OTELO BURNING will be shown at the Lille Festival 2012 that is organized next April by Dominique Ollier of Africadoc.

Somewhere between CITY OF GOD and BLUE CRUSH, OTELO BURNING is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. It's an emotional story of kids in the township learning to surf. It's a story of the explosive potential for change at the time of apartheid's end - all seen through a child's eye.


Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher (SURFING SOWETO), the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. It's set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups in Lamontville.
When 16-year-old Otelo Buthelezi takes to the water for the first time, it's clear that he was born to surf. But then tragedy strikes. On the day that Nelson Mandela is released from prison, Otelo is forced to choose between surfing success and justice. This is a beautifully made, insightful and entertaining film that captures a turbulent time in the history of South Africa.

OTELO BURNING is pretty much a coming of age story that takes place against the backdrop of Mandelas release from prison. In a way it is an allegory for what happens when a country gets freedom ; a warning about greed, and corruption.... which seems to be quite a pertinent issue at the moment especially with the Arab Spring.
That said its also just a moving story about three young Zulu boys growing up.

The film has played at the London International Film Festival, At Busan (in Korea), Chennai (India) and Dubai. It also was the opening Film of the Durban International Film Festival and will have a big nationwide release in South Africa in May.