Shepherds and Butchers hits SA cinemas today
The most talked about South African film during the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), Shepherds and Butchers, will finally be screened in local cinemas from this weekend.
The movie revolves around a young warden who is arrested after killing seven black members of a karate team, and the lawyer who takes-on the ensuing murder case.
Speaking to Newswatch prior to the film's premier, producer Anant Singh says the cast and crew of the film are excited to finally have it shown to the South African audience.
Shepherds and Butchers was meant to air during the DIFF, on June 17th this year. However, Singh and director Oliver Schmitz withdrew it from screening - over disagreements with screening times.
"It was unfortunate that we couldn't air the film when we wanted to initially. However, it is nice to bring the film to a Durban audience so they can see this thought-provoking film," he said.
In June, Singh said he was disappointed at the fact that the movie, which is a true story written by Durban advocate Chris Marnewick and shot in the city - was given low priority by officials at the Durban Film Office.
"The world festivals are embracing the films and here we are, in our hometown, with the insults of the process. And how this film has been treated is very sad," Singh said at the time.
Shepherds and Butchers also placed third in the Panorama Audience Award category for Fiction Films at the Berlin Film Festival in February - the first ever for a South African film.
LISTEN BELOW: Singh describes what the film is about: