A personal story
An award winning feature documentary. The documentary won the
# Bronze Stallion at Fespaco
# Jury Prize for best long documentary at the Luxor African Film Festival
# Special Jury prize Hot Docs Toronto Film Festival
#Best film at Jozi Film Festival
#Images of Africa Award at Minneapolis and St Paul Int. FF
# 2019 Film Prize, African Studies Association
Not because she is sexy.
Not because she is extremely wise….
But because Thuli Mandonsela is courageous enough to take up the challenge, against powerful men in high positions in government, in her own political party. That is what makes Thuli Mandonsela extremely interesting.
She tries to protect the common rights of ordinary people. To have equal opportunities for schooling and work, for personal development and joy in life.
Thuli Mandonsela is Public Protector in South Africa, and investigates irregularities after a complaint. One famous case let to the discovery that the President used huge amounts of public money to transform his private mansion into a dream castle. Also known as the NKANDLA case. That let to huge media attention and turning on the pressure on her personal life.
Her dream is to: have all South Africans feel united and treated the same by law.
A law and constitution she has helped to create, when Nelson Mandela asked her to contribute to write the first democratic constitution of South Africa.
“Life has taught me that success is not for the smartest, strongest or fastest but those who get back on the saddle after each fall. #resilience”
– Madonsela on Twitter
Taking it personally
The development of this project hasn’t been easy and like our main character it is a question of perseverance. We have been developing the last two years, setting up the right contacts, in South Africa to assist us in this project. In getting in touch with Thuli and her team, as her schedule is highly occupied. In the fall 2015 we expect to start filming, the last year in office.
The film was pitched at several International Film Festivals, as Durban and Sheffield where several broadcasters that have shown interest in the film. We have talks with Al Jazeera English, BBC Storyville, and Arte.
World Premiére was at the highly respected Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
