Well-known local author and poet Mashudu Sharon Kwinda released her first film, titled "Ndi Philiphise", on 29 August this year.
Mashudu is one of various authors whose work appears in the publication "Khanombuya", which is an anthology of Tshivenda poetry.
The 19-year-old from Mbaleni wrote and directed "Ndi Philiphise" herself, and she also plays the part of the leading lady, Denzhelangoho. "The movie was shot in Lufule and Makwarela village and is about a girl from a rural area who receives a scholarship to study at a university. When she gets there, however, she is changed by life in the city. She joins a group of wrong friends who influence her to embrace the life of a slay queen and she starts dating older men for money. She ends up failing all her modules and her scholarship is revoked. When she returns home, she learns that her grandmother has died, and her boyfriend is married to someone else."
Other cast members include Mudau Gudani, who plays the part of Papa Money, Nemavunde Takalani as Wolf, Farisani Munzhelele as Phethani, Muhali Vhuhwavho as Nomsa, and Rambauli Matodzi as Vhagwanne.
Mashudu says shooting the whole movie took two full weeks. What inspired her to write this movie was the day-to-day student life at the University of Venda, where she is a second-year student in microbiology. She says her biggest challenge while shooting the movie was the lack of proper equipment. Still, she is proud of what she has produced.
"Ndi Philiphise" is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMJF30tSLLg).