The South African youth film "Silas and the Polar Bear on Table Mountain" has been selected for the 31st SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival, which will take place from October 2 to 10 in Chemnitz, Germany. The film, which was released in South African theaters on September 18, tells the story of a young boy named Silas who, after the death of his grandmother, believes she has wandered into Dreamland. He sets out to find her, accompanied by a new friend, Willemien.
The film features a range of interesting characters, including a hus, played by Beer Adriaanse, Van Hunks, played by Neil Sandilands, and Toemaar, played by Brendon Daniels. The film was produced locally and utilizes practical puppetry, prosthetics, and handmade puppets to bring the story to life. The screenplay was written by Annie Klopper, and Zandré Coetzer directed the film. Klopper also wrote the story in book format.
The international selection follows the film's local success at the recent Silwerskermfees, where "Silas and the Polar Bear on Table Mountain" won four awards. For South African filmmakers, there is a special history with SCHLiNGEL. Hanneke Schutte's "Meerkat Maantuig" competed at the festival in 2018 and won two important awards: the SLM Top Award and the FIPRESCI prize, which is judged by international film critics.
The selection for SCHLiNGEL is part of a larger conversation about the future of the South African film industry. According to Coetzer, the international selection is a testament to the idea that unique South African stories can be universal. "We believe that the more authentic and specific a story is, the more it has to offer the world," Coetzer said.
The SCHLiNGEL selection comes amid a string of international achievements for Nagvlug Films. The 2025 box office hit "My f*k, Marelize!" is set to begin its theater run in New Zealand on September 25, while Nico Scheepers' Afrikaans thriller "Hen" will be screened at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain in October.
"For us, it's not just about getting a South African film at an international festival," Coetzer said. "We want to help prove that there can be a sustainable export model for South African films. If we want our local film industry to grow and continue to exist, we must also find audiences and income outside our own borders – without making the stories less South African."
"The selection of 'Silas and the Polar Bear on Table Mountain' for the SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival is an enormous honor and wonderful recognition of the quality, heart, and soul of this South African production," said Mario Dos Santos of Filmfinity. The film is currently screening in South African theaters.
Key points
- The film "Silas and the Polar Bear on Table Mountain" has been selected for the 31st SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival in Germany.
- The film tells the story of a young boy who sets out to find his grandmother, who he believes has wandered into Dreamland.
- The selection is part of a larger conversation about the future of the South African film industry.
