South African film Otelo Burning comes to the UK for the first time after its worldwide debut at at Korea’s Busan International Film Festival.

Directed by Sara Blecher, Otelo Burning is a story about three young boys who defy the law and escape their harsh township lives through the joy of surfing. Overcoming his fear of the water, Otelo Buthelezi discovers a natural talent, finding freedom on the waves. But in the turmoil of a country on the cusp of change, he is dragged down into a spiral of jealousy and violence. As Nelson Mandela finally walks free, Otelo must choose between two worlds.  The film was shot by DOP Lance Gewer (Tsotsi) and edited by Megan Gill (Tsotsi and Rendition).

Catch Otelo Burning at the BFI film festival on these dates. South African audiences will get a general release date in 2012.

Surfing Soweto, another of Blecher’s films will play at our Film Africa Festival early in November. We will be chatting to her too.