Female Filmmakers Making a Horror in South Africa

Female Filmmakers Making a Horror in South Africa:

British actor, Coco Lloyd and our very own Mary-Anne Barlow Photo: Ockert Olivier

Centurion, May 17 2019: South African producer and actor, Mari Molefe van Heerden, co-founded the Kleinkaap Short Film Festival with Reine Swart in 2016. Molefe is best known for her work on Binnelanders, 7de Laan and Villa Rosa. Swart is best known for her work on Syfy’s Z Nation and the horror, The Lullaby. Their passion for independent filmmakers are substantial and they will continue to give praise to deserved films.

Female producer, Mari Molefe van Heerden

Both these ladies have been in the film industry for more than 10 years. Knowing the ups and downs that it entails and how important it is to support your fellow filmmakers.

Molefe and Swart teamed up with British producer and actor, Coco Lloyd to produce the feature film, Heks (AKA Her Mask). Lloyd is best known for Footballers Wives and the X Factor in the UK.

These three women brought well known producer and director, Andre Velts, onboard to share his excellent expertise. Velts has been involved with some of the biggest Afrikaans films such as Knysna and Jou Romeo.

The cast onboard includes incredible talents such as Christopher Jafhta, Hungani Ndlovu, Stephanie Sandows, Mary-Anne Barlow with Coco Lloyd and Mari Molefe van Heerden in the principal roles.

The young Director of Photography, Marius de Nysshen, did a brilliant job and has a very promising future.

Heks is surprisingly enough not an Afrikaans film, but an English film. As Heks sounds like “Hex” in English, the producers decided to keep the name proudly South African and there are a few Afrikaans lines in the film.

Swart was the director of Heks and it was her feature directorial debut. She has directed film festival short films such as Trypophobia, Skoonma and Eiko in Portland.

Heks according to the producers can be a witch or a curse and it is up to the audience to decided what it means.

This local horror with an international lead was solely filmed in Centurion at Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel. Nestled between Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Producing a film is extremely hard work, but these ladies and one gent are making it look easy. Currently in Post Production this horror will make make your hair raise.

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