Silwerskerm Festival pilots four upcoming TV hits

The kykNET Silwerskerm Festival is synonymous with brand-new movies and the development of the local film industry, but in 2024, for the second consecutive year, the spotlight will also shine on television entertainment. 

Pilot episodes of four excellent new TV titles that will soon have kykNET and Showmax viewers captivated will be screened at the festival, which runs from 29 to 31 August 2024.

Klein Paradys is a reality series where micro housing units must be transformed into five-star guest accommodation. The series is being filmed at Old Mac Daddy in the Elgin Valley. 

There is no question about the impact Brasse Vannie Kaap had on the South African music market. Director and producer Lauren Scholtz burrowed deeper to bring their untold story to viewers. 

The granting of parole to Norman Simons, after serving time for only one of a suspected 22 murders, reopened old wounds in a community where justice seldom triumphs. The Station Strangler contains incisive interviews with victims’ family members, leading investigators and the famous forensic profiler, Micki Pistorius. 

Nêrens, Noord-Kaap was filmed in the beautiful Northern Cape town of Nieuwoudtville, and in Cape Town and surrounds. Will the brothers reunite with their father, of will the chasm of estrangement between them only grow bigger in the second instalment?

1. Klein Paradys: Small Space, Big Ideas (kykNET reality)  

Klein Paradys follows six designer duos who have 30 days to transform their 21 m² micro housing units into five-star guest accommodation. 

This gripping reality series is being filmed at Old Mac Daddy in the Elgin Valley with the versatile David Enright (Stella Murders, Devilsdorp, Survivor SA: Return of the Outcasts) in the director’s chair. 

David is known for his passionate and sure-fire approach. His extensive knowledge of psychology and human behaviour enables him to unravel fascinating stories in genres that include reality series and documentaries. 

Handrie Basson, an experienced executive producer, left his mark as a financial reporter at Media24 before joining M-Net where he excelled as head of marketing and publicity. In 2006 he pursued his passion for storytelling and founded the production company Afrokaans. 

Preview: Wednesday, 28 August, 17:00 

Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/q7Hlx0 

2. Brasse Vannie Kaap: The Untold Story (Showmax documentary) 

This is a moving and emotional documentary film about the iconic South African hip hop band Brasse Vannie Kaap (BVK) who exploded on the music scene during the dawn of the new South Africa. 

Group members and many famous local artists (Early B, Jack Parow and others), reflect on BVK’s remarkable career and their undeniable impact on the local music industry. The film also takes a behind-the-scenes peek at a poignant concert by Grandmaster Ready D and DJ Azuhl as they honour BVK’s late frontman, Ashley Titus alias Mr Fat. 

This nostalgic journey culminates in a special reunion performance that celebrates the group’s exceptional legacy while looking back at a unique period in South Africa’s history. Filming took place partly in Cape Town and Johannesburg. 

Director and producer Lauren Scholtz is a writer, actress and emerging independent filmmaker who holds a BA Honours in Film Studies from UCT. She has more than 15 years’ experience as a producer of television commercials. 

A few years ago, Lauren swopped production work for screenwriting, and she has worked as storyliner on three kykNET telenovelas: Arendsvlei, Diepe Waters and Skemergrond. 

Preview: Friday, 31 August, 17:00 

Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/TRCxz2  

3. The Station Strangler: The Haunting of the Cape Flats (Showmax documentary) 

The Station Strangler is a documentary that investigates the facts behind the suspected serial killer with the same nickname. It is believed that he killed 21 young boys and one adult from the late 80s to the mid-90s. 

The murders caused panic on the Cape Flats of South Africa. While the rest of the country was getting ready for the first democratic elections, places like Mitchells Plain were in the clutches of terror as the killer caused a deep rift in the community. 

In 2023, Norman Simons, the man suspected of the murders, was released on parole. However, he was only convicted of one of the murders. His release on parole has reopened old wounds and sparked anger in a community where justice has been lacking for too long. 

The film features incisive interviews with family members of victims, lead investigators and the well-known forensic profiler Micki Pistorius. 

Nadine Cloete, the director, is from Cape Town. Her work focuses on themes of social justice, history and identity. Her best-known work includes the SAFTA awarded Address Unknown and Action Kommandant, named best documentary at the Encounters International documentary film festival. Recent documentaries include The Last Speaker (for Al Jazeera) and Teater na die Mense (for the Silwerskerm Festival). 

The documentary film was produced by IdeaCandy. The company’s journey started in 2020 with Devilsdorp. Since then, under the leadership of Wim Steyn, Clorinda Koert, and Elle Oosthuizen, the producers, IdeaCandy continues to produce full-length documentaries and documentary series that tell unique and challenging South African stories. 

These include Devilsdorp (winner of a SAFTA for best documentary in 2022), Steinheist (SANLAM Financial Reporter of the Year in 2023; also nominated for a SAFTA in 2023), Stella Murders (2023), Rosemary’s Hitlist (2023), Convict Conman (2023), Tracking Thabo Bester (2024) and School Ties (2024). 

Preview: Thursday, 29 August, 20:30 

Quicket Link: https://qkt.io/3RxUVG 

4. Nêrens, Noord-Kaap Part II 

After a rickety journey back to their family farm, Nêrens, three brothers attempt to reunite with their father after years of estrangement. But how do you learn to love again when your mother’s death is still a bleeding wound in everyone’s heart? 

Nêrens, Noord-Kaap was filmed in the beautiful town of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape, as well as in Cape Town and surrounds. 

Nico Scheepers is an award-winning director and writer from South Africa. He is the creator of the critically acclaimed series Nêrens, Noord-Kaap on kykNET and Showmax. In 2022/2023 his thriller series Donkerbos (Showmax) was selected for the 2023 Berlinale Series Market. Donkerbos received seven SAFTA nominations and Scheepers was named best director of a television drama. 

In 2023, the South African Academy of Arts and Sciences bestowed the coveted Arts award on him for the screenplay of Donkerbos. 

The award-winning production company Nagvlug Films focuses on narratives that people from all over can associate with. They aim to explore and portray South African characters, communities and experiences in an authentic, heartfelt way. 

The company took the lead with several productions, including Barakat (2021), South Africa’s official entry for the 94th Oscars, and Donkerbos (2023), the only original South African title included in the 16 productions screened during the 2023 Berlinale Selects. 

Preview: Thursday, 29 August, 17:00 

Quicket link: https://qkt.io/6v33UG