Gugu Sibiya

Gugu Sibiya

If you thought that the MacFest International Festival was exclusively about music, think again.

Flick fanatics will not be left out at the first-ever arts and cultural festival to hit the normally sleepy Mpumalanga. They are being catered for in the MacFest International Film Programme.

The Nkangala district of Steve Tshwete and Emalahleni is the place to be for movie fans who missed great local films.

Among the highlights is the Mpumalanga premier of Regardt van den Bergh's Faith Like Potatoes, a film that has earned international accolades, including the at Australian International Film Festival and the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Premiering today, the film is about a Zambian farmer of Scottish descent. He leaves his farm in the midst of political unrest and racially charged land reclaims, and travels south with his family to start a better life in South Africa.

With nothing more than a caravan on a patch of land and help from his foreman, Simeon Bhengu, the Buchan family struggle to settle in a new country.

Based on the inspiring true story by Angus Buchan, the book was adapted for the big screen by Regardt van den Bergh. It weaves together the moving life journey of a man who, like his potatoes, grows his faith.

Another star attraction will be the screening of Academy Award-winning Tsotsi.

Tomorrow has been dubbed Oscar Night when fans are encouraged to don their finest clothes to meet stars of Tsotsi.

Tsotsi will be preceded by two magnificent films, Whale Rider and Hotel Rwanda tonight. Leon Schuster's Mama Jack, Mr Bones and Oh Shucks Here Comes Untag will all be on show.

And for those who like Quentin Tarantino, his Kill Bill 1 and Kill Bill 2 will have you on the edge of your seat.

Tickets to all the films cost R10. Festival tickets are available from Computicket.