IndiePix Films, in a distribution partnership with Retro Afrika Bioscope (an independent label of Gravel Road Distribution Group dedicated to locating, acquiring, restoring and re-releasing forgotten and discarded classics of African cinema), is currently releasing vintage 1970s and 1980s genre films rarely seen outside South African borders, through numerous digital platforms, including IndiePix Films’ signature streaming service, IndiePix Unlimited. Plans are to distribute 48 titles for its “Vintage Afrika” collection. Available on IndiePix as of today are about 20 of the 48 titles, with more on the way.
Consumers will have access to the collection of Retro Afrika Bioscope films as they’re made available, which range from light-hearted comedies, high-octane action films and provocative race dramas that were met with opposition from the apartheid government. These 48 vintage films have all undergone a highly-specialized digital restoration process for optimal viewing.
The small budget features includes “Umbango,” one of the first Zulu Westerns and an official selection at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival; “Fishy Stones,” a cat-and- mouse crime caper; and “Hostage,” a thriller pitting police inspectors against a psychopath with a mega-bomb.
“We’ve long looked toward Africa for powerful, unique and engaging cinema, so we’re thrilled that we’re able to add to our catalog with these vintage South African classics,” said Mattos in a previous statement. “Gravel Road and Retro Afrika Bioscope have done an incredible job of locating and restoring these indie gems, and we’re looking forward to making them accessible to lovers of African film through IndiePix Unlimited”.
“It’s through partnerships such as this that we are able to expose world audiences to Africa’s rich cinema history, and through this exposure, we are able to continue our preservation and restoration efforts,” says Gravel Road Distribution Group CEO Benjamin Cowley. “We, at Gravel Road, are very excited to be part of the Indiepix family and are looking forward to sharing more lost African classics with the world through Indiepix.”
To see which “Vintage Afrika” films are currently available for download, visit IndiePixFilms.com.
