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Sandulela Asanda, a rising South African filmmaker whose debut feature film Black Burns Fast (2025) made waves on the international festival circuit, will see the film get its theatrical release in South Africa.
THE FILM: Black Burns Fast
What it’s about:
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A shy, hardworking scholarship student named Luthando at an elite South African girls’ boarding school
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A new student Ayanda arrives – she’s bold and free-spirited
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They fall into a secret romance
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Luthando must figure out her sexuality, friendships, and family pressure
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It’s a happy film – celebrates queer joy, not tragedy
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Visual style: Colorful, playful, with animations and dream-like scenes
WHERE & WHEN IT HAS SHOWN
| Event | Place | When |
|---|---|---|
| World Premiere | Durban, South Africa | July 2025 |
| International Premiere | Berlin, Germany | February 2026 |
| UK Premiere | London, UK | March 2026 |
| Canadian Premiere | Toronto, Canada | May 2026 |
| South African Cinemas | Nationwide (Ster-Kinekor, Nu Metro) | From 31 July 2026 |
WHAT’S UNCLEAR / WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
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Where you can watch it right now – besides the past festivals, only the South African cinema release is confirmed
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Streaming – it was once on Amazon Prime Video, but it’s unclear if it still is or in which countries
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Future screenings – no confirmed dates beyond the cinema run
SANDULELA ASANDA’S CAREER (SIMPLIFIED)
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Made a student film called Nongqawuse |
| 2019 | Joined Urucu Media, worked on a residency program |
| 2022 | Made a short film Mirror Mirror – showed at Toronto Film Festival |
| 2023 | Mirror Mirror showed in Berlin and won a South African award |
| 2025 | Black Burns Fast (her first full-length movie) premiered in Durban |
| 2026 | Black Burns Fast toured festivals worldwide and came to South African cinemas |
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