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On February 8, 2006, the DGA Special Projects Committee inaugurated its new Global Cinema Series with a screening of the South African feature film Tsotsi and a conversation with its director, moderated by actor and director Danny Glover.
Based on the novel written by acclaimed playwright Athol Fugard, Tsotsi traces six days in the life of a young gang leader who steals a woman’s car—unaware that her baby is in the back seat. Faced with caring for an infant, Tsotsi, who was orphaned at an early age and forced to survive by his wits alone, unexpectedly taps into reservoirs of humanity that he did not know he possessed.
Victoria Hochberg, DGA National Board member and co-chair of the Special Projects Global Cinema sub-committee, welcomed the audience and described the mission of the series, noting that "too often American audiences are denied the opportunity to see films other than those home-grown in the United States." She went on to say, "We want filmmakers in countries other than our own to have an informed and appreciative audience for their work."
Following the screening and remarks by DGA Board member and African American Steering Committee (AASC) co-chair LeVar Burton, the audience was treated to a Q&A with director Gavin Hood, moderated by DGA member Danny Glover. Among the guests were South African Consul General Jeannette Ndhlovu and the star of Tsotsi, Presley Chweneyagae who played the title role.
In addition to being South Africa's official nomination for the Academy Awards in the Foreign Language Category, Tsotsi has won audience awards at the Edinburgh, Toronto and AFI festivals.
The next presentation of the Global Cinema Screening Series will be the Iranian film, The Day I Became A Woman, directed by Marziyeh Meshkini, on Wednesday, March 15.
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