Ava DuVernay’s film collective, ARRAY, has acquired its 19th feature: the South African coming-of-age film, Vaya, from Nigerian filmmaker Akin Omotoso.
It will be released on Netflix on November 1. The film first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016.
Paying homage to the Tsotsitaal namesake meaning “to go,” the film chronicles the innocence lost by three young South Africans who journey away from their rural homes on a train bound for Johannesburg. ARRAY has acquired distribution rights in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand territories.
“Through Vaya, actor turned director Akin Omotoso centers on South Africa’s diverse communities to explore the universal experiences related to coming of age. We’re excited to add this vibrant work to ARRAY’s catalog, and we look forward to sharing its message of hope in the face of adversity with an international audience,” said ARRAY’s Vice President Tilane Jones.
Stirring and suspenseful, Vaya culminates in an explosive moment based on real accounts. Omotoso’s collaboration with first-time feature cinematographer Kabelo Thathe pairs stunning aerial shots with fast-paced images in Johannesburg to intertwine the stories of strangers struggling to survive.