2009 AFDA Oscar nomination

AFDA would like to congratulate writer and director Dorotea Vucic, Producer Fumani Shisana, Cinematographer Faheema Hendricks, Production Designer Sophie Nadolny and Editor Daniel Morcos on their nomination in the best foreign student film category.

Wamkelekile will be competing against the best film schools from Europe, China, Australia, Russia and the rest of the world. Ironically, the nominated production team is made up of a number of international students, including German, Croatian, American, Egyptian and of course South Africans, who all reached across language divides to make a film in Xhosa.

“Well, I am thrilled, of course!” - Dorotea Vucic's reaction on hearing the news while on set of her new film being shot in Croatia.

Wamkelekile is a heartwarming tale that deals with a young man coming to terms with his father's mental illness. When Lukhanyo is forced to go back to his village and collect his father, Simpiwe, memories of his eccentric and difficult childhood return. In time, the endearing story unfolds into a humorously entertaining adventure, faced against the elements of vast landscapes, coincidental fate, and trying jobs to discover the immense love that only needed a little time to be noticed.

Starting with their script the production team set out to find the right locations and cast, bringing a full crew together and braving the Western Cape's wet winter to shoot this 24-minute film in 10 days. “We have put our heart and soul into this movie for the last seven months. It is amazing,” says Daniel Morcos, the Editor. The crew were hunched over with worries after principal photography in that stormy winter of June 2008. At that time they doubted whether it was worth trying to complete the film. Production problems included the death of a family member, the washing away by floods of a location, and the reluctance of a tortoise to obey its handler.

Wamkelekile premiered at the Annual AFDA Festival held at the Cavendish Square Cinema Nouveau in November 2008, where it was awarded the Executive award for filmmaking excellence.

The 36th Student Academy Awards will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Los Angeles.

AFDA Johannesburg is a previous award winner of this foreign student film category with its 2006 entry, Elalini.

AFDA is one of the leading outcomes-based degree institutions of its kind in the world and is listed by the Council on Higher Education as one of the top six Private tertiary institutions in South Africa.