A New South African movie that united creatives to be released soon

Malope who reflected on the journey of making this film revealed that the film will be ready for showing around April this year.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

It is a pleasure when South African filmmakers do it on their own producing films with potential impact even when they do not have big funders behind them, but rather depend on each other as creative with a purpose.

Multi-award-winning director and producer, Tebogo ‘Tebza’ Malope, known for his visionary and ground-breaking work in film, television, documentaries and music videos is set to release his first independent film titled Spirit:The Movie

The film draws inspiration from Kwesta and Wale’s song Spirit, the music video which Tebza directed. The film expands on the themes of identity, resilience, and freedom that are so vividly explored in the original music video, crafting a cinematic experience that offers a deeper and more immersive journey into the universal human spirit.

Tebza is determined to push boundaries with ‘Spirit:The Movie’. “Creating my first

independent film was an act of self-liberation — a bold journey in storytelling without constraints. Inspired by the characters from the ‘Spirit’ music video, I crafted a narrative that speaks to the power of identity and freedom. The independence of the film allowed me the space to explore these characters not just as figures, but as reflections of the inner struggles we face in defining ourselves” said Tebza. With Tebza at the helm as the director, this project represents an opportunity to engage with complex narratives of surrounding self-discovery. The film features an ensemble cast, with Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jerry MofokengwaMakhetha (Mabaso Family Reunion: The Funeral), MotshabiTyelele (Justice Served), Rami Chuene (How To Ruin Christmas) and MrKagisoLediga (Lion King), to mention a few.

“This film is my way of honoring the journey we all take to understand who we are andthe power of owning that truth, breaking free from conventional storytelling and celebration of who we are, both individually and collectively,” says Tebza. Spirit:The Movie is set to premiere this year, with more details on the release to be announced soon.

The three actors who gathered at USURPA Gallery, this cool space that is on OxFord Road, that is the cool art space that is a coloration between Samsung and a collective of young curators, strategically situated between Killarney and Rosebank last week Thursday shared openly their individual journeys in the creative arts.

Television, stage actor and writer Mothsabi spoke openly about her experience as one of a few black students studying Drama at University of Cape Town in the 190s, and how the environment was alienating in the then sea of whiteness.

“I had to teach the rest how to interact with me on my own temrs. When I went there to study drama, having been born in Moletsane in Soweto, but educated at Waterford in Swaziland, where I had the opportunity to travel to the US as a student, I was more exposed than most of them because of my travel. They actually did not know how to treat me and relate to me. It was common among the white students to comment that I was different from the other black kids, and II di not come out as someone  from  Soweto, and yet I was actually.,” Mothsabi told an audience made up of mainly creative and invited media.

She was one of the discussants alongside well known film maker, director, producer and writer KagisoLediga and actress .Rami Chueneat this event orgnised by film director and writer Malope, Malope moderated the conversation, and the event was to reflect on Malope’s journey in the making of his new film, that is scheduled to be screened around April this year, titled Spirits.  The discussion was moderated by Malope, and was quite engaging even though it took longer than what others would have preferred, dragiing for more than two hours, after which the audience enjoyed drinks and food as they carried on the conversation casually.

Kagiso shared how as a student studying film at University of Cape Town, he struggled to juggle attending classes as well as taking on jobs as an actor that came his way.

“There were some cool kids who came from rich families, who were my friends and were making films at the time. I ended up spending more time with them as well as going for casting jobs instead of attending classes. I got into trouble with the university for that and ended up leaving to do films before graduating. AS someone brought up by a divorced single mother, I did not tell her at all about what was happening with my education,” Lediga said.

Today, however, Lediga is one of the most respected filmmakers in the country, who is an all -ounder, who besides standup comedy, is prolific as a filmmaker, playing various roles in the film industry including as a writer, director, producer and actor, with some of his shows being streamed on global streaming platform Netflix.

All the actors, alongside other talented South African actors are featired in Spirits giving their time and talent to the project as an example of what happens when people in the creative sector work together for the goodness of the industry instead of putting money first.

Malope praised these actors for their good will as well as those who donated financially to the project that commenced shooting seven years ago.

“When we started shooting Spirits seven years ago, we used really people, around 250 of them instead of actors. It was a collaborative work, and we would not have been able to complete this project without that spirit of collaboration. We are asking for more people to donate so that we can accomplish what we would like to do with Spirits,” Malope said.