One of 25 documentary projects to receive grants from the Sundance Institute's Documentary Film Program and Fund (DFP) this fall – specifically, the Audience Engagement Award, which, according to Sundance, will…
"… support strategic exchanges between international human rights defenders, diplomats and law students poised to take action on the issues of evictions and housing rights, and a screening tour featuring a youth leadership initiative for shantytown dwellers in affected countries including Haiti, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, India and Brazil."
The Dear Mandela short story goes… When their shantytowns are threatened with mass eviction, three ‘young lions’ of South Africa’s new generation rise from the shacks and take their government to the highest court in the land, putting the promises of democracy to the test.
The film follows their journey as they invoke Nelson Mandela's example and become leaders.
By turns inspiring, devastating and funny, the film offers a new perspective on the role that young people can play in political change and is a fascinating portrait of South Africa coming of age.
Co-directed by award-winning South African filmmaker and editor Dara Kell, and Christopher Nizza, an Emmy Award-winning NYC filmmaker and editor, this is the pair's feature-length documentary debut.
It won Best South African Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival, the Movies That Matter Golden Butterfly award and the Grand Chameleon award at the Brooklyn Film Festival.
Congrats to the film and filmmakers on the recognition!
Watch the trailer below:
