Johannesburg, South Africa – The Ergo Company is proud to announce that “Old Righteous Blues”, directed by award-winning filmmaker Muneera Sallies (Melody, Twisted Christmas, Straat Rotte), has been selected as South Africa’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film Category at the 97th Academy Awards. The Academy Awards Jurors will on the 17th of December announce the shortlisted films that will move forward to the next stage of the awards season.
“We are thrilled that ‘Old Righteous Blues’ has been selected to represent South Africa at the Oscars,” said Muneera Sallies, the film’s director. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our cast and crew, and we are honoured to share this story with the world. As a director it is not often that a story like this comes your way – one that is so beautifully written, character-driven and that deals with universal themes like family, love and community, all while showing off its unique cultural nuances and world. This is the kind of project every director dreams of and I am super proud of the whole team from the actors to the crew who all played a huge part in bringing this amazing story to the screen.”
Old Righteous Blues is a poignant and powerful drama that explores themes of identity, love, community, and redemption in a small South African town. It is a story set in the hundred year tradition of brass bands in the Robertson, Worcester district in the Western Cape. The region is rich with fruit orchids and wine farms. As the harvest happens, bands as big as a hundred strong, come together to practice and then to compete against each other. Christmas is central to events but competitions continue until February. Set against this unique working-class world, a Romeo and Juliet story plays out as our characters from competing bands fall in love with each other, in secret. Deep wounds of past lies obliterate the fabric of the community. The film features a talented ensemble cast and showcases the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The masterful script by celebrated Carol Shore (Muvhango ), Old Righteous Blues has captivated its audiences from its initial screening at the Silwerskerm Fees The film encompasses a team that was successful in translating the story into a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film. Carol found her perfect producers in Cati Weinek (The Fragile King, The Letter Reader) and Dumi Gumbi (Headspace, Mrs Right Guy). With successes of such films as Mrs Right Guy, the SAFTAs award winning for screenwriting and Best Actor – Freedom (best script by Jafta Mamabolo); The Tokoloshe (Jerome Pikwane); Headspace -highest grossing film in SA in 2023 – (directors Gerhard Painter and Paul Meyer); and the recent five-time SAFTA award winning The Fragile King (directed and written by Tristan Holmes), The Ergo Company was well equipped to work with this powerful script.
Starring Aydan Croy (Suidooster, Arendsvlei), Joshwin Dyson (Arendsvlei), Simon Bruinders (7de Laan, Getroud Met Rugby), Meg Saayman (Arendsvlei) and Kevin Smith (Backstage, Isidingo), the film boost a crew that had not previously had the opportunity to lead their departments on international productions. This committed crew went the extra mile in the rural Robertson Bo-dorp for a period of 6 weeks resulting in a textured, deeply authentic, film that would have audiences in tears when it was launched at Silwerskerm Fees in 2023.
The nominees for the Best International Feature Film category will be announced on the 17th of January, 2025 while the 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday the 02nd of March 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Old Righteous Blues was made possible through the support of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), KykNet Films, Indigenous Film Distribution, and production company The Ergo Company’s distribution company – Ergo Distro International.
The National Film and Video Foundation is the organisation that is responsible for the growth of the local film industry therefore has been tasked with ensuring that South Africa is represented at the Oscars.
