The Cape Winelands Film Festival is an international film festival based in the Western Cape. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Festival which opened on Wednesday, 14 March 2012, and will be running until Saturday the 24th. The festival is being hosted in Cape Town and Stellenbosch and has recently expanded to include screenings of international films from more than 52 countries. This year, the work of 25 South African filmmakers will be shown at the festival. The festival opened with the South African premiere of Lucky, a new feature film about a 10 year old Zulu AIDS orphan who leaves his village for the city. Upon his arrival, Lucky discovers that his reliance on extended family is limited and turns to an elderly Indian woman called Padma for help. Padma’s intentions are not altogether honest and tension develops as Lucky’s uncle discovers what Padma is up to. After Lucky is sent back to his village and is received with hostility, Padma and Lucky set out to find Lucky’s father without the knowledge of whether he is dead or alive. Lucky was directed by Avie Luthra, an Indian writer/director based in London. Luthra was living in rural Natal in 2003 where he found inspiration for his film. Lucky was shot in Johannesburg over a period of 26 days.
Other films to be screened at the festivals include the likes of Semi-Soet, 11 Flowers and Strikfontein & Anderkant die Stilte. Over 180 films are competing for nine awards at the Festival. Awards include the Grand Prix Jury Award, Best Feature Film, Best SA Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best SA Documentary, Best Short Film, Best SA Short Film, Best Animation and the Inspiration Award.
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