LUCKY 
| Directed by: | Avie Luthra |
|---|---|
| Written by: | Avie Luthra |
| Starring: | Joy Mwandla, Muthal Naidoo |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Created: | 2005 |
| Runtime: | 20 min. |
| Also Listed In: |
2007 Silver Lake Film Festival |
| Member: | avieluthra |
Film Description:
Synopsis
LUCKY is moving from rural Zululand to Durban to live with his UNCLE. He is very excited until his UNCLE refuses to send him to school. Instead he gives him a tape of his mother’s last message made just before she died. LUCKY struggles to play this however, and manages to do so on the tape-deck of a racist old Indian woman (PADMA). This message upsets LUCKY so much that he runs away from home and becomes a street-child for a night. On his return PADMA feels sorry for him and they bond as an unlikely mother and son. The film aims to dramatise the effects of HIV on children in South Africa, whilst looking at African/Indian relationships. The film was shot in and around Durban in Natal, where HIV is estimated at around 40%. The story is taken from real life accounts and research of AIDS orphans and the difficulties they face. The tape idea comes from the practice of dying mothers creating memory boxes for their children. This currently very much part of HIV death in Natal. The actors in LUCKY were either non-professional or semi-professional. They all originated from the Durban area and for many of them this was their first film. The crew were a mixture of people mostly from Durban. Again, for most of them this was their first film and so the training component of this production was very high. The racial mix of the crew was around 50% black/Asian, 50% white.
Forms: Short
Genres: Family, Drama, Educational, Underground, Children Live Action, Coming of Age , Human Rights, Independent, Urban, Reality, Culture, Art, Spiritual
Niches: African, African American, Native/Aboriginal Peoples, Asian, Asian American, Black, Islamic, Native American, Third World, Women, Senior/Aging, Student, Youth/Teen, Children, Mature/Adult
Screenings & Events
AFI Fest
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner of Special Mention Grand Jury
Los Angeles, U S A
November 2005
Brief Encounters Film Festival
Film Festival
Bristol, United Kingdom
November 2005
FIPA
Film Festival
Biarritz, France
January 2006
Clermont-Ferrand Film Fest
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner of Special Mention by Grand Jury
Clermont-Ferrand, France
January 2006
BAFTA AWARDS
OTHER
Awards: ***Nominee for BAFTA for Best Short Film
London, United Kingdom
February 2006
Berlinale
Film Festival
Berlin, Germany
February 2006
San Francisco Asian American Film Festival
Film Festival
San Francisco, U S A
March 2006
San Fernando Valley Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: **Nominee Best Foreign Film
San Fernando Valley, U S A
March 2006
Film Festival
Lille, France
March 2006
Cinequest
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner Best Narrative Short Narrative (Academy Award Eligibility)
San Jose, U S A
March 2006
Bradford International Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: ***Winner Best Short Film
Bradford, United Kingdom
March 2006
IndieProducer Awards
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner: Honorable Mention from Jury
Los Angeles, U S A
March 2006
Asian American Film Festival
Film Festival
San Francisco, U S A
March 2006
Beverley Hill Film Festival
Film Festival
Beverley Hills, U S A
April 2006
Malibu Film Festival
Film Festival
Malibu, U S A
April 2006
Phoenix International Film Festiva
Film Festival
Phoenix, U S A
April 2006
Minimalen Film Festival
Film Festival
Minimalen, Norway
April 2006
Method Fest
Film Festival
Awards: **Nominee Best Student Film
Los Angeles, U S A
April 2006
Cinema Africano
Film Festival
Awards: ***Winner Best Short Film (youth jury), *Honorable Mention SIGNIS jury, ***Special Mention ISMU Jury
Milan, Italy
April 2006
Reelworld Film Festival
Film Festival
Toronto, Canada
April 2006
International Film Fest
Film Festival
Indianopollis, U S A
April 2006
World Fest
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner Platinum REMI award
Houston, U S A
April 2006
Indian Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner: Best Short Film Audience award
Los Angeles, U S A
April 2006
Brooklyn Underground Film Festival
Film Festival
Brooklyn, U S A
April 2006
Newport Beach Film Festival
Film Festival
Newport Beach , U S A
April 2006
Film Festival
Film Festival
Aarhus, Norway
April 2006
Nashville Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner: Best College Film (Academy Award Eligility)
Nashville, U S A
April 2006
Indianapolis INternational Film Festival
Film Festival
Indianapolis, U S A
April 2006
Athens Ohio International Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner: Best Short Film (2nd place)
Athens Ohio, U S A
April 2006
Aspen Shorts Fest
Film Festival
Awards: ***Winner Best Short Film (youth jury), **Winner: Special Commendation for Youth Actor
Aspen, U S A
April 2006
Milan International Film Festival
Film Festival
Milan, Italy
April 2006
San Francisco International Film Festival
Film Festival
San Francisco, U S A
April 2006
Syracuse Film Festival
Film Festival
Syracuse, U S A
April 2006
Naoussa International Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: **Winner: Best Short Film (2nd place) **Winner: Best Short Film (youth jury)
Naoussa, Greece
May 2006
VC Film Festival
Film Festival
Los Angeles, U S A
May 2006
New Jersey International Film Festival
Film Festival
New Jersey, U S A
May 2006
FICA film festival
Film Festival
Algarve, Portugal
May 2006
Dubrovnik International Film Festival
Film Festival
Dubrovnik, Croatia
May 2006
Treignano International Film Festival
Film Festival
Rome, Italy
May 2006
Cracow Film Festival
Film Festival
Cracow International Film Festival, Poland
May 2006
Cast & Crew
Avie Luthra (Director), Bex Hopkins (Producer), Bex Hopkins (Executive Producer)
WritingAvie Luthra (Writer)
PerformanceJoy Mwandla (Lead Actor), Muthal Naidoo (Lead Actor)
CameraJohn Pardue (Cinematographer/DP)
Art DepartmentChantal Carter (Production Designer)
Post ProductionLiz Roe (Picture Editor)
MusicBradley Miles (Original Music/Composer)
AcademicHemant Sharda (School Administrator), Jim O'Brien (Academic Advisor)
Lucky has not yet posted any blog entries.
Ratings
1 Comments about LUCKY
May 15, 2008 07:50AM
Hi there joy mwandla u ar probably older than me.My name is mbali mwandla from kzn in durban(S.A) i would lyk to know u better since i just discovered thre is a 'MWANDLA' WEBSITE im still in shock cause it has alot of info about my close family but i don't seem to recall u though i know u myt think that this e-mail is typical but i beg u could u e-mail me back at mbalimwandla@yahoo.com i would really appreciate ur answer.MBALI S. MWANDLA
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