The South African film ‘Of Good Report’ that caused controversy after it was banned by the Film and Publication Board at a festival is up for 13 Africa Movie Academy awards.
“We are honoured to receive the nomination to the AMAA awards as this is the biggest recognition a film can receive in the continent,” founder and producer Luzuko Dilima said in a statement.
The film was nominated in several categories at the awards to be held in Bayelsa state, Nigeria, later this month.
These included best film, best director, best actor in a leading role, best actor in a supporting role, best actress in a supporting role, best young or promising actor, and achievements in editing, screenplay, sound, cinematography, visual effects, soundtrack, and production design.
“This bodes very well for not just New Brighton Pictures, the director, and crew, but the film industry in South Africa,” said Dilima.
Controversy
Shot in black and white, the film was directed by East London born, award-winning film director Jahmil XT Qubeka and was released in August last year.
The controversial film, which centres around a male high school teacher in rural South Africa who has an affair with a female pupil, was originally banned by the Film and Publication Board when it was planned as the opening movie for the Durban International Film Festival, in terms of the Film and Publications Act 1996. This was based on a scene between the teacher and pupil that the board said constituted child pornography.
Of Good Report also won seven other awards at the South African Film and Television Awards (Safta) last month.
“This … brought the tally of accolades to 28 since its release last year,” said Dilima.
See full report via Mail & Guardian
