A disillusioned Johannesburg street thug rescues an orphaned child with uncontrollable supernatural powers. On the run, he must help the sickly boy master his gift before a superstitious family member finds them.

Dir. Matthew Jankes

South Africa 2011 - 28mins - Zulu with English subtitles

CAST
Mthunzi: Israel Makoe
Themba: Sivuyiswe Mtshaka (as Sivuyisiwe Mtshaka)
Gwala: Lennox Mathabathe
Lennox Mathabalate - Gwala
Sibu: Richard Lunkunku (as Richard Lunkuku)
Sangoma: Jabu Makhubu (as Jabu Makhube)
Dorothy (Themba's Mother): Lerato Mvelase
Themba's Father: Treasure Bulose
Police Officer: Peter Mashigo (as Peter Mshingo)



Genre: Drama/ Supernatural/ Adventure

Prod : Mannequin Pictures & Reel Edge Studios

Part of the Focus Features Africa First Program.
Made possible with grants from the National Film and Video Foundation and The Gauteng Film Commission.

Executive Producer: David Golden
Director of Photography: Clive Will
Production Designer: Mia Zwiegers
Edited by Melanie Golden
Original Score by Paul Norwood & Craig Hawkins

Post Production at The Refinery
Visual Effects by Luma

Set and filmed in the slums of Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The film was completed in March of 2011


Background on Umkhungo
In 2009 Umkhungo was selected from hundreds of entries as one of 5 winning screenplays by Focus Features, as part of their Africa First Program.
The US based Focus Features are an internationally acclaimed production house, responsible for such films as Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, Lost in Translation, Brokeback mountain, 9 and Eastern Promises.
Umkhungo received production funding from The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa and The Gauteng Film Commission.

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