Includes a postfilm conversation with directorproducers amanda and aaron kopp, executive producer thandie newton, and art director shofela coker. For her feature directorial debut, liyana, she was awarded funding from shine global and fork films and was the recipient of the 2018 emerging female filmmaker award from the oxford film festival. Aaron kopp is an awardwinning filmmaker and national emmynominated cinematographer who grew up in the kingdom of swaziland. It is derived from the lyn root which is used in a number of places in the quran, such as. Liyana, created as an eightyear labour of love by eswatiniborn aaron kopp and amanda kopp, and executive produced by britishzimbabwean actress thandie newton, is a massive critical hit. For convenience, all 2017 films should be included in this category. Executive produced by emmywinner thandie newton, and produced by oscarwinner daniel junge, liyana features innovative animated artwork by shofela coker and an original score by philip miller. Liyana is that rare film that, stealing a phrase from horace, operates in both the aesthetic and instructional domains. At one orphanage, healing takes place through collective storywritingread more. Go, you and your brother, with my signs, and do not neglect my remembrance. Aaron shot and coproduced the academy awardwinning documentary about acid attacks in pakistan, saving face. After all, since the film is as much about the healing power of storytelling as it is about the situation in swaziland, they had to do the kids story justice. Oct 14, 2018 on or about october 14, 2018 the film was in completed status.
Five orphaned children in swaziland turn past trauma into creative fuel for an original collective fairytale in which they send a young girl on a dangerous quest. Find out what is showing at ster kinekor, nu metro and independent cinemas around south africa. Liyana is a documentary feature finalist at the 2017 heartland film festival and will be presented at. Online, she celebrities in the net series frequency, which includes garnered over nine million sights and over,400 clients. This genredefying film weaves an original animated heros journey with poetic documentary scenes to create an inspiring tale of perseverance. Liyana cleveland international film festival april 15. The film follows the children, zweli, sibusiso, phumlani, mkhuleko, and nomcebo, as they collaborate to tell the original tale of liyana, a fictional character whose early life bears remarkable similarities to their own. This animated african tale is born in the imaginations of five orphaned children in swaziland who collaborate to tell a story of perseverance drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams.
The films most excruciating sequence occurs when a kid, sniffling with dread, waits for the results of his hiv test in the deafening silence of a doctors office. Our list of movies in theaters in 2017 is even more accurate than the imdb database. South arts announces 201718 southern circuit tour of. Aaron kopp and amanda kopp are awardwinning filmmakers based in denver, colorado. First look at the gorgeous animateddocumentary film ew. Liyana is about five swaziland orphans who, under the guidance of storyteller gcina mhlophe, create their own fictional character that embarks on a journey to. Xxi stara planina fest balkan folk 2017 official film hd. Liyana islamic name meaning baby names for muslims. Liyana, however, is not an average documentary about their difficult situation, as one might expect. At times heartbreaking, this film is also infused with laughter, joy, and hope. Apr 24, 2019 liyana jasmay biography affair, married, husband, ethnicity, nationality, salary, net worth married biography who is liyana jasmay. Wild about movies provides you the most uptodate 2017 movies information online.
Among its lessons for the viewer are the importance of the imagination and the natural impulse for creation that can be stimulated with the help of an empathic guide and teacher. I recently spoke with aaron and amanda about completing the film. She is a hardworking person and has made a respectable position in malaysia acting. He shot and coproduced saving face 2012, an academy awardwinning documentary about acid attacks in pakistan, and was also cinematographer for the hunting ground 2015, a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses that had its premiere at sundance. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children are orphaned. Get a first look at the gorgeous animateddocumentary film liyana. Swaziland is a tiny country with the worlds highest hiv infection rate.
Five children in swaziland, orphaned due to the countrys civil war, dive into their imaginations to create an original african tale about a girl on a dangerous quest to. Five swazi orphaned children turn past trauma into creative fuel for an original collective fairytale, in which they send a young girl on a dangerous quest. The filmwhich dazzles audiences everywhere its shownis a tribute to creativity, the strength of the human spirit, and the healing power of storytelling. Together they invent liyanas dangerous quest to rescue her twin brothers, which is brought to life by their own charismatic storytelling and gorgeous animation. This animated african tale is born in the imaginations of five orphaned children in swaziland who collaborate to tell a. Her most recent production is the feature film, the chemo club, a comedy heist film, which completed principal photography in august 2015. Liyana is a tribute to creativity, the strength of the human spirit, and the healing power storytelling.
