On the arrival of the French President François Hollande in South Africa today, Anant Singh announced that France will be the first European country to release Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom on 18 December, 2013.
The film will be released by French media giant Pathé, which will release the film across France on more than 350 screens, in the first release of this magnitude for a South African film.
Pathé believe that Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom has wide appeal among the French public, as Madiba is one of the most loved international statesmen in France.
Singh comments, “It is very exciting that President Hollande is visiting South Africa to enhance business and industrial ties with our country. It is equally exciting that France will be releasing Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom first in Europe. This major release in France is greater than that of Lincoln, The Iron Lady and Rush. We are encouraged with their confidence in the film and we believe it will further solidify the relationship between our countries.”
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom will be released nationally in South Africa on 28 November, 2013.
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is an Anant Singh presentation of a Videovision Entertainment production in association with Distant Horizon, Origin Pictures, Pathé, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and the National Empowerment Fund.
The film stars Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Terry Pheto, Jamie Bartlett and Deon Lotz.
Music is composed by Alex Heffes, with music contributions from Caiphus Semenya, Blondie Makhene and Dizu Plaatjies.
Co-producers are Robert Naidoo, Brian Cox, Vlokkie Gordon and Hlengiwe Makhathini, with executive producers Cameron McCracken, François Ivernel, Geoffrey Qhena, Basil Ford, Philisiwe Mthethwa, Harvey Weinstein, Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh, and the producer for Origin Pictures is David M Thompson.
Produced by Anant Singh, the film is based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom. The screenplay is by William Nicholson, and it is directed by Justin Chadwick.