Comedies are present in abundance on this year’s kykNET Silwerskerm Festival programme, with four of the six movies promising to have audiences in stitches. But there are also two dramas to look out for, while a thriller will have viewers gasping for breath.
See the full list of films at the 12th kykNET Silwerskerm Festival this year:
Feature Films
Die dekonstruksie van Retta Blom is based on Zelda Bezuidenhout’s debut chick-lit novel. Henriëtta Gryffenberg adapted it for the big screen. This drama offers a glimpse into the life of Retta (Antoinette Louw), a housewife who had been content for many years with her role as a mother of two boys, and as a wife to Tobias. The film depicts her deconstruction as she starts questioning the so-called certainties of her life.
Annelize Frost makes her feature film directorial debut with the Showmax Original romcom Gebokste Liefde. Devil’s Peak’s Tarryn Wyngaard stars as divorced single mom, Suma-Lee. When she’s fired from her job as a fashion designer, she joins a boxing gym and finally finds the courage to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants. Model Roché Killian, who kykNET viewers will remember from the first season of the reality series Plaasjapie, plays her ex-husband, while Jandré le Roux is her coach.
For Stiaan Smith, this year’s Silwerskerm Festival symbolises the completion of a circle. After winning an award for best screenplay for the short film Beurtkrag at the 2015 festival, he returns in 2024 as screenwriter and director of the Showmax Original murder mystery, Die Bloedhonde. Elani Dekker, who acted opposite Stiaan in Toorbos, stars as Katrien, whose holiday with her family is cut short by an unexplained death in a resort. Katrien suspects the beloved local dominee, played by the legendary Tobie Cronjé, as the evildoer … Waldemar Schultz and Anrich Herbst are also in the cast of this comedy-drama.
Som van twee, another comedy, sees Hotel actress Simoné Pretorius behind the cameras as both director and screenwriter. Louw Venter portrays Henk, a psychologist who wants to give up on life after his wife’s death. He struggles to communicate with his son Renier (Adriaan Havenga). At his wife’s funeral, Henk admits to an old misdemeanour: leaking the matric maths paper to the entire Barberton. His confession results in a dramatic domino effect of comical adventures … The movie has a star-studded cast that also includes James Borthwick, Greteli de Swardt, Righard van Jaarsveld and Pierre Breytenbach. Adriaan also proved himself to be a star at the kykNET Fiëstas earlier this year, where he received two awards.
The fourth comedy that will compete for best feature film is Die Kwiksilwers. It features an assembly of doyennes in the Afrikaans film and TV industry. Lida Botha portrays Elsabé Marais, a widow in her eighties whose three friends (June van Merch, Susanne Beyers and Theresa Sedras) convince her to join them on a hilarious road trip through the Karoo to experience a meteoric shower in Sutherland.
Quanita Adams is not only the screenwriter and director of Hier.Na; she also stars in the drama. The movie addresses issues that affect communities and their faith, and tells the story of the Burgess clan, an open-minded family from Cape Town’s northern suburbs. Quanita portrays Juleigha, who prefers to be called Julie and describes herself as a “non-practising Muslim”. When she suddenly succumbs to a heart attack, her secular husband, Eric (David Isaacs), grants their daughter Leila (Shiefaa Hendricks) her wish to arrange a Muslim funeral together with Julie’s mother Sumaya (June van Merch). Eric, Leila, Sumaya and Julie’s son, Deen (Lyle October), now have to navigate the conflicts and undercurrents of many years in one single stormy day to secure a funeral before sunset, as required by Muslim tradition.
Multi-award-winning theatre, TV and film director Jaco Bouwer’s horror film Breathing In, set during the Anlo Boer War, has its debut at this year’s festival – outside the framework of the festival competition. In Breathing In a gravely wounded Boer general who is nursed by a mysterious traditional healer and her out worldly daughter, has to face a far greater danger than the English soldiers …
Short Films
Promising new and established filmmakers are responsible for eight captivating short films in various genres at the Silwerskerm Festival. Several famous and award-winning actors are included in the casts.
“Pop, skiet en donder” is the catchphrase on the poster of Johann Vermaak’s short film Die groot twis. It is characterised by a delightful retro approach and features puppets created by Marelize Viljoen. The film provides a satirical view on The Great Trek and with its absurd perspective on historical figures and events, entertainment is guaranteed.
Die skynwerper, a psychological drama by Dewet van Rooyen and Linsen Loots, tells the story of Nelis (Ben Albertyn) who is caught up in his dark past. He lives in isolation with his embittered, paralysed father (Dawid Minnaar).