And a sweet limited edition movie poster plus all of the above. Through the southern circuit, we are reshaping the relationship. Awardwinning documentary animated film about an original african tale created by orphaned children in eswatini. Critically acclaimed, and executive produced by awardwinning actress, thandie newton, liyana has won more than 30 jury and audience awards and screened at more than 100 film festivals around the world including the british film institute. Jun 12, 2017 bulgarian championship of folklore euro folk 2017 world cup of folklore vt 2017 official film hd duration. Liyana is two films in one, each unfolding with subtlety, sensitivity and strength thanks to the sterling documentarian instincts of filmmakers aaron and amanda kopp and 2017s best animated work so far with storyboards and 3d renderings from artist shofela coker in swaziland, more than 25% of adults have tested positive for hiv. Liyana is a beautiful documentary that not only educates people about epidemics that are occurring in africa, but gives a creative animated story created by children featured in the film. Moderated by tim cogshell, film critic on kpccs filmweek. A talented group of orphaned children in eswatini create a fictional heroine and send her on a dangerous quest. Liyana is still a wonder, and the story the kids cook up themselves every bit as epic as the one disney plagiarized for the lion king. Legendary south african storyteller, gcina mhlophe, guides five orphaned children from eswatini as they collaborate to craft an original fairytale drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams.
Film is just a modern version of mythmaking akin to liyanas children creators. Liyanas festival and award highlights include the grand prize award at both the heartland film festival and the new york international children. A swazi girl embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. But the real prize was the fact that the kids, now ages 1618, were there to see the completed film for the first time. Liyana 2017 release date south africa movie showtimes.
Trailer for animated doc film liyana telling an original african tale. Presented as part of the chicago critics film festival a swazi girl embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. I dont want to talk much about this one but i think its definitely worth a watch if you have the chance to see it and is a beautiful showcase for the power of film as a form of storytelling and the power of both as therapy. Liyana dvd jefferson county public library bibliocommons. Nov, 2017 other highlights of ajyal 2017 include the mena premiere of looking for oum kulthum from celebrated visual artist and filmmaker shirin neshat, qatar premiere of loving vincent the worlds first fully painted feature film, among others, along with world premieres of the next completed projects from the 2015 and 2016 qatar film fund, aisha. He was also cinematographer for the sundance audience awardwinning and academy awardnominated film, the hunting ground, about sexual assault on.
Liyana 2018 program lineup illuminate film festival. Meredith sause can be an acting professional and film manufacturer surviving in north carolina. Aaron kopp is an awardwinning filmmaker and emmynominated cinematographer who grew up in swaziland. Liyana looks unlike any documentary youve ever seen before on one hand, aaron and amanda kopps feature film takes an indepth look at the real lives of five orphaned children in swaziland. I accepted the award on behalf of the team the festival run over the last year has been incredibly inspiring and fulfilling. I watched the finished film through streaming tears. A tragic consequence are the estimated 200,000 orphans now needing care, many traumatized beyond just losing their parents. Amanda kopp is an awardwinning photographer and artist.
Born in the imagination of five orphaned children in the kingdom of eswatini, who tell together an uplifting story of perseverance, drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Aaron said,throughout the whole process we were governed by. In a storytelling workshop, the youngsters learn to create a central character for their story, then draw on their own often ghastly and horrifying truelife experiences to create an. Aaron was raised in swaziland and is an emmynominated cinematographer who has worked on films for hbo, netflix originals, national geographic, and many others. Five children in swaziland dive into their imaginations to create an original african tale about a girl on a dangerous quest. Their fictional character, liyana, is brought to life in innovative animated artwork. Five orphaned children living in swaziland collectively weave a cathartic tale of love, hope, and bravery through a fictional character they create named liyana. Liyana is a story born in the imaginations of five orphaned children in the kingdom of swaziland. Rather, the film is a creative workshop with the children, as they build a fictional story about a girl called liyana. Dec 05, 2017 a heartrending love story tops our list of the years best films, which also features a kidseye view of florida, political horror, erotic thrills, scifi noir, ghosts, grief and communism. The children narrate the story, but the journey of the titular liyana is brought to life through stylish animation. First film completed 2017 five children in swaziland dive into their imaginations to create an original african tale about a girl on a dangerous quest. English world education and belmont world film are pleased to copresent this special screening with the director present, sponsored by wburfm. Liyana is a lovely animationdocumentaryfairytale from eswatini and my first film from the country.
