PAVING FORWARD

Mthokozisi Lembethe

Directed by Mthokozisi Lembethe, Paving Forward was the only film from South Africa that was screened at the 2012 Durban Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

The film reflects back on the road travelled in recognizing LGBTI rights (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community) in South Africa and how the ANC was involved. However, the film questions whether the rights are under threat because of the current leaders who make homophobic statements in public. The film draws links between the fight for freedom under apartheid and gay and lesbian people, thus writing them into an important political and social history – a history from which LGBTI people are so often ignored. Through interviews with activists, politicians and judges, this short documentary exposes the vast divide between constitutional freedom and equality, and its articulation within society.

The film follows a personal story of a lesbian mum, Nosipho Mahola, who is still not free to live her fully because her children find it hard to accept that their mother is lesbian. Her journey proves that LGBTI people are still not free even if they have a strong protection on the rights.

Born in KZN, Mthokozisi is a young filmmaker who studied at Big Fish School of digital filmmaking and holds a Performing Arts diploma from the Durban University of Technology. He served his internship in 2008 at the SABC as Assistant Technical Producer. He has been involved in theatre productions where he works as technical stage crew.

Mthokozisi views film and theatre as a great combination to tell stories that impact on society. He has great passion in directing work that showcases the struggles faced by society and gives a voice to their struggles. He was selected as one of 50 young filmmakers across Africa to be part of the 2011 Talent Campus at the Durban Film Festival. The documentaries that he produced and directed have travelled to different film festivals: Out in Africa film festival, Durban film festival, KwaZulu Natal African film festival, Durban Gay and Lesbian film festival, Architect Africa film festival and the Montreal film festival in Canada.

“It was a great humbling experience for me to see my work being given positive feedback and I would like more people to see the film because its addresses a controversial issue that is avoided to be voiced in public, gay and lesbian rights and issues faced by LGBTI community,” he says. “As an upcoming filmmaker I believe I have a social responsibility as a filmmaker to be the voice of the people and tell stories that will create change in society.”

If anyone is interested in seeing the film or wants to know more about the film they can email Lembethe on mthoko23@gmail.com or call him on 072 968 4851.