Local film ‘Confined’ wins big at film festival
‘Confined was a very beautiful film. I think the filmmakers, from my perspective as a filmmaker myself, have done an outstanding job’
‘Confined’ won the Best First-time Filmmaker and Best Short Film honours at the Mpumalanga International Film Festival (Miff), celebrating local filmmaking talent. This powerful play debuted to sold-out crowds across the province, putting critical light on the grim reality of human trafficking.
The festival’s programme, running from August 2 to August 10, aimed to bring local films to every corner of Mpumalanga.
‘Confined’, with its poetic and theatrical approach, struck a chord with audiences, using powerful imagery and lighting to convey its message.
As the festival continued its journey, it called on all sectors to invest in local talent and ensure that Mpumalanga’s stories are heard far and wide.
Sifiso Nobela, CEO of Miff, said, “We wanted to reach out to our private sector, including the public sector, to say, look, the cinema is not open on Monday and Tuesday. Start prioritizing supporting local films to be screened in the cinema every Monday and Tuesday. These young people want this support. With the film festival, we believed we could help achieve this goal. We are doing this for the young people of Mpumalanga.”
He also shared his thoughts on the film, “Confined was a very beautiful film. I think the filmmakers, from my perspective as a filmmaker myself, have done an outstanding job. The film is poetic and theatrical, using a lot of lighting and candles, not just for aesthetic purposes but to symbolize deeper meanings. It tells us that when the time has come, everything has to go off. It’s a powerful message.”
Benedict Siphesihle Zikalala, affectionately known as Benzo the Poet, shared his thoughts on ‘Confined.’ “Look, I’m also an artist. I think one of the main reasons I attended this screening, organised by the Mpumalanga International Film Festival, was to support and expose the talent we have in Mpumalanga. The talent is so amazing. Seeing all the episodes and the play, one could tell you for free that if you seek talent, you don’t have to go far because Mpumalanga has it. The movie touched on real societal issues, such as the dangers girls face, including becoming victims of human trafficking. This event emphasized the importance of true education and arts initiatives in preventing such predicaments.”
Ndabezitha Sipho Mahlangu also appreciated the festival’s efforts. “We would like to thank the Mpumalanga International Film Festival for bringing us this initiative and raising awareness in the film space. ‘Confined’ showcased the harsh reality of human trafficking, and our youth needs to see and learn from this. Initiatives like this, usually seen in Gauteng, are crucial for encouraging our youth to keep their dreams alive.”
The movie’s director, Delmain Stuurman, and producer, Lifa Mabena, thanked everyone for their support.
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