sarafina film

The iconic film, SARAFINA! had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 30 years ago and was released shortly thereafter at cinemas in South Africa. To mark this milestone anniversary, e.tv has partnered with Anant Singh and Videovision Entertainment to broadcast the film on the 16th of June 2022.

Inspired by the events of the ‘Soweto Uprising’ of 1976, SARAFINA! is produced by Anant Singh and directed by Darrell Roodt, and stars Leleti Khumalo, Mbongeni Ngema, John Kani, Robert Whitehead and Miriam Makeba alongside Oscar winner, Whoopi Goldberg.

Singh who was at the Cannes Film Festival last week said, “It was a truly nostalgic moment for me when I was walking on the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals where I met officials of the festival who could scarcely believe that it was 30 years since the momentous world premiere in Cannes. They were all part of that historic night where the film received a 20-minute standing ovation with our stars Leleti Khumalo, Miriam Makeba, Whoopi Goldberg, Mbongeni Ngema and director Darrell Roodt reveling in the limelight.”

Singh added, “My journey with SARAFINA! began 35 years ago when I saw the play at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. I was moved and felt that I had to make a film about this amazing play. I was able to secure the film rights from Mbongeni Ngema and the rest is history. The important aspect for me was that SARAFINA! was based on the watershed event of 16 June 1976 which changed the course of South Africa’s history. SARAFINA! was made shortly after Madiba was released from prison and we were fortunate to have had his support to make the film and have him as guest of honour at the South African premiere of the film. Today, 30 years later, we are delighted to be sharing our film, which perpetuates the contribution of the heroes of 1976 to our democracy, with the viewers of e.tv.”

“First broadcast on e.tv 20 years ago, SARAFINA! has remained an audience favourite and an important film in South African cinema. We are proud to partner with Videovision Entertainment to bring SARAFINA! back to to e.tv to celebrate this milestone.” – Marisa Hendricks ( e.tv Content Specialist)

On Thursday the 16th of June 2022, e.tv will broadcast SARAFINA! in celebration of the beautifully-crafted period piece that touched the hearts of South Africans and received global recognition.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the cinema release of SARAFINA!, e.tv in partnership with Videovision Entertainment and Nu Metro will host red carpet screenings exclusively for e.tv’s loyal viewers at cinemas in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town on Wednesday the 15th of June 2022.

e.tv will run a competition where South African viewers can win tickets to these screenings and red-carpet events. Viewers will be required to tune into the movies ‘Atlantis’ on Saturday the 28th of May at 8PM, ‘The Transporter’ on Sunday the 5th of June at 9PM and ‘The Millennium Menace’ on Saturday the 11th of June at 8PM, to find the questions they need to answer for a chance to win double tickets to the exclusive cinema screening event.