Roots Remember Rivers Weep

African Jujuism, 2026

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FILM PRODUCTION DETAILS

Experimental Festival
AFDA Study Year: 3
Genre: African Jujuism
Running Time: 9
Rating: PG
Viewing Restriction: 13

Roots Remember, Rivers Weep follows Lisebo, a city-dwelling woman haunted by vivid dreams of her grandmother, who urgently calls her back to her ancestral village with warnings of impending danger. Returning reluctantly, Lisebo finds herself caught between the spiritual pull of her heritage and the dismissive hostility of Mponeng, who scoffs at her visions as backward superstition. Guided by an unseen Storyteller, Lisebo journeys to three sacred sites the river, the forest, and the cave each revealing traumatic echoes of colonial violence, environmental destruction, and a devastating truth. Blending supernatural visions with urgent social commentary, this film asks what we lose when we forget where we come from and reminds us that silence and complicity carry the heaviest price of all.

CAST

Lisebo - Arlene Mutua
Mponeng - Lekarapa Mapaseka
Grandmother - Owethu Dlamini
Dancers - Nasr Kassiem Teagan Botha Boikano Mmusi
Choreography - Sharief SouthGate

CREW

Writer - Mosa Matela
Director - Omphile Moagi Mieke Kilian
Executive Producer - Thato Marais
Associate Producer - Milani-Nande Pokwana
Associate Producer - Thato Marais Milani-Nande Pokwana
Assitant Producer - Thato Marais Milani-Nande Pokwana
Cinematographer - Sebastián Iudick Reatlegile Khoza Makubalo Rhendani Mangen
Production Designer - Omphile Moagi Mieke Kilian
Costume, Make-up and Styling - Enzokuhle Dlamini
Editor - Zekhethelo Gqada Jade van Staaden
Sound Design - Connor Chamberlain
Composer - Hlelo Zungu
Visual Effects - Jade van Staaden
Data Wrangler - Carli Oliphant Patrick Barry
Colourist/Grader - Carli Oliphant Patrick Barry

VIDEOS
Trailer

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Behind the Scenes

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Production

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