Mandela biopic debuts to “unprecedented” praise
South African biopic 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' was extraordinarily well received after its premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Saturday, much to the delight of producer Anant Singh.
Poster supplied
In a statement following the film’s debut screening, producers revealed that the “film received an unprecedented eight-minute standing ovation coupled with a rapturous applause” which resulted in “social media platforms buzzing with praise for the film”, reports SAPA.
Recognised as one of South Africa’s pre-eminent film producers, Anant Singh spent many years tirelessly working on his dream of making this film, requiring (acquiring?) the rights to Nelson Mandela’s autobiography in 1996 after personally initiating communications with the former President while he was still in prison.
“I am delighted that I finally got it done. It has been worth the wait and also worth all of the hard work that went into it over all of those years,” said Singh, producer of many great South African anti-apartheid films, including ‘Place Of Weeping’, ‘Sarafina!’, and ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’.
The film is directed by Jason Chadwick and stars British actors Idris Elba and Naomi Harris as Nelson and Winnie Mandela respectively. It also features ‘Tsotsi’ leading lady Terry Pheto, SA funnyman Riaad Moosa, and ‘Jozi’ actress Lindiwe Matshikiza as Zindzi Mandela.
‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ is set for release in cinemas around South Africa in November.
– TEAMtalk Media