Good Things · 34 days ago

Watch: Young Film Makers Take Sa Storytelling to the World

In an act of creative defiance, young filmmakers from Thokoza have carved a space on the global stage with their short film, Thando, premiered at a youth film festival in Paris. Rooted in authenticity and nurtured by the Of Soul and Joy Photography Project and CinemaTAKE, Thando reflects a raw South African perspective on individuality, community, and belonging. Central to its creation was a philosophy of empowerment, as CinemaTAKE's Mpumelelo Mcata noted, "We really step back and let the young people lead." This groundbreaking effort highlights South Africa as the first African nation to participate in the Cinéma Cent Ans de Jeunesse program, an achievement laden with both pride and promise. The ambition to cultivate storytelling from the streets of South Africa to the international limelight underscores themes of cultural identity and transformative learning through art.