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Four Corners South Africa's Oscar entry

18 September 2013

Four Corners, the first film to take deal in depth with the 100-year-old war between Cape Town's "Number" gangs, has been selected for consideration as South Africa's official entry for best foreign film at next year's Oscars.

If approved by the Oscars Academy Award Selection Committee, which makes its final selection of nominees in January, the film will represent South Africa at the 86th Annual Academy Awards in 2014.

Other South African films that have been nominated for the Oscars include Tsotsi, which won the best foreign film Oscar in 2006, and Yesterday (2005).

The South African Academy Award Selection Committee and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) announced the selection of Four Corners last week.

Officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences as the body to represent South Africa, the NFVF makes the submission on behalf of the South African film industry.

Directed by Ian Gabriel, Four Corners is the first film to deal in depth and intimately with the 100-year-old war of South Africa's Number gangs, the 26 and the 28. The film blends Sabela, Tsotsi-taal and Cape Afrikaans while playing out aspects of the war fought daily on the streets of the Cape Flats, home to both Number factions in the marginalized areas outside Cape Town.

"Being selected as the official South African foreign language candidate is a great honour for Four Corners as it takes its first steps into the world," Gabriel said told the NFVF.

"The film is as current as today's headlines, revealing the 100-year-old gang war in South Africa. We, the crew and cast of Four Corners are very proud of the film, which stars both actors and non-actors who all deliver great performances."

The South African Academy Award Selection Committee chairperson Mickey Dube told the NFVF that the judges were unanimous in their choice of the film.

"We found it fresh, original and intensely engaging, with very high production values as well as a well thought out story and execution. The performances were astounding and extremely believable, often blurring the line between fiction and reality. It was refreshing to see a film boldly tackling a part of our life not usually explored," Dube said.

SAinfo reporter and National Film and Video Foundation