BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – The Alliance Française de Mbabane will launch the film A Dream ‘Liphupho’ by Siphosethu Sibandze and Ayeye Entertainment, on March 14 at the Alliance Française de Mbabane premises.
The launch will begin at 6pm and tickets to the launch are available at Yini Loku and Alliance Francaise de Mbabane for E50.
Ayeye Entertainment, in association with Luda Films Production, Bigtime Beats, Lenscope ISP, and Silverstone’s Pictures, released the feature film last month. The entertainment stable also gave special thanks to the Alliance Française de Mbabane for their great collaboration and support of the film.
A Dream ‘Liphupho’ is a story that follows a doubtful boy’s dream of becoming a professional actor while facing the difficult reality of his life. Despite being confined under dire conditions, he remains hopeful and perseverant.
In a previous interview, the director and producer, Siphosethu Sibandze, shared with this publication that the film was short around Mbabane, Mantjolo, and also in Hilltop, Mahwalala. The duration of the film is an hour, which makes it a feature film. It has a wide cast of about 18 actors, including Akahle Ntjalintjili, Gift Shongwe, Nqobile, Mavuso, and Siphosethu Sibandze.
In April and May 2023, they hosted an acting master class, which made their work easy as they didn’t have auditions. They used actors who were in the master class. There are about 15 participants, and half of the class is part of the film.
The film is written and directed by Sibandze and Sibusile Dlamini is the assistant director. The cinematographer is Luyanda Motsa, while the second camera operator is Sanele Mazibuko. The sound is Bahle Shongwe and the gaffer is Clifford Dludlu.
Ayeye Entertainment has produced a couple of short films before. In 2022, Lifa Lami was the first short film that drew a lot of interest from a lot of EmaSwati who love films. They also produced New Problem in Town with Luyanda Motsa, Dear Jesus, and Emuva. This is their first feature film, as they have been known for producing the best work in short films, and people have wanted more of their work.
