James R | On 28, Sep 2016

FilmDoo has signed eight new indie films fresh from Africa for worldwide release online.

The streaming platform, which specialises in distributing movies from international filmmakers that would otherwise be undiscovered, is taking its first steps into contemporary cinema from the African continent this week, with eight new award-winning films from South Africa, Ethopia and Cameroon.

Female filmmakers lead the way with W.A.K.A (Woman Acts for her Kid Adam) from Cameroon, directed by Francoise Ellong, Sara Belcher’s South African drama, Ayanda, and lesbian romance While You Weren’t Looking from Catherine Stewart.

The selection also includes Berlinale Forum contender Fynbos, Bazi Gete’s Ethiopian-Israeli coproduction Red Leaves and Carey McKenzie’s crime thriller Cold Harbour, for which Tony Kgoroge (Mandela, Invictus) won Best Actor at the Durban International Film Festival.

Completing the collection are Safe Bet and Future Sound of the Mzansi, both from South Africa.

All eight films will premiere online for the first time on Friday 30th September.

The line-up follows FilmDoo’s acquisition of 50 remastered South African feature films from Gravel Road Entertainment (Trompie, Umbango). Indeed, the site is putting an emphasis on films from the continent.

“With access to high speed internet opening up globally, we’re putting harder-to-find, foreign-language films at the forefront of our VOD outreach, particularly African and Asian cinema,” explains FilmDoo co-founder Weerada Sucharitkul, adding: “The fact we are making these quality films available online for the first time and that many of these are from women directors make these achievements all the more satisfying.”

Tendeka Matatu, one of South Africa’s most prolific feature film producers and whose sales outfit Ten10 Films recently signed with the platform, adds: “To see this kind of focus on African cinema from an international player is rare. We are excited to be partnering with FilmDoo and to bring these great African films to a wider audience.”

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