‘LUKAS’ TO MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST NAMIBIAN FILM TO SCREEN IN CINEMAS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Following its successful premiere at Ster Kinekor Grove Mall on 01 February 2024 ‘Lukas’, the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) latest film, will make history as being the first Namibian film to screen in cinemas in both Namibia (Ster Kinekor Grove Mall and Maerua Mall) and South Africa (Johannesburg (Ster Kinekor Rosebank Nouveau and Southgate) and Cape Town (V&A Waterfront and N1 City)) from 08 March 2024.

In 2012 ‘Taste of Rain’ by Namibian Richard Pakleppa had made history by also being screened in South Africa. It was a Namibian – German – South African coproduction featuring South African actors Nicola Hanekom and Grant Swanby in the lead roles.

Directed by Philippe Talavera, based on a script written by Mikiros Garoes, with a 100% Namibian cast and crew, the film offers a poignant exploration of the lives of street children, providing a raw and authentic portrayal of their challenges and the unwavering spirit that propels them forward. Based on interviews done with 17 children and young people currently living in the streets and four young people who have come in conflict with the law due to their lives in the streets, the film is a fiction based on facts.

The film follows Lukas (played by Alejandro Cooper, Hernandes Gaonakgosi and Treazurique Titus) over 15 years. It sheds light on the harsh realities children in the streets face and questions how society both fails, and at times exploits, such children.

‘We are extremely proud to know ‘Lukas’ will have a run in cinemas in Windhoek, Johannesburg and Cape Town’ says producer and director Talavera. ‘We worked hard on this movie. It is exciting to know people in both Namibia and South Africa will be able to watch it and hopefully connect with Lukas and the issues we portray in the film. We hope it will also open doors for other Namibian productions to screen in SA, so that people from SA can get to know the talented actors we have in Namibia. Who knows, it might open doors for some of our actors to get roles in South African movies too.’

‘Lukas’ has also been selected in festivals in Nigeria (Coal City Film Festival) and the USA (the Black Film Summit). Further plans include a Namibian tour with screenings in towns such as Gobabis, Rehoboth and Keetmanshoop.

Screenings at Ster Kinekor Namibia and South Africa will run from 08 to 21 March 2024. The production of ‘Lukas’ was made possible thanks to support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.