Musgrave filmmaker reels in top honour

MUSGRAVE resident and filmmaker, Eubulus Timothy won best artistic film at the Emerging Filmmakers Awards at the weekend for his film, Vivaldi’s – Spring in the Time of COVID. The film discovers ways to revive art in the current pandemic.

This adds to a long list of accolades for the local filmmaker and writer, including, a Harley-Merrill Screenwriting Award, award for best picture and best director at the Simon Sabela Film and TV Awards and best screenplay at the South African International Film Awards. He also won the Man of Substance Singapore Exemplary Lifetime Achievement Award 2020.

The filmmaker said he trained as a director under Randy Zisk and Allan Arkush. He recently wrote and directed acclaimed feature-film, Deep End, which premiered at the Durban Film Festival. For his latest work, Vivaldi’s – Spring in the Time of COVID, Timothy collaborated with producer, Seema Ramsewak.

Also read: KZN Film Commission heads to Nollywood for film fest

“Seema re-imagined a form through which music may be appreciated in the time of Covid-19. With amazing musicians and crew we created Vivaldi – Spring in the Time of COVID. Seema saw that among the sprightly musical movements, is an underlying sadness. The sound of the strings against the thunder gives one a sense of approaching fear. But, with the mixed emotions, is the eventuality of hope and life,” he said.

When asked what message he wanted to portray through the film, Timothy simply said, “The artist may die, and we lost so many of our talent around the world during this season, but art lives on.”

The message reflects the tough times many have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In case you missed it: Deep End wins another award for Durban director

“This pandemic really changed how we, as humans, behave. We have found ways to be artistic. If you see some of the work that has come out of the poorest of the poor communities during this time tells us how powerful the human spirit is,” he said.

Timothy believes music has the power to uplift the community.

“Our ability to create separates us from all other species on Earth. We create and record it for those who will come after us. Music, art, architecture, aesthetics and science are all part of who we are. Pandemic or not, lockdown or not, we will rise. We have overcome almost two years of self-imposed restrictions for the greater good and we have persevered,” he said.

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