World sets ablaze by South African movie 'Inxeba'
In the bustling city of San Francisco, 'Inxeba', a thought-provoking film exploring themes of sexuality, masculinity, and the clash between traditional and contemporary African values, won the First Feature Award at the 41st Frameline, San Francisco's international film festival. Directed by John Trengrove, a Johannesburg-based writer/director with an MFA in film from New York University, 'Inxeba' is an international co-production between South Africa, Germany, The Netherlands, and France. The film has been distributed locally by Indigenous Film Distribution in South Africa. John Trengrove is best known for his acclaimed miniseries Hopeville, which received the Rose d'Or for best drama and was nominated for an International Emmy. Prior to 'Inxeba', Trengrove's greatest success in the film industry was not explicitly detailed in the available search results. However, his short film The Goat, which premiered at Berlinale and Toronto in 2014 and went on to play at over 20 international festivals, hinted at his promising talent. The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has recognised 'Inxeba' as being in the company of the best in the film industry. The film was also awarded Best Foreign Language Film of 2017 by the African American Film Critics Association. 'Inxeba' has collected over 18 international awards and has been distributed in over 30 territories worldwide. The film stars musician and novelist Nakhane Touré as Xolani, a lonely factory worker who initiates a group of teenage boys into manhood. The film has faced controversy due to its depiction of the Xhosa Nation's sacred initiation process and a gay love story. Despite the protests, calls for a ban, and death threats, 'Inxeba' has stood its ground, earning accolades at various film festivals. In April, the film received the Jury Prize for Best Narrative at the 19 annual Sarasota Film Festival in Florida. At the Sydney Film Festival, 'Inxeba' won the Audience Award for Best Feature. At Cinema Jove, the Valencia International Film Festival, 'Inxeba' was awarded the Luna de Valencia for Best Feature Film and the Best Actor Award for Nakhane Touré. 'Inxeba' (known internationally as 'The Wound') won the Best Film Award in the International New Talent Competition at the Taipei Film Festival. The film also received a Special Mention at the MOOOV International Film held in March 2017, in Belgium. At the 32nd Lovers Film Festival, an LGBTQI festival held in Turin, Italy, 'Inxeba' was awarded the prize for Best Feature Film shortly before that. At the Cinema Jove, the Valencia International Film Festival, 'Inxeba' was awarded the Luna de Valencia for Best Feature Film and the Best Actor Award for Nakhane Touré. 'Inxeba' is a milestone in South African cinema, according to Variety magazine. With its powerful narrative and thought-provoking themes, the film continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
