SPOTLIGHT | First look at ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’; Idris Elba fantasy film out; sneak peek at Venice Film Festival

Spotlight is our entertainment bite-sized snapshot featuring new entertainment releases in SA, exclusive film trailers and much more. New episodes are out every Thursday on Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sowetan Entertainment and on YouTube, plus you can follow Spotlight on Facebook.

In this week's episode of Spotlight we head to Istanbul, where the price of freedom is at stake in Three Thousand Years of Longing, we take a look at the start of the 79th Venice Film Festival, and we celebrate International Read a Book Day at selected cinemas, getting a first look at the screen adaptation of a best-selling debut novel. 

The highly anticipated Where the Crawdads Sing film adaptation will be screening two weeks before its release at selected Ster-Kinekor cinemas on Tuesday, September 6.  Written by Delia Owens, it tells the captivating story of Kya Clarke, an abandoned girl who raised herself to adulthood in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. When the body of a young man is discovered, the story takes a dark turn as she becomes the lead suspect. Make sure you don't miss these advance screenings next week and book at http://www.sterkinekor.com. 

The new movie release this week is the fantasy romance Three Thousand Years of Longing directed by George Miller (Mad Max, Happy Feet). The film takes audiences on a funny, wild and fantastical adventure with Dr Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), an academic attending a conference in Istanbul. There, she encounters a djinn (Idris Elba), who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. 

Spotlight takes a sneak peek at some of the most notable titles making their debut at the prestigious 79th Venice International Film Festival (August 31-September 10). Don't miss the advance clips of some of the movies been screened, including Don't Worry Darling, The Whale, The Son and Pearl. 

Catch our trailer segment looking ahead to next week’s release of the survival thriller Fall, as well as the exclusive competition giveaway, courtesy of Ster-Kinekor. ​

For full interviews, breaking news, trailers and clips, and competition details, visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies!

Win a copy of ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’

This week, Spotlight is giving away a copy of the novel Where the Crawdads Sing and a R500 Sorbet voucher to celebrate the advance screenings of the film adaptation on September 6.

To enter, visit the Spotlight South Africa Facebook page.

Terms and conditions apply.

Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by SMS after the competition has closed.  Entrants’ personal details will not be retained for marketing purposes. Winners have to provide proof of age (ID/driver’s licence) and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. By entering participants agree to have their names published on TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE and Spotlight South Africa on Facebook. Employees of Arena Holdings and their family members are not eligible to enter.