SA film wins award at PAFF

Morojele was already well known in the South African film industry as an actor and writer (Tsaba Tsaba in Going Up and Mr. Mahlatsi in Yizo Yizo and wrote scripts for Kelebone, Soul City, Generations and Isidingo) when he decided to enrol for a two-year degree in directing at the American Film Institute.

In his first year he made five films and submitted the first draft of Ubuntu's Wounds, a film that tells the story of one man's disappointment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He takes justice into his own hands when he meets the killer of his wife.

Ubuntu's Wounds won the prestigious Martin Ritt award an award (which was attached to funding) for the top script. "That was a start, but at the AFI students are expected to finance their own films," says Morojele. "We wanted to shoot on 35mm, so we had to continue raising money". The NFVF, which was already funding Morojele's studies, came to the rescue in the last funding cycle. "We believed the project had merit, in that it offered a fresh approach to a South African theme, and we had confidence it would have international appeal," says NFVF CEO Eddie Mbalo.

Mbalo's confidence was rewarded as further funding awards followed, and the best short film at the Pan African festival, and accolades at CineQuest in San Jose and Harvey Mudd College. The Rakumi, San Francisco, Calgary, Atlanta and Newport Beach festivals are in the line-up.

Both Morojele and the NFVF are looking for indications of international interest in South African films. "There seems to be great interest in South African stories, but primarily from people who know and who have been following South Africa's progress," says Morojele. "I would like to think that the political nature of the film is the main reason for the long and intense Q & A's that I have experienced after the screenings." He adds that people have asked all sorts of interesting questions from whether I\he thought the TRC process was a successful process to life in South Africa and the youth's take on South African politics.

"But the most important thing is Story," says Morojele. "You can have the most exotic cultural backdrop or the most dazzling camera shots, but without a compelling story no one will care for your film. That's what was drummed into us consistently over the two years at AFI. Story, story, story. The script for Ubuntu's Wounds went through many rewrites. Like all the other thesis films it was rigorously critiqued in class and had to go through an extensive Teacher-student developmental phase before it was allowed to start pre-production."

He is currently working on a South African film about corporate South Africa as well as two other films that are based in the USA. "Hollywood has taught me a lot and has shown me the ugly and difficult side of this business, he concludes. "It's all about perseverance. We were told that only 5% of the directors in my class will still be directing films in five years time - I just hope I am one of them."