MACHANSA comes from Durban filmmaker Siyabonga Shibe who wrote this heart-warming comedy. The film tells of a successful middle class businessman (played by Shibe) who has a severe gambling problem and is living on the streets as a result of a bet he made with his former business partner. Now Machansa must survive a year without gambling if he is to regain control of his company and return to middle class life. Boisterous, tender and deeply human, MACHANSA is an engaging comedy and an insightful comment on the culture of conspicuous consumerism that is increasingly defining life in South Africa.


d. Muntu Zwane, South Africa, 2009, English, Zulu and Xhosa with English subtitles, Video, 106 min

* World Premiere.
* Filmmakers in attendance