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MASSIVE TURNOUT FOR ‘A DREAM: LIPHUPHO’ SCREENING AT YINI LOKU

By SIYABONGA NSIBANDE | 2024-04-15

ESWATINI produced film ‘A Dream: Liphupho’ continues to do well in the local industry as people gathered at Yini Loku to view the movie on Saturday.

In collaboration with the Antidote Culture Group, the movie producer and actor Siphosethu Sibandze hosted the third screening of the movie.

Welcoming people in attendance, Yini Loku provided the venue to showcase the movie, opening their space to highlight and support creative talents, with Khulekani Msweli’s art-pieces still displayed around the room.

“I had a dream of being an actor when I was younger. Basically, the film touches on my story, as well as the cast members.

The reason I cast myself in the film is because I had challenges on who to cast and who to trust. The cast helped me a lot, as this was a low budget production, making it difficult to pay cast members appropriately. They understood my vision and trusted me enough to continue and still be a part of it,” Sibandze clarified.

Sibandze also shared that a budget of E150 000 would be adequate to produce movies similar to ‘A Dream’.

During the screening, people watched attentively, reacting to scenes and actors with laughter, gasps and sounds, expressing their emotion towards different actions throughout the movie.
Although not all of the cast and production team could be in attendance, a couple of the actors from the film were present.

Sibandze explained that shooting the film took nine days, even though he had planned to complete shooting in just four days. He also clarified that the film consisted of 17 cast members, who all trusted him as a script-writer and director, to help him create and execute his vision.

Cast members in attendance included Nqobile Mavuse, who played the role of ‘LaTfwala’ the mother of ‘Musa’ (main character played by Siphosethu Sibandze), Clement Sithole, who played the role of ‘Thulani’, Ayanda Ginidza who played the character of ‘Smash’, Gift Shongwe, who played the role of ‘Sanele’, a fan favourite, and Sicelo Masuku, who played the role of ‘Babe Dlamini’.

The cast also received a round of applause and congratulations for their contribution to the film. Music and sound was originally produced by a local creative, Bahle Shongwe, who was part of the Antidote Vukubone Mentorship Programme earlier in the year. Sibandze explained his experience as a director and actor.

“It’s a matter of trusting your crew. I know that when I am acting in front of the camera, the assistant director steps in to provide direction. When I am off camera, I resume control” he stated.

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He also recognised the publics reception to his film from Alliance de Francaise, to Movie Zone and now, Yini Loku.

“It has been amazing. People seem to love the film. Everywhere we have had screenings, people have supported in their numbers, and today I am happy to share this with all of you,” he stated.
One of the people in attendance commended Sibandze for capturing and sharing the narrative of Eswatini and Mbabane.

Finally, Sibandze explained that he was trying to get his film exposure outside of the country through films festivals.

Sibandze thanked the Antidote Culture Group for supporting him and providing their space, Yini Loku, to him and his production. He thanked those in attendance for showing support towards his production as it benefits the Eswatini film industry positively.

Antidote’s Siphilele ‘Sips’ Magagula concluded the screening with some words of encouragement and wisdom to the audience.

“Siphosethu has hopefully planted a seed in all of you. Please don’t be afraid of your dreams. Be inspired by them. As someone who has many careers and is still looking, I would just like to say that, the hardest thing to do is to start. Open up to your friends and networks.

Don’t be afraid to tap into them. We all have dreams, but nobody can replicate your ideas like you. Don’t be afraid to be seen trying in public. If you leave here with something today, I hope it is the spark to start working on the things you dream of achieving,” she shared openly.

The Antidote entity continues to support Eswatini creatives and intends to host similar events to showcase the creatives of the country and their work.

They announced that Antidote artist ‘Grixxly’ will also be hosting a show in due time to showcase his music. Yini Loku will also be hosting the first edition of ‘Out with Cousins’ on Saturday.

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