A South African TV production about substance abuse picked for major international conference on public broadcasting
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
The issues raised by the documentary are worrisome and are not things that we should be proud of as a country, but Kick it has been done so beautifully that it is taking the production places.
Kick It, is a SAFTA (South African Film and Television Awards) winning production highlighting the rampant problem of substance abuse in the country. Substance abuse is so rampant in the country to an extent that it is giving constant nightmares to parents worried about their children as well as worrying society about the destruction caused to its social fabric.
The team behind this production has executed their duties so well that it has impressed international jurors who have picked itand included it for screening at the International Public Television Conference – (INPUT) thatwill be held in Barcelona, Spain from 9 – 13May 2022.
However the journey to here was not easy.
After two weeks of screenings, sifting through more than 360 productions from 86 countries, the international selection of the upcoming INPUT (International Public Television Screening Conference) is complete, and the good news for the country’s film industry in general and the producers of Kick it in particular is that the final selection of 64 Productions from 30 countries includes Kick It – a Mindset Concept Production House (owned by Lungelo and Sbu) from South Africa. Tis makes Kick it, the only production to represent South Africa at such an important conference dedicated to public broadcasting conent.
And quite interestingly ,it is funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development and produced by Mindset Concept Production House for the SABC where it has been broadcast to a resounding audience response.
Kick It will be screened in dedicated sessions to television professionals from around the world to debate the solutions the productions offer to challenges faced by all broadcasters. South Africa submitted 6 productions to the international selection over the South African National Coordinator, Henriette de Villiers.
“Mindset Concept Production Housewould like to congratulate the team that worked on the Kick It production. A fully funded production by the Gauteng Department of Social Development, we extend our gratitude to the GDSD for entrusting us with such a delicate production.
The support from SABC 1 and SABC Education does not go unnoticed. We are thrilled to be representing South Africa at INPUT which will be held in Barcelona from 9 – 13 May 2022,” a statement released yesterday says.