A scene from the award-winning doccie, "Mother City".
Image: Supplied.
The local documentary "Mother City" was recently awarded the esteemed President Thomas Sankara Award at the 2025 FESPACO Awards, held in Burkina Faso.
This recognition comes as the film shines a spotlight on the vital issue of affordable housing in Cape Town, tackling systemic inequalities and advocating for social justice, values that are at the heart of the film and the activists whose stories it tells.
It also challenges the status quo, urging the South African government to prioritise land justice.
"Mother City" director, Miki Redelinghuys, said: "To be awarded the President Thomas Sankara award was the best I could have imagined for our film. This award is a homage to the activists featured in 'Mother City', their work and the pursuit of a more equal and just society.”
The festival showcased over 200 films from across Africa and its diaspora and celebrated the continent’s most innovative filmmakers.
"Mother City" director Miki Redelinghuys and distribution and festival manager, Tarha McKenzie, at the FESPACO 2025 Closing Awards Ceremony.
Image: Supplied.
Redelinghuys shared: "I have always wanted to attend FESPACO, but being there exceeded my expectations. The vibrancy, warmth, and deep love and passion for cinema that I experienced in Burkina Faso have inspired me.
"It was a privilege to be among some of the legends of African cinema.”
Beyond accolades, the "Mother City" team leveraged their presence at FESPACO to engage in critical conversations around housing, participating in key initiatives like "Doc Days", which was hosted by docA and Real Reel Impact (RRI), both of which have provided vital impact support to the "Mother City" impact campaign.
Redelinghuys noted: "It's meaningful to receive support from organisations from the continent and build networks of mutual support."
The festival also saw strong participation from South African documentary filmmakers, with key initiatives such as the "Lab of Labs" by the Durban FilmMart (DFM), "Climate Story Lab", and Encounters South African International Documentary Festival.
"Mother City" co-director Pearlie Joubert said: “As we continue with our festival run and impact screenings, this award acknowledges the remarkable women and men who are bravely imagining a city and country where land justice is prioritised by our government.
"We’re not asking for pity… Implement your policies!”
A scene from "Mother City".
Image: Supplied.
Movie buffs will have the chance to see "Mother City" at the Joburg Film Festival, which runs from Tuesday, March 11, to Saturday, March 15, with a special screening scheduled for Saturday at 1pm at NuMetro 3, Hyde Park.