After an incident at his work that leads to his dismissal, he auditions for a part in a reality series, Die skynwerper. But something is not quite right. After an unsuccessful audition, Nelis becomes suspicious of Martin Minnaar (Gérard Rudolf), the programme presenter who also is a psychological manipulator. Does he perhaps control Nelis’s reality from within the shadows?
Liewe Dudu, a comedy penned by Lydia Anne Stander, is about Dudu (Gugu Madlanbane), a sprightly beauty therapist who works at a stereotypical (cheap) day spa in Pretoria. During the annual inspection, Dudu’s day turns into complete chaos.
First, she shows up late for work, then she discovers a dead woman on the therapy bed. Fearful to be blamed, she moves the body with the help of her best friend Lerato (Millie Dintoe). Panic ensues when it dawns that the spa manager, Nina (Zetske van Pletzen), allowed her undertaker boyfriend Lappies (Jaco Muller), to temporarily store the body …
Marie se laaste dag is another comedy sure to elicit laughter. Lourensa Eckard (journalist and TV presenter) and theatre maker Mercy Kannemeyer combined their talents to produce this tale that is set in the period after the first democratic election in 1994.
Marie (Mandri Sunderland), the long-time secretary of the Minister of Mineral Resources, Hendrik van der Merwe (Deon Lotz), is tasked to arrange a meeting with the new Defense Minister, Mayihlome Khumalo (Dumisani Mbebe). Marie is quick to embrace the ideals of the New South Africa and, to help build a better country, she is even prepared to put her future in jeopardy. Or so she thinks!
Noise & Neighbours, a drama by Fraser du Toit, is a story about a bored little girl and a man who has given up all hope. Bolelo (Maliaka Adonis), daughter of a working single mom, spends her days alone. The grumpy Helmut (Tobie Cronjé) lives in a flat downstairs. But when Bolelo gets a piano as a birthday present, everything changes …
Zandélle Meyer’s O, Griet! Sy’s droog is described as a dramatic arts film. The artist Johan van der Merwe (Ugan Daniels) literally captured three women in separate framed paintings. Hanging next to one another on a wall, they can’t go return to the real world outside. Their only salvation is a new portrait of a girl wearing pearls, who possesses magic powers.
Ons, a dramatic thriller by Izel Bezuidenhout, features the married couple, Liezl (Izel Bezuidenhout) and Dirk (Jacques Adriaanse), whose relationship is shaken to the core by a series of revelations and a fatal incident. They are forced to face their deepest fears, insecurities and the consequences of their actions. Will their lives ever be the same again? Betrayal, misunderstanding, love, death and the meaning of life dominate the story.
Steek vir steek, a comedy by Jacqueline Viljoen and Jaco van Bosch, follows Rita (Susan Coetzer), an elderly woman, and the ladies of her knitting club who become aware that their retirement resort is up for sale. They collaborate to confront Gertjie (Andrew Jordaan), the young owner of the place.
With the help of the receptionist Koekie (Jacqueline Viljoen), Rita creates an online dating app to meet older men and raise funds so save the resort. She plans to take revenge on Gertjie’s grandfather, but things take a different turn when she develops feelings for Oupa Gert (Jurgen Helberg).
DOCUMENTARIES
A variety of topics are covered in the Silwerskerm Festival’s documentary short films.
By die soutwater, a documentary by Marguerite Venter and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, puts the spotlight on the other side of the V&A Waterfront in the heart of Cape Town, where a team of marine specialists, scientists and volunteers try to protect sea animals from tourists and an active commercial harbour. Still, despite their commitment, they witness the heartbreaking evidence of animals suffering as they persist in efforts to improve the relationship between people and animals.
Gerrie Janse van Vuuren’s documentary, Jan Bloed, focuses on the life of Alister Fortuin, a.k.a. Jan Bloed, a former member of the Fast Gun gang in Westbury, Johannesburg. He also is a former general of the notorious 26 gang. We see the place where he has committed his first murder, his “flower dens”, and we meet the people from his past. His son Vercaino is also in jail. Will father and son be reunited, or will their paths go in different directions?
Marisa van Tonder’s love for animals and a visit to De Doorns inspired Maak stil die geblaf. It follows a group of eleven-year-olds and their dogs in a farming community. As the children go about their lives in an environment marked by limited opportunities and violence close to home, they teach Tiger, Fluffy, Sussa and Lady to jump hurdles and navigate them through tunnels. In the process, they develop compassion for the animals while simultaneously discovering their own authentic voices.
Tussen die draad en die dropper takes viewers on a journey with photojournalist Willem van der Berg as he goes on a mission to track down the Karoo’s master fencer. Willem has a long and close friendship with Hans Jors, about whom he wrote an article in 2015. But now Hans is nowhere to be found and the farmer whose Karoo kingdom was fenced in by Hans, refuses to provide information. This is a story about people born on the wrong side of the fence. The side where you should keep your silence, disappear, and be forever powerless.
