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Mother City, the compelling South African documentary exploring the politics of urban life, made its international debut in the UK just recently.

Having first captivated audiences at the prestigious Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, where it enjoyed sold-out screenings, it then drew interest at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in England.

It earned special mentions from the juries at both festivals and was screened to a wide-eyed audience of industry professionals at the recent Durban FilmMart, Cape Town ETC reports. It also had a special screening at the CineCentre GrandWest, Cape Town followed by a robust panel discussion hosted by Daily Maverick journalist, Rebecca Davis with the head of Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre, Disha Govender; Nkosikhona Swartbooi, activist; former Mayco Member for Housing, Brett Herron, and CEO of Communicare, Anthea Houston.

Since its debut, the film has attracted widespread attention from audiences and festivals alike, both in South Africa and internationally, all eager to engage with its thought-provoking content.

The London Renters Union, a leading campaign group with branches across the UK, has requested a special screening of the film to kick off their Housing Justice Assembly 2024 in London on August 30, 2024.

In response to the pressing housing and land crises, the filmmakers and activists behind Mother City have launched a comprehensive impact campaign. Their aim is to reach a wide and diverse audience, fostering meaningful discussions and inspiring action on these critical issues.

The film is certainly compelling enough to get everyone into it:

The seasoned impact filmmaker Miki Redelinghuys of Plexus Films and veteran investigative journalist Pearlie Joubert directed and produced the film with renowned feature producer Kethiwe Ngcobo.

Praised for its poignant and human portrayal of urban politics, the film follows six years of activism by the Reclaim the City movement. It documents their efforts to convert two abandoned state-owned buildings in Cape Town—Woodstock Hospital, now Cissy Gool House, and Helen Bowden Nursing Home, now Ahmed Kathrada House—into homes for over 1,000 people.

“This is a classic David versus Goliath struggle, where activists challenge the powerful forces of politics and property. It has touched a nerve wherever we have screened the film and resonates deeply with audiences worldwide – this is not just a South African problem,” says Pearlie Joubert, who recently screened the film to the Renters Union in London.

You can catch Mother City at The Labia Theatre in Cape Town from Friday 13 to Thursday 19 September at 8PM.

It will also be taken to Namibia for the Film Week in Windhoek, as well as Germany for the Afrika Film Festival Köln, and will be screened in Switzerland and the USA in the next four months afterwards.

[source:capetownetc]