions of home and homelessness in a world that has come to be defined by movements and migrations. The film has as its backdrop and its stage the vast urban metropolis of Johannesburg and Soweto, and through this vantage point chooses to address important issues in the wider world.”
He said: “It is important that we continue to fly the South African flag at international film festivals and boldly tell the South African story with all its truths and ultimately its triumphs.”
“We congratulate the director, the producers and the cast of the film on their scheduled screening at the 41st annual Toronto International Film Festival and wish the Vaya team well as they take this feature to other parts of the world. We also look forward to viewing the film in South African cinemas soon,” said Mthethwa.
– African News Agency
