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National Film and Video Foundation selects kykNET movie Old Righteous Blues as South Africa's entry to the 2025 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category. It's set in Robertson, Western Cape, and follows Hantjie who tries to restore the once-glorious Old Righteous Blues Christmas Choir Band (Kerskoor) to its former glory amidst a bitter feud with a rival choir. >>

TVSA Team
11 Oct 2024 15:46

The Top 11 finalists in the category are going to be announced on 17 December 2024 and the Top 5, who go through the ceremony, will be announced on 17 January 2025.

The film was released at kykNET's Silwerskerm Festival in 2023 and it's written by Carol Shore, who describes it as a passion project of over the past 30 years.

The biz:

It was distributed by Indigenous Film Distribution and pre-sold to KykNet.

The trailer:

Ayden Croy (Arendsvlei, Lioness) plays Hantjie and Megan Saaiman (Arendsvlei, Die Sentrum) plays the love of his life Risi, who happens to be the daughter of the rival choir.

Also in the cast are Kevin Smith, Simon Bruinders, Euodia Sampson and Ivan Abrahams.

Here's more on the scenario:

For 20 years, street battles ensued, families were torn apart, and loyalties were tested as the two rival bands claimed ownership of the town’s Kerskoor with destructive and violent consequences.

This from director Muneera Sallies:

“It is an intense glimpse into the life of a young man, a family, and a community.

"More than that it is an intense glimpse into a journey and into the heart of brotherhood, tapping into immense stores of pain, love, dreams, and courage.

"I was drawn to this project from the very first moment I had first picked up the script. I was intrigued and captivated by the characters and their stories within this little community, so much so that I immediately decided to visit and experience the streets of Bo-Dorp Robertson.”