Swaziland Animated Doc “Liyana” In Theaters Now With More To FollowPosted by Wilson Morales
October 12, 2018
Now playing in New York at the Maysles Documentary Center in NY is Abramorama‘s Swaziland genre defying documentary Liyana, from directors Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp. The film is also open on October 19 in Los Angeles at Laemmle NoHo with additional cities to follow.
Executive produced by Westworld‘s Thandie Newton and produced by Academy Award-winning director Daniel Junge (Saving Face), the docu features South African storyteller Gcina Mhlophe guiding us in a narrative about five orphaned children from Swaziland who collaborate to craft a collective fairytale drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Their titular fictional character, Liyana, is brought to life in innovative animated artwork as she embarks on a perilous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. The children’s real and imagined worlds begin to converge, and they must choose what kind of story they will tell — in fiction and in their own lives.
“It is a privilege to be working with Abramorama,” said directors Amanda and Aaron Kopp. “They have an impressive track record of helping great films find their audience. Their innovative approach to film distribution suits our unique film perfectly.”
The docu featuring animation by Nigerian artist Shofela Coker as well as an original score by South African composer, Philip Miller.
The film has been hailed as, deeply moving and beautifully crafted by The Hollywood Reporter and lush and uplifting by the New York Times. Critics across the country say the film is brilliant, masterful, an inspirational cinematic experience, and that LIYANA stands a strong chance of making Oscar buzz throughout the year.
