FILM
Cannes success for SA's 'Slash'
18 June 2002
Homegrown horror movie Slash has been snapped up for theatrical and home
video release at the Cannes Film Festival. South Africa hosted its second-ever
pavilion at Cannes this year, and was rewarded when Slash - the first
feature from New Africa Media (NAM) Films - caught the attention of a major
international studio.
Slash, a teen horror movie in the mould of Scream, was picked up by
Universal Studios for international home video release (excluding the US) and by
Overseas Film Group/First Look Media for US and Canadian theatrical release.
Scandinavia, Benelux, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Thailand and the Middle East have
also secured the rights to the film, mostly for theatrical release.
Strongly promoted at Cannes with T-shirts, carrier bags, plasma screens and a
stand, the film had the highest number of screenings of any film at the festival
market - a hard-sell strategy which clearly paid
off.
The interest in independent South African product bodes well for the local industry.
"We're thrilled that Universal would pay attention to South Africa and South African
producers," NAM Films CEO Amy J Moore told SAfilm.org.za, "and we look forward to
pushing forward a long-term film strategy for this country."
Moore describes the film as a "horror laffer", a genre that combines laughs and gory
thrills - with, in this case, a fair helping of rock music thrown into the mix. Directed
by Neal Sundström, the plot follows a rock band to an isolated farm for a
funeral, where things soon enough turn nasty.
While the lead actors are American,
the film gives exposure to some of South Africa's hottest young talents - including
Nick Boraine, Neels Clasen, Nina Wassung and Brett Goldin.
Co-written by Stephen Francis (one of the creators of the Madam and Eve
comic strip) and satirist
Gus Silber, Slash was shot in Middelburg, although
the action is set in a small Midwest American town near Arkansas. The score is by
Neil Solomon and features the songs of local grunge band Zen Arcade.
The first feature from NAM Films, an arm of the black empowerment firm New
Africa Investment Limited, Slash was also one of the first South
African films to get the backing of state financing body the Industrial Development Corporation.
The South African pavilion was hosted by the National Film and Video Foundation
with the aim of promoting the South African industry, attracting foreign investment
and facilitating co-production deals; it also offered South African filmmakers a base
from which to do business. No South African films were featured in the official festival competition.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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