What inspired the story behind your short film “6SENSE”?

Amílcar: The story was inspired by conversations we had over the phone with Mxshi Mo. His journey and experiences provided a compelling narrative that we wanted to explore and share.

Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?

Chris: Doing pre-production in a small rural village while based in another city posed logistical issues. However, having produced several series between countries during lockdown, we were able to anticipate and mitigate potential problems.

How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?

Amílcar: We relied on the universal experience of contemplating life without sight, which our audience could easily relate to. Mxshi is an excellent narrator of his own life, vividly expressing his difficulties, loneliness, and excitement. We didn’t need to script anything; we simply enhanced the raw interviews we conducted with him over several visits to KZN.

What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?

Chris: We hope our film brings more visibility to those with disabilities in the arts in South Africa and gives the audience greater insight into the untapped talents of many young people in rural areas.

How do you see your short film fitting into your broader body of work or future projects?

Amílcar: “6SENSE” follows our multi-episodic project THIRD Space, which examines music and dance as historical forms within global south communities. KAMVA uses music and popular culture to highlight untold stories and perspectives. Chris is currently directing a film about history and language in Cape Town through its multigenerational Hip Hop movement, while I’m producing a film on AI’s material realities for the African continent.

If your short film had a theme song, what would it be?

Amílcar: We already have one! “Uzobuya” by Mxshi Mo featuring Moonchild Sanelly is the theme song of our film, with the rest of the soundtrack created by Mxshi in collaboration with us.

If you could have a superpower to help you with filmmaking, what would it be and how would you use it?

Amílcar: The ability to access multiple dimensions, allowing me to be in two places at once—pre-production, shooting, and post-production simultaneously—while foreseeing and mitigating glitches at each stage.

Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?

Chris: It’s vital to have international markets in Africa to build our industry from within the continent. FAME attracts the business side of the creative industry, alongside the glitz and glamour of the festival, opening opportunities for creatives and keeping audiences engaged with local talent.

Amílcar: Festivals like FAME help situate Cape Town as a player in the international film world, bringing investment to the city and fostering a home-grown market that translates back to the global stage.