South African filmmaker Teboho Edkins’s crossgenre documentary Western, Days of Cannibalism has been nominated for a Best Documentary Award at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival which takes place in February.
Days of Cannibalism, which has its World Premiere at the Festival, is set in the rugged terrain of a remote rural region in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Southern Africa. Here modern-day pioneers are met with unease by local communities, and self-made Chinese merchants negotiate their place alongside traditional Basotho cattle breeders.
‘The film, like a classical Western, takes place in a universal frontier space in which the laws of society are in a state of flux,” explains Edkins. “I am fascinated by the notion of settlers moving into new spaces, and what this does to the status quo, especially within the context of globalisation and capitalist forces. The arrival of new settlers in Lesotho – economic migrants from China – has upset the balance of power. Old laws and old gods are being called into question. Against the backdrop of a newly emerging China-Africa relationship Days of Cannibalism explores the complexities and the latent tensions this encounter gives rise to.”
The film avoids central characters or an overarching plot; instead strained moments and small gestures between the newly arrived pioneers and local communities unfold against a vast and harsh landscape.
Produced by KinoElektron, Day Zero Films, Kepler Film Days of Cannibalism the world sales rights have been picked up by Paris based Indie Sales.
The film will be screened on the following dates, venues in Berlin:
- 22.02.2020 16:30 Kino International (PREMIERE)
- 23.02.2020 16:15 Cubix 7
- 24.02.2020 13:30 CinemaxX 6
- 28.02.2020 19:15 Cubix 7
- Berlinale Talents Programme
- 25.02.2020 14:00 HAU – Hebbel am Ufer theatre
Teboho Edkins Biography
Teboho Edkins (*1980 in Tennessee, USA) grew up in Southern Africa and lives and works in Cape Town and Berlin.
He studied photography and fine art at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa and film at Le Fresnoy Studio National des Arts Contemporains in Tourcoing, France. This was followed by a degree in directing at the Deutsche Film und Fernseh-akademie in Berlin (dffb).
Teboho Edkins’s films have screened at over 400 film festivals including the International Film Festival Berlin (Berlinale); International Short Film Festival, Oberhausen; and International Film Festival (IFFR), Rotterdam.
His films have also shown in many international museums and galleries including at the Centre Pompidou, Paris; Tate Modern, London; South London Gallery; Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin; Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt; Berlinische Galerie, Berlin; Weserburg-Museum für Moderne Kunst, Bremen. They have also been acquired by several public and private art collections including the Goetz Collection in Munich, von Kelternborn Collection in Frankfurt and the Collection KAI 10 | Arthena Foundation in Düsseldorf.
Teboho Edkins Filmography
- 2020: Days of Cannibalism, 79’min
- 2017: I am Sheriff, 28’min
- 2016: Initiation, 11’min
- 2015: Coming of Age, 63’min
- 2013: Gangster Backstage, 38’min
- 2011: Gangster Project, 54’ min
- 2011: Thato, 27’ 35” min
- 2008: Kinshasa 2.0, 11’07” min
- 2006: Gangster Project 1, 7’30” min
- 2005: True Love, 28’ min
- 2005: Looking Good, 47’ min
- 2004: Ask Me I’m Positive, 48’ min
