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WHAT DID YOU DREAM?

It’s the summer school holidays in 1990 South Africa, and 11-year-old Boipelo returns to her grandmother Koko’s house in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The country is on the brink of democracy, and Boipelo is about to attend a multiracial school, adding to her uncertainty. This holiday is different, marked by her grandfather’s violent coughing and ominous adult conversations. Amidst the usual chores and clashes with her cousins, Boipelo is troubled by her inability to remember her dreams, crucial for her granny’s local lottery, Fahfee. Determined to bring a smile to her grandmother’s face, she devises a plan to dream again and feel a sense of belonging before her life changes forever.

Q: What inspired the story behind your short film?
A: My childhood memories of December holidays at my grandmother’s house in Atteridgeville.

Q: Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?
A: The film was set in one house, but we used three different houses to achieve this.

Q: How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?
A: Any length of film allows for some level of character development.

Q: What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?
A: I hope that people will remember that growing up as a black child in Apartheid South Africa had gentle, loving, playful, whimsical moments too.

Q: How do you see your short film fitting into your broader body of work or future projects?
A: I continue to tell nuanced, complex stories of black life.

Q: What’s the strangest piece of advice you’ve ever received about filmmaking?
A: “Short films are a waste of money” – It’s not true.

Q: If you could have a superpower to help you with filmmaking, what would it be and how would you use it?
A: Lots of money – I’d use it wisely.

Q: Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
A: Any festival that showcases short films is important – shorts are a great, accessible way to exhibit talent.

Directors

Length

20

Language

Tswana

Country of production

South Africa

Genre

Drama

Year

2020

Screening