Greytown Girl, 96min., South Africa
Directed by Darrell James Roodt
The true story of a small-town girl, born with physical limitations, abandoned as a baby, bravely builds her life and creates a love story that crosses continents through the romance of letter writing. An empowering and cinematic story of love and resilience.

https://www.greytowngirlthemovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/greytowngirl/

Get to know Writer & Producer Rani Sitaram:

1.What motivated you to make this film?

This is a true story of a small-town South African girl, born with physical limitations, and as a baby she was left at an under-resourced orphanage for black and Indian children , no challenge stopped her though, she bravely goes on to build her life, learns to read and write from magazines, even finds a pen-pal all the way across the oceans and creates a love story that crosses continents through the romance of letter writing.

When I heard Meena tell her story with such honesty and strength, it impacted me on the level of my Soul so I made her a Promise many years ago that I would make her film. I always keep my promises.

2.From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

In total from idea to finished product including delays from COVID it took me 8 years.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

In two words, the film is simply a "Promise Kept"

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
My biggest obstacle to the start of Production was COVID. The world stopped and systems changed. Funding was delayed and we lost precious talent along the way. Time was a resource that I had to watch slip away.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was certainly a heartwarming experience. I also felt so grateful that even though the world of the story was different and unique with many little cultural nuances, the film still had Universal appeal. The esteemed assessors seemed to have had a visceral experience from watching the film. All felt the different layers at the level of their Soul. Listening to the feedback it's clear that audiences had a whole and fulfilled entertainment experience. They seemed to have gained something, learnt something, rose with the characters against a regime, lost something, cried happy and sad tears and most importantly fell in love. I felt that the film achieved what it needed to achieve. I am humbled and thankful for the feedback.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I think I was born writing. My talent was probably nurtured over many a lifetime, so It's almost channelled through me rather than from me. During the long enduring apartheid regime into which I was born, Black, Indian and Coloured communities could not engage in several careers from which we were banned. Filmmaking was one of them. As a young person, I never imagined I would make films. At the dawn of our democracy, I realised I had a passion for business as well. I completed a masters Business Strategy in the Netherlands and I evolved into making films in fiction and non-fiction genres. My career as a filmmaker began much later in my adulthood. I then realised that I could do both the business of film as a Producer and be in my creative space as a Writer. Today I have manifested my dream.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I enjoyed Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding so much that I've watched it several times over and was equally rivetted by Christopher Nolan's Interstellar and watched it many times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
The feedback provided by the Female Film Festival is so critical to the advancement and possible sale of a film product. Feedback becomes an added asset to the package. I thank you for this.
I would love for there to be more networking interaction with relevant role players like sales agents and distributors in global territories. Even if this networking is online.
This will close the gap in the marketing process of submitting to festivals.
Another benefit would be if the Festivals themselves had access to more financial resources and funding in order to offer winning submissions grants or funds for their next product.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It's a helpful site creating access to independent filmmakers on a global scale. It was user friendly and I liked the fact that FilmFreeway goes through a process of verifying and accrediting festivals that filmmakers submit to.

10. What is your favorite meal?

In South Africa we have a diversity of people, beautiful coastlines and exquisite cuisine. Our cuisine is a fusion of the indigenous and the incomers. When the Indians were brought to work the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu Natal we also brought our spices. My absolute favourite meal is a spicy, exotic, rich crab curry and roti.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I'm so excited about my next film. It's equally immersive as Greytown Girl, but this time I'll take you on a journey into magical realism and the supernatural. I have a diverse slate of content that I am currently writing and producing. I can't wait to submit again next year.