Saturday Star 2024-06-15

The untold stories of hip hop are set to come alive with the release of a new documentary produced by music icon Khuli Chana, among others. Maftown Heights Untold Stories is an extension of one of Africa’s largest hip hop festivals, Maftown Heights. The festival is known for its vibrant performances, diverse line-up, and commitment to showcasing emerging talent. It has become a cultural landmark attracting thousands of fans and artists from across the continent. The compelling four-part series promises to delve into the history, cultural significance and behind-the-scenes moments of the festival. According to a statement, the documentary will “explore the festival’s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a powerhouse in the African hip hop scene”. It will feature exclusive interviews, never-before-seen footage and personal stories from artists…

Ishana Night Shyamalan had “something to prove” with her directorial debut, The Watchers. The 24-year-old filmmaker has made her bow behind the camera on the supernatural horror flick and was interested in confounding the expectations of those who expected a movie in a similar manner to the work of her father M Night Shyamalan – the helmer of The Sixth Sense and Knock at the Cabin. Speaking to Digital Spy, Ishana said: “I was really interested in sort of playing with those expectations. “Knowing that my being by him and what the audience expects from his filmmaking, I was interested in using that as a thing to start with and then kind of subverting that and surprising you as to where the movie goes and what the tone is,…

The crab apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The Watchers is the debut feature of writer-director Ishana Night Shyamalan but you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for the work of M Night Shyamalan, the film’s producer and the filmmaker’s father. Shyamalan the elder makes suspense-horror dramas that either give a half-baked idea a fully- baked cinematic treatment or vice versa; Shyamalan the daughter’s first feature-length film is just half-baked all around. But she’s only 24 and deserves to be re-evaluated after she’s made a few more movies on her own. The plot is the usual Shyamalanarama, so much so that viewers who saw M Night’s most recent outing, Knock at the Cabin, may experience a frisson of déjà vu. Mina (Dakota Fanning), a dour American living in Dublin…

Vin Diesel has promised fans that Fast X: Part 2 will “hit you hard”. The 56-year-old actor is set to reprise the role of Dominic Toretto for the latest film in the Fast and Furious franchise, and Diesel has taken to social media to post an emotional update about the much-anticipated new movie. Alongside a throwback photo of himself and former co-star Paul Walker – who died in a car accident in 2013, aged 40 – Diesel wrote on Instagram: “While doing ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) this week on the Universal lot, for a beautifully written piece by Chris Morgan … I was reminded of the blessed moments along this journey … where bonds transcended film. “Fast X: Part 2, written by Zach Dean … is going to hit you…

As Father’s Day approaches , it’s not just about celebrating dads; it’s about recognising the importance of their mental well-being too. The mental health of fathers has a ripple effect, impacting not only dads themselves but also their partners, children and the overall family dynamic. When fathers silently struggle with mental health issues, the emotional and psychological balance of the entire family is disturbed. According to Vital Baby’s Dr Anthony Nedelman, a respected authority on paternal mental health, early intervention and supportive networks that are adapted to dads’ experiences are essential for meeting the urgent requirements of fathers when it comes to their mental health. In today’s fast-paced world, dads juggle various responsibilities, from financial responsibilities and childhood trauma to a lack of role models to teach men to cope…

While South Africa commemorates Youth Month in June, the rest of the world celebrates International Pride Month. It is commemorated in June each year to celebrate the LGBQTIA+ community for the work they do for equal rights. When it comes to sexuality, South Africa remains the only country on the continent to legalise same-sex marriage. Like racism, homophobia is an offence in South Africa. And although some discriminate against same-sex couples, the LGBQTIA+ community is fearless when it comes to their rights. This Pride Month, we celebrate some of the most vocal LGBQTIA+ advocates. Rich Mnisi The award-winning designer has been vocal about gay rights. He uses fashion to raise awareness for LGBTQIA+ rights and spreads it globally. Mnisi has designed several Pride collections, including “Love Unites”, where he partnered…