A major setback during the filming of Lubunyu did not stop Venda filmmaker Murena Netshitagana from winning the Best African Film award at the March 2025 World Film Festival in Cannes, France.
While shooting Lubunyu, his debut film, during intense load-shedding, a 50kVA generator caught fire, threatening to derail the production. But despite the challenge, the film stood out among many African entries and was officially announced as the winner on 27 April. The grand award ceremony will be held on 28 June in Cannes.
Netshitagana (34) from Ha-Khakhu village holds a postgraduate diploma in motion picture production from the Tshwane University of Technology.
Lubunyu, with the tagline A Village Under Terror, aligns with the 2025 festival theme of fighting gender-based violence and femicide. The title translates to "The Naked Intruder", a name rooted in both personal memory and cultural history.
Speaking to Limpopo Mirror, Netshitagana described the creative process as both enriching and demanding.
"One of the most memorable moments occurred when the 50kVA generator caught fire — especially challenging during load-shedding. On another occasion, our lead actor disappeared without notice, halting production for a day. These moments tested my resilience but also strengthened my commitment to telling this story," he said.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba congratulated Netshitagana, describing his win as a defining moment for rural creatives. "He has taken the spirit of Venda and Limpopo to the world stage," she said.
Netshitagana said the film was a deeply personal and culturally rich story that interrogated justice, tradition and deception. The inspiration came from a traumatic experience during his childhood.
"We are over the moon to have won such an award. When we entered the competition, we thought we were just taking a chance. This has helped us believe in ourselves, and we now need to invest time in honing local talent around Limpopo. We also hope the government will step in to offer support," he said.
He cited cinematic pioneers Djibril Diop Mambéty and Ousmane Sembène as key influences. "Closer to home, legendary South African filmmaker Ntshavheni wa Luruli's support, mentorship and guidance were invaluable," he said.
Asked what message he hoped audiences would take from the film, Netshitagana said Lubunyu explored themes of justice, identity and deception. "It shows how fear and social pressure can distort justice, and how danger often hides behind a familiar face," he said.