Films fresh from the Silwerskerm Festival on kykNET soon
The last popcorn crumbs have scarcely been swept away after the 2025 Silwerskerm Festival, but kykNET viewers can already look forward to seeing the short films that premiered at this year’s festival.
The short films, which include drama, comedy and documentaries, begin on Sunday evening 31 August at 20:00 with three documentaries.
Vet vannie land is a short doccie that follows the brilliant botanist Pieter van Wyk as he tries to protect one of our country’s most unique ecosystems from collapse. Bliksems in Bothaville deals with the life of the all-in-wrestler Roger Wilters. His personal life is a sad affair, and the house that was once full of family members is now quiet. It was in the wrestling ring where Roger could express himself and forget his problems – until the only all-in-wrestling club in Bothaville closed. GHAM! Ons het lyn is an intimate look into the world of the Temple Boys from Ravensmead who, three years after their TikTok fame, are struggling with fading dreams.
On Saturday 6 September, four short films will be shown from 20:30.
Totsiens, Selina tells the story of Selina, the woman whose comforting presence in the Swanepoel household was taken for granted for years. With Clementine Mosimane, Lorraine Burger, Maki Mokhitli, Francois Lensley and Erasmus Esterhuizen. The family dramedy Kinnetafel’s tagline says it all: “Secrets at the table, knives in the back.” The cast includes Braeden Buys, Lauren Joseph, Melanie du Bois, Veronique Jephtas, Euodia Samson and Royston Stoffels. In Bly, a storm rages outside while the plan of an elderly couple, played by Anton Dekker and Karin Retief, to end their suffering begins to unravel when their granddaughter, played by Liza du Plessis, ends up in mortal danger. In ARK, Noa (Ben Albertyn) and Mira (Kristen Raath) find themselves in a spacecraft bound for Mars. The survival of humanity depends on the two of them, but there is a lot of baggage one carries along on the way to a new beginning. Will Noa and Mira be able to complete their mission?
On Sunday 7 September, two documentaries will be screened from 20:00.
Tussen Hemel en Aarde deals with the unimaginable grief experienced by the Springbok rugby player Jannie du Plessis and his wife, Ronel, on 16 November 2021: the drowning of their ten-month-old son. Felix by die koppie offers a personal look at the Marikana massacre as seen through the eyes and lens of the renowned photojournalist Felix Dlangamandla.
Starting at 20:30 on Saturday 13 September, there are three short films on the menu.
Alma op pad explores the impact of decisions made when things suddenly change. The 12-year-old Alma’s (Chrystal Conradie) mother wants to break away from the family’s traditional holiday destination. She yearns for something else, but her husband is not at all happy with the idea. Also featuring Laudo Liebenberg, Amalia Uys and Gerhard Conradie. Tussen die kwashale deals with the 11-year-old Tyron (Jihad Otto) who loses his artistic mother, Anna (Monique Rockman), to death. Tyron is autistic, and he finds comfort through painting. Min of Meer is the story of Jana who desires to be a mermaid and her beloved husband, Jakob, who wants to make her dream possible at all costs. With Liezl de Kock, Tiaan Slabbert, Neels Clasen, Zak Hendrikz and Craig Urbani.
On Sunday 14 September at 20:00, two documentaries take their turn.
Verander charts the emotional and political transformation of Lourens Jacobs, former head of security for President Nelson Mandela. It sheds light on who Lourens was before South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994 and examines his role in a time of political tension and division. Jan Bloed is a short documentary film about a former gang member from Westbury. His real name is Alister Fortuin, but as Jan Bloed he was once a member of the Fast Guns and Varados gang. Alister shares his life story and tells more about his childhood, his family and gang life.
On 20 September from 20:30, it’s time for the final three short films.
In Sewe, Michelle (Karlé Briedenhann) is trapped in a relationship that is becoming increasingly manipulative and violent. Yet she “can’t just leave” Francois (Viljé Maritz). Die Superette is an action-comedy set in a corner café. Aunty Sonja (June van Merch) is the sharp-witted cashier, and when two masked robbers, Bompie and Lange, burst in and demand money, the situation spirals into a hostage drama. Also with Dirk Stoltz, Marunzo Thomas and Tyron McKinnon. Hier stars David Viviers and Anja Taljaard in the lead roles, and their characters’ lives overlap with each other over six generations in this short film in which romance, science fiction, action and drama are whipped up with something decidedly ominous.
The feature film My f*k, Marelize! will be released in cinemas nationwide as well as in Namibia on 29 August. Keep an eye on kykNET’s platforms for news about the release of the other feature films.
The schedule is as follows:
31 Augustus
20:00 Vet vannie land
20:30 Bliksems in Bothaville
21:00 GHAM! Ons het lyn
6 September
20: 30 Totsiens, Selina
20:55 Kinnetafel
21:15 Bly
21:40 ARK
7 September
20:00 Tussen Hemel en Aarde
20:45 Felix by die koppie
13 September
20:30 Alma op pad
21:00 Tussen die kwashale
21:30 Min of Meer
14 September
20:00 Verander
20:45 Jan Bloed
20 September
20:30 Sewe
21:00 Die Superette
21:30 Hier
- The short films and documentary films are to be aired on kykNET (DStv channel 144) and will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.