Afrikaans - always better on the big screen

Fiaz Mohamed

According to Fiaz Mohamed, CEO of Ster Kinekor Theatres, with over 4.9 million Afrikaans speaking households in South Africa and 4.3 million living in urban areas (latest AMPS figures), there is definitely an audience ready to watch modern Afrikaans romantic comedy, musicals and more serious pieces. "The group is in full support of this development. The modern Afrikaans movie has fun, romance and high profile leads that appeal to a good cross-section of audiences."

The cinema group releases two of these new Afrikaans movies in June and July, Ek Lief Jou and Ek Joke Net. The first is a musical/romance, directed by Ate de Jong and starring Kurt Darren, Christina Storm , Ilse de Vis and Andre Fauenstein. The second, comedy in the style of Candid Camera, will have its cast at the East Rand Mall this Saturday, 2 July 2011 from 5pm. Platteland and 'n Saak Van Verloof will be released later in the year.

"The genre of Afrikaans movie-come-musical will appeal to a wide audience and is certainly set for a successful future. With the kind of output we are seeing from Afrikaans directors, who knows, perhaps South Africa is on track to being the next Bollywood, with these Afrikaans movies taking the lead!" concludes Mohamed.