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DISTRICT 9 coming to SA

4 Aug 2009

Years ago, an enormous spaceship came to rest over Johannesburg, now a sun-scorched urban wasteland. Since then, the ship's inhabitants have been moved into the titular ghetto and placed under the control of Multi-National United, a private corporation bent on cracking the secrets of the aliens' ultra-powerful weapons.

The film was first showcased as part of the Comi-Con in July in the United States and has been garnering rave reviews since. Director Neill Blomkamp will be in South Africa later in August to promote the film alongside the film's star Sharlto Copley. DISTRICT 9 was shot on location in Soweto last year. Cape Town-based Michael S. Murphy of Kalahari Pictures was supervising producer.

After cutting his teeth as a visual effects artist and director of music videos and commercials, with DISTRICT 9 Blomkamp makes his feature film directorial debut, drawing inspiration from classic science fiction films as well as the Johannesburg of his youth (Blomkamp was born and raised there before relocating to Canada). The result is claimed to be a film that breaks ground with a new, thrilling voice. DISTRICT 9 was produced by the Lord of The Rings Trilogy mastermind, Peter Jackson.

DISTRICT 9 stars Sharlto Copley as Wikus van der Merwe. The film also features Vanessa Haywood, Kenneth Nkosi, Mandla Gaduka, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, Jason Cope, David James, Louis Minnaar, Sylvaine Strike and many other recognisable South-African actors. DISTRICT 9 has been rated 16LV by the Film and Publications Board of South Africa and will be releasing on 80 prints nationwide on 28 August 2009. Running time is 111 minutes.