Vergeet van my is a musical documentary made by Dirkie van der Merwe and the actor Beer Adriaanse. When Beer’s parents cleaned out their storeroom in 2021, they discovered a forgotten crate containing photos, journals and plastic bags with tapes that were recorded during various music tours. The treasure trove highlights a series of events from an almost forgotten period in the South African music industry. Archive material spanning more than a decade during a revival of alternative Afrikaans music, unveil a story of discovery, coming of age and the dream to be part of something bigger. With music by Zinkplaat, Foto na Dans, eF-eL, Straatligkinders, Tidal Waves, New Holland any many more.
Shotguns Shorts
This year the Silwerskerm Festival reaps the rewards of the exciting shotguns shorts project with the first films, submitted by storytellers to kykNET last year, being released. Among the films are a musical and science fiction.
Bennie Fourie’s Baas se honne, which he also directed, is a dark comedy about the life and times of Gys (Albert Pretorius). His existence is a mess, and he finds himself in a dark corner. His boss Roelf (Carel Nel) burdens him with an unwanted dog that Gys must put out. But how can anyone with a heart kill an innocent, healthy dog? Gys has to come up with a plan as his choices are limited: his job, or the dog! SAFTA-awarded musician Peach van Pletzen created the soundtrack for this interesting Shotgun Short.
Adri Britz’s Deuntjie is the first musical comedy to be introduced at this year’s Silwerskerm Festival. It features that little voice in everybody’s head. In the case of Deuntjie (Anja Taljaard), a shy, obedient girl, her inner voice manifests as Vera (Daneel van der Walt), a larger-than-life diva accompanied by two backing vocalists, Moses and Jacob. They sing and causes havoc in poor Deuntjie’s head. Chaos ensues when Deuntjie can no longer distinguish between reality and the voices. Will she ever recover her own voice? Two other heavyweight acting talents in Deuntjie are Suidooster’s Dean Smith and Cindy Swanepoel who appeared in the Showmax series Koek.
Die boodskapper is a fantasy story produced by Rebecca Scher and directed by Paul Crafford. A model clay man comes to life when the tears of Jake (Liam Kruger), a young boy caught in a bitter conflict between his parents, falls on him. Jake has made the little fellow from modelling clay himself, but now the model is on a mission: He must find a discarded letter written by Jake’s dad Frank (Emile Hager), and see it delivered to Jake’s mom, Susan (Izaan du Toit).
In die verloop van, written by Philip Rademeyer and Emma Kotze, is an intimate film focusing on everyday life amidst a tragic personal loss. It tells the story of Jana (Emma Kotze) and Chris (Wilhelm van der Walt) who wake up after an eventful night. Both are caught up in their own thoughts, but something between them remains unsaid. As they go through their morning routine, the events of the previous evening are gradually revealed. Jana picked up injuries, a festive dinner was interrupted, and there are blood stains around the house. Despite tragedy, joy, love and loss, life continuous unabatedly.
Liminale is a science fiction drama from Hanneke Schutte’s pen. It explores the broken psyche of the depressed Mia (Inge Beckmann), who finds herself in a futuristic institution while being harassed by memories of her husband’s abuse. A psychiatrist, Dr Venter (Michele Burgers), introduces her to the groundbreaking new form of VR therapy, inspired by the work of psychologist Carl Jung. This unique method takes her into a surrealist liminal space, a dimension where her inner demons clash in a maze with uninhabited corners.
Selah, directed by the SAFTA-winner Brett Michael Innes, is a disturbing exploration of postnatal depression and the unvoiced challenges of new parents who struggle to cope. It is about a mother (Erica Wessels) who struggles with her colic baby. She finds herself unable to handle the harsh reality of motherhood. Determined to free herself emotionally, she decides to stop running away from her fears, feelings of guilt and her husband’s ever-present shadow. Mia eventually finds the strength to confront her own past, pathing the way to redemption and forgiveness.
The multi-award-winning director and cinematographer Jozua Malherbe creates a rich, immersive visual dream with Stilte, full of conflicting emotions around a poem by Hunter Kennedy about fatherhood and how we change over time yet remain the same. Hunter, the lyricist of Fokofpolisiekar and Die Heuwels Fantasties, reads the poem himself. This short film plays out of competition at the festival this year.
The 12th kykNET Silwerskerm Festival will be held from 28 to 31 August this year at the Bay Hotel and Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay.
More about Silwerskerm festival movies
After the festival, all the Silwerskerm films will find their way to screenings on kykNET, and later they will be available on Showmax.
For the complete Silwerskerm Festival programme, visit the festival’s website: www.silwerskermfees.co.za
