FIVE TIGER OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

TMPC, Nostalgia Productions and Revolver Amsterdam are proud to announce that FIVE TIGER, the short film debut of South African writer/director Nomawonga Khumalo has been selected to play in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

Set in present day South Africa, FIVE TIGER tells the story of Fiona, a god-fearing woman, who finds herself in a transactional relationship with the leader of her church as she tries to support her sick husband and daughter. An intersectional approach to exploring feminism within the religious construct, the film was described as ‘transcendent of centuries and continents’ by Makhosazana Khanyile, the CEO of the National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa.

“I was over the moon,” says Nomawonga after finding out about her selection. “Beyond the joy of being able to tell stories that are important to me, there is a great pleasure that comes with knowing that the story resonated with the programmers of a festival as prestigious as Sundance.”

FIVE TIGER was inspired by a conversation that Nomawonga had with a prostitute who she met while working on a television production that was filming on the outskirts of Johannesburg in 2019.

“After the thin piece of fabric that was holding the twigs she was carrying broke, I found myself with an opportunity to engage with a woman both culture and religion had advised I either judge or treat as invisible. We engaged in light banter and went our separate ways, the interaction lingering with me long after the sun had set. She told me that she believed that as long as she was able to work hard and tithe, God would provide for her and her family. As I replayed the interaction, I couldn’t help but feel bitter over how this woman’s faith kept her hope for a better life burning but, in reality, did little to change her circumstances.”

FIVE TIGER is a proof of concept for Nomawonga’s feature debut, THE BURSARY, a film that looks at the practice of virginity testing and maiden bursaries in contemporary South Africa. The script was written with producer Brett Michael Innes (SINK, FIELA SE KIND) and was shortlisted for the 2020 Sundance Development Lab and 2021 Cinemart after being selected for the 2019 Durban FilmMart where it was named ‘Best South African Feature’.

“We are incredibly excited for what the FIVE TIGER Sundance selection means both for Nomawonga and THE BURSARY” says Innes. “The script is dear to both of us and the producing team can’t wait to see her bring it to life. We’ve assembled an incredible group to support her, from Paulo Areal and Schalk Burger who produced ELLEN PAKKIES to one of the leading film producers in the Netherlands, Raymond van der Kaaij of Revolver Amsterdam.”

FIVE TIGER will have its Sundance run from 28 January – 3 February 2021 and THE BURSARY is expected to go into production in the second quarter of next year.
FIVE TIGER DETAILS
Below you will find the details for the film, including links to IMDb profiles for the relevant artists as well as the trailer and social media handles.

Festivals – Official Selection at Sundance Film Festival 2021 and PÖFF Shorts 2020,
both with Oscar Qualifying Short Programs

Writer/Director – Nomawonga Khumalo
Producers – Paulo Areal, Brett Michael Innes, Schalk Willem Burger, Nomawonga Khumalo
Co-producers – Raymond van der Kaaij, Kirsi Saivosalmi
Executive Producer – Paulo Areal
Companies – TMPC, Nostalgia Productions, Revolver Amsterdam

CREATIVE HEADS OF DEPARTMENT
DOP – Rick Joaquim
Editor – Brett Michael Innes
Sound Designer – Charlotte Buys
Colorist – David Rypstra
Composer – Mark Kilian
Hair & Make Up – Thandaza Zwane
Costume Designer – Tina Pontsho Moeketsi

To arrange an interview with Nomawonga, please send your request to info@nostalgiaproductions.co.za with the header FIVE TIGER // Publicity // ‘your organization’s name’ in the subject line.