South Africa's rising star wins BIG at Sundance Film Festival

The Global Filmmaking award is given in recognition and support of emerging independent filmmakers from around the world. The awards were presented yesterday at a private ceremony at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, which is currently taking place in Park City, Utah.

"The NFVF is thrilled to receive such exciting news about one of Mzansi's stars. We thank the Sundance Institute and Mahindra for honouring and recognizing South Africa's talent. There is no higher honour than having the global world recognize young talent. This is an encouragement to other filmmakers to believe in their projects. Congratulations to Etienne for making the country proud," said Karen Son NFVF Acting CEO.

Set during the annual corn harvest in the Free State, Vrystaat, to be directed by Etienne Kallos and produced Izidore Codron, explores the rites of passage into manhood for a new generation as they navigate identity and sexuality within the fractured realm of post-Colonial Africa.

Etienne Kallos is a South African filmmaker with an MFA in film directing from NYU. His work has screened at festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, and Telluride. His film Eersgeborene was the first Afrikaans-language film to be awarded a Lion for Best Short Film at the 2009 Venice Film Festival. He recently developed Vrystaat at the Cannes Cinefondation Residence program in Paris.

Other Sundance Institute/Mahindra Global Filmmaking award winners are Ariel Kleiman, Partisan from Australia; Dominga Sotomayor, Late To Die Young from Chile; and Shonali Bose, Margarita With A Straw from India.

"The Sundance Institute/Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award is part of a multifaceted collaboration that exemplifies a commitment to and support of world cinema by the Mahindra Group, one of the largest companies in India known throughout the world for its dedication to excellence and to social responsibility, and the nonprofit Sundance Institute, one of the world’s leading cultural organizations."

The Institute highlights that "the partnership includes the establishment of a Mumbai Mantra/Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab in India and extends over a three-year period. “The Lab will provide an opportunity for eight screenwriters from India to develop their works under the guidance of accomplished international screenwriters in an environment that encourages storytelling at the highest level."

The Sundance Institute and Mahindra announced that "each of the four winning filmmakers will receive a cash award of $10,000, attendance at the Sundance Film Festival for targeted industry and creative meetings, year-round mentoring from Institute staff and creative advisors, participation in a Feature Film Program Lab, and ongoing creative and strategic support."

For more information on the Sundance Institute and Mahindra visit Sundance Institute and Mahindra websites or click here to email Sarah Eaton.

For media interviews and more information on Vrystaat project click here to email Izidore Codron

For further information click here to email Naomi Mokhele, Communications & Public Affairs Manager.