Nov, 2017 the fifth ajyal youth film festival, presented by the doha film institute, will present 103 films from 43 countries. I n march 2017, paul verhoevens first proper film in a decade opened to widespread critical acclaim and a light dusting of controversy. Passion river films is highlighting one of their best releases from this fall, an animated documentary film titled liyana. Aaron was awarded grants from the macarthur foundation and the doha film institute for his feature directorial debut, liyana. Liyana was released in 2018 on wednesday, october 10, 2018 in limited movie theaters. Amanda is an awardwinning photographer and artist, whose photographic work has been published internationally. Liyana is a young, fictional girl created by several young orphans in swaziland, where the scourge of aids has ravaged the population, leaving hundreds of thousands of children to fend for themselves. Liyana jasmay biography affair, married, husband, ethnicity.
This includes all 2017 films that can also be found in the subcategories. Drawing on their own experiences with adversity, the kids dream up the story of a brave young heroine on a quest to save her siblingsa. Vin chee, lee oh, lay oh, was an italian polymath of the renaissance whose areas of interest included. As a director, andres film night will fall has won a number of awards including an emmy, a peabody award, the royal television society award, and two focal international awards. I did not realize this was a documentary going in and thought it would be a fully animated film. Liyana is about five swaziland orphans who, under the guidance of storyteller gcina mhlophe, create their own fictional character that embarks on a journey to save her brothers. The film a mix of documentary and animated story is a one of a kind film and one of the most special cinematic experiences ive had all year. This category is for films originally released in the year 2017. Liyana is an indirect quranic name for girls that means softness, tenderness, and delicacy. Liyana is a genredefying celebration of collective storytelling, and liyana the character, the pearl at its center. She is a coowner and director of fireworxmedia, which is one of the most awarded companies in south africa. Despite the difficulties she has encountered on her path, liyanas story is one of triumph and inspiration, inviting the orphans and audience members alike to reclaim their own stories. This was sad and even sadder i just searched up my real name and i saw this and i was like oooooo a movie.
Liyana is a film that gives our young storytellers the stage. Jul 18, 2017 atlanta south arts, a regional arts organization serving nine states in the southeast announces the 201718 southern circuit tour of independent filmmakers. Liyana is a 2017 swazi documentary film directed and produced by aaron kopp and amanda kopp, following a group of swazi orphans as they construct a narrative based on their own experiences. Everything you need to know about liyana movie 2018. Your very own signed copy of the completed film liyana on dvd. Connecting the childrens imagined world with the one they live in, liyana weaves poetic documentary scenes together with an animated story to create an inspiring tale of perseverance. The sixday event, to be held from november 29 to december 4 at katara cultural. It is interwoven with poetic documentary footage of the creative process in the classroom and countryside. A swazi girl embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her young. This effort turns out so delightful that somebody should hire these children as focus group consultants the next time hollywood wants to tell a.
This wondrous blend of animation and documentary was born from the imaginations of five children living in an orphanage in swaziland. Aaron said,throughout the whole process we were governed by asking ourselves, what would the kids think. Andre is currently president of the royal anthropological institute of great. Bookending this moment is a temporary lull in the childrens actionpacked tale, prompted by the collapse of. Winner of best short film south carolina cultural film festival 2016 honored in the artist circle at nova fest 2016 distinctive achievement awards from wild rose film festival 2016 for. Their fictional character, liyana, is brought to life in innovative animated artwork as she embarks on a perilous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. We hope the audience will be enchanted by the childrens imaginations in the same way that we are. His latest film, where the wind blew was completed in 2016 for release in 2017. A special signed copy of the film liyana that includes hilarious behindthescenes footage and extras. Throughout the season, 18 filmmakers will tour their work to 21 screening partner venues spanning nine states for a total of 123 screenings. Liyana film screening program in international relations. We believe this film will play a role in deconstructing stereotypes and challenging the prevalent, simplistic narrative of african orphans.
The animated tale is about liyanas dangerous quest to rescue her young twin brothers through faith and perseverance. The film weaves her animated journey together with poetic documentary scenes to create an inspiring story of perseverance and hope. A beautiful animated tale, interwoven with observational documentary scenes, coming straight from the heart of africa. Gcina mhlophe five children in swaziland dive into their imaginations to create an original african tale about a girl on a dangerous quest. Liyana is a 2017 swazi documentary film directed and produced by aaron kopp and amanda kopp, following a group of swazi orphans as they construct a. A talented group of orphaned children in swaziland create a fictional heroine and send her on a dangerous quest. Liyana is proof there is light in the midst of darkness. Aug 29, 2017 filming locations for stephen kings 2017 horror, it. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. New england premiere the therapeutic power of storytelling is at the forefront of this genredefying documentary. Click on any of the 2017 movie posters images for complete information about all 2017 movies in theaters, including trailers. Shes made an appearance in costarring tasks on homeland, change.
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