The Silwerskermfees grows each year with more content and surprises

Short Films: New and Established Voices

The short film lineup includes work by emerging and established filmmakers. Some promising new productions include:

Sewe
Michelle (Karlé Briedenhann) is trapped in an increasingly manipulative and abusive relationship. Yet, she feels she simply can’t “just leave” Francois (Viljé Maritz).

Bly
In Bly, a storm rages outside while an elderly couple – played by Anton Dekker and Karin Retief – watches their plan to end their suffering start to unravel. When their granddaughter (Liza du Plessis) accidentally ingests the poison meant for them, the story takes a tragic turn.

Alma op pad
This film explores how decisions shift when plans suddenly change. Alma (Chrystal Conradie), a 12-year-old girl, films her family’s trip to a new vacation destination — breaking a long-standing tradition. Her father resents the change, but her mother pushes forward. When the destination doesn’t meet their needs, Alma tells a small lie that her mother backs. A series of disappointments follows, and as tensions between her parents reach a breaking point, Alma must choose what to hold onto and what to let go. A tender story about growing up, remembering, denial, and the quiet sacrifices made in the name of love.

Several established filmmakers are also contributing compelling short films:

Totsiens, Selina
This story follows Selina, whose comforting presence in the Swanepoel household had long been taken for granted — she was like family. But when she mysteriously falls ill and the Swanepoels visit her home, they’re confronted with a world they don’t understand.

Tussen die kwashale
Eleven-year-old Tyron (Jihad Otto) loses his artistic mother, Anna (Monique Rockman). As a child with autism, he finds solace in painting — a deeply moving portrayal of grief and healing.

Short Documentaries

Vet vannie land
This short documentary follows brilliant botanist Pieter van Wyk as he fights to protect South Africa’s unique ecosystems from collapse. In the remote, rugged landscapes of the Richtersveld and Succulent Karoo, a race against time — and organised crime — unfolds. South Africa’s rare succulents are being driven to extinction, poached and sold online to an international market fuelled by social media.

Bliksems in Bothaville
This story focuses on wrestler Roger Wilters, whose personal life has collapsed — the once-bustling home now eerily quiet. In the ring, he once found release from his troubles. But since the only wrestling club in Bothaville closed, he’s determined to keep his unlikely dream alive. As Roger tries to organise a new wrestling match, he also faces his responsibilities as a father. Will the people of Bothaville support his dream?

Independent Shorts

The Last Ranger
During the winter of 2020, amid strict COVID lockdowns that halted tourism, young Litha is introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger. As poachers move in and salaries vanish, the rhinos become increasingly vulnerable. Litha uncovers a deeply rooted secret during their desperate fight to protect the wildlife.

Amazeze (Fleas)
Tonderai, a Zimbabwean boy living in a South African township, fears the day his mother returns home — xenophobic thugs terrorise the streets at night. He also takes care of his gravely ill younger brother. With no running water in their shack, Tonderai scurries through the dark, avoiding neighbours who target foreigners.

Melkbrood
Em gives her mother a sealed envelope. Instead of addressing the contents, her mother changes the subject, wishing Em would move back home permanently and take over the family café. Em refuses, and in an attempt to steer the conversation away from discomfort, her mother recites a poem about wandering souls. Torn between giving in and standing her ground, Em envisions two possible futures — each weighed down by the emotional baggage of their tense relationship and all the things never said.

Feature Films

This year’s feature films look especially promising:

My F*k, Marelize!
Inspired by a true story that captivated the nation, the film follows Heidi, a strong-willed woman hiding her cancer diagnosis from her family, and her unlucky daughter Marelize, who needs to learn how to ride a bike to work as an au pair in the Netherlands. What could go wrong?

Khaki Fever
A group of field guides on a private game reserve compete during the tourism season to see who can sleep with the most guests. The prize? The title “King of Khaki” and all the tips the others earned. The twist? The conservative lodge manager must not find out — anyone caught fraternising with guests will be immediately fired. From SAFTA-winning director Brett Michael Innes.

Hen
A psychological horror set on a remote farm where a family must keep the fires burning against the encroaching darkness. A sharp reflection on survival in the middle of nowhere — and the thin line between life and death.

The Heart is a Muscle
A group of Cape Town friends gather for a weekend braai. But the event is thrown into turmoil when Ryan’s son goes missing. His desperate search strains his friendships and marriage, revealing long-hidden secrets and causing conflict. A deeply human drama about healing and forgiveness across generations.

Open to Everyone – and Affordable!

As with last year, the festival is open to all — the public and invited guests alike. And the ticket prices are incredibly reasonable:

• R65 per film or short film block (includes popcorn!)

• R1,000 for a Silver Pass, which gives access to all festival content

• R150 for a ticket to the Saturday night gala after the rugby

• R300 for a ticket to the Saturday night gala plus the post-gala afterparty with celebrities.

Whether you’re a film student, movie buff, or just curious — this festival is for you!

Visit the festival website for more information at: www.silwerskermfees.co.za