Strangers competing in Italy

The competition gives children aged between 10 and 15 the chance to write a story about anything in any language. The winning story is made into a film that involves the writer from beginning to end.

Says SABC Education project manager Jacqui Hlongwane-Papo, "The children [are spending] a week in Italy where they will meet other young story tellers from around the world and share each other's stories. They will view all the film entries and then vote with participating broadcasters from around the world, for their favourite film.

"South Africa [has] won this competition for the past two years with films 'Lucky' and 'Mbiya & His Cow', both produced for SABC Education by Mindpool Productions'.

'Strangers' is scary, gripping and heart-wrenching. On a fateful rainy night, two sisters discover that their mother, whom they believed had died years ago in a horrific fire, is still alive. Deciding to unravel the mystery, the girls embark on a journey to the 'city by the sea'. It is there that they confront their past and change their lives forever.

Cebe, from Port Elizabeth, and Sibiya, from Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre Durban, play lead roles as sisters Khetiwe and Nkosi in 'Strangers'. Phumlomo, also from Ekhaya, plays the little street kid who helps the girls survive and search for their mother. 'Strangers' is their first film experience, the children having never acted in front of a camera before.