Hier|daar: A Fresh breeze of a short film about love and mourning in an age of tech obsession, and with talent to watch – everywhere!
Edwin van der Walt is an exceptional actor. His outstanding performance in the kykNET drama series Fraksie and Donkerbos earned him two best actor nominations for the very first kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and Television. This glamorous event takes place on 26 August at the CTICC in Cape Town, and will be broadcast on kykNET on Sunday, 27 August at 20:00.
Edwin will also debut his skill behind the camera at this year’s festival, as the director of Hier|daar. This short film will introduce a host of promising up-and-coming young talent to keep an eye on in future.
Hier|daar is the type of film you can’t reveal too much about in advance, but take note: it’s a fresh, modern story about love and mourning, where technology presents the main character, Liam, with some difficult choices. While Liam’s wife is in a coma, he is glued to his computer, where he meets someone else.
How Hier|daar came about is a story in itself.
It all started with the actor Conradie van Heerden, who was nominated for a Fiesta in 2022 for best emerging artist, for the KKNK play Om skoon te wees. Hier|daar was his idea.
Hier|daar is a simple story that revolves around love and the complexity and intrigue that it brings,” says Conradie. “It fascinates me. Also, the increasing effect of technology on our daily lives. I wanted viewers to take a moment and consider what they would do in Liam’s shoes.”
After Hier|daar got the green light from the Silwerskerm Festival mentorship project, Conradie approached Melissa Myburgh to pen the script.
“Melissa is an incredible writer who gets my way of thinking and sense of humor,” explains Conradie.
Conradie and Melissa met in 2017 when they acted in the same play. Cupid’s arrow hit home, and while they were in a relationship for three years, they shared all their story ideas with each other.
In addition to penning her first screenplay, Melissa wrote a song for Hier|daar, which adds to the short film’s unique tone. It is also her beautiful voice you’ll hear.
Meanwhile, Edwin and Louw de Beer got to know Conradie and Melissa via NovieGuide – Edwin and Louw’s online educational platform established in 2020 to focus on the arts, offering master classes among other things. NovieGuide also produces commercials and reality shows. Hier|daar is their first narrative film.
With co-producers Edwin, Louw and Conradie at the helm of Hier|daar, the actors and rest of the crew were handpicked. “Edwin and I agreed that we only ever want to work with people we can braai with,” jokes Louw. “With ‘nice’ people on set, the atmosphere is great and the creativity is high.”
As a director, Edwin has great appreciation for Hier|daar’s technical team and actors: “Filmmaking is a team sport and it was a privilege to make magic with these energetic, talented people.”
Conradie plays the role of Liam opposite newcomer Minke Marais, an honours student at the University of Stellenbosch.
Hier|daar screens on Thursday, 24 August at the Silwerskerm Festival and will be available on kykNET and Showmax thereafter.