Watch out for “The Lucky Specials” on TV3

Celebrate Africa Day by watching THE LUCKY SPECIALS on TV3 on May 25 at 3 p.m. An African film for African audiences, this new feature-length film from the producers of the widely-acclaimed movie “Inside Story” follows a guitarist and his friends on their journey to create a new musical sound and catapult their small-time band to the big stage. THE LUCKY SPECIALS is making its west African broadcast premiere after winning awards at the Pan-African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).

The Lucky Specials are a cover band in a dusty town in southern Africa. Mandla (Oros Mampofu) is a miner by day and plays lead guitar by night. He dreams of making it big in the music industry. When tragedy strikes, the band, Mandla and their friend Nkanyiso (Sivenathi Mabuya) struggle to hold everything together.

Produced by Discovery Learning Alliance and Quizzical Pictures in association with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, with support from Wellcome Trust, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and USAID and PEPFAR through Management Sciences for Health (MSH), THE LUCKY SPECIALS entertains with its dynamic storyline, new brand of African music, and a unique look at tuberculosis.

South African director Rea Rangaka (Ode in Blood) led a phenomenal cast, including musician Blondie Makhene as Mandla’s mentor Bra Easy; Richard Lukunku (Thina Sobabili), Thomas Gumede (A Place Called Home) and Fulu Mugovhani (Ayanda) as Mandla’s bandmates; and Linda Sebezo (Gauteng Maboneng) as a businesswoman who threatens to make The Lucky Specials’ dreams fall apart.

“Media, particularly film, has immense power to entertain, to express emotions and to inform individuals in a way that nothing else can,” said Aric Noboa, president of Discovery Learning Alliance and producer of THE LUCKY SPECIALS. “This film has it all: a new genre of music created specifically for the movie, a great story and a powerful message. We are privileged to work with our distinguished partners to bring this story to audiences across Africa and around the world.”

“When I read the script, it connected,” said Rangaka. “I am drawn to films that have powerful messages, especially when they come packaged in a good story. This story, as well as working with a great cast and crew, made THE LUCKY SPECIALS a deeply personal experience for me; I think audiences will understand and identify with what the characters are going through.”

“The film is filled with human and social values of family and community solidarity. It directs the viewer towards a future open to hope and perseverance,” said the SIGNIS jury members at FESPACO, where THE LUCKY SPECIALS received the SIGNIS award. SIGNIS is a non-governmental organization that seeks to promote a culture of peace through media.

“Films like THE LUCKY SPECIALS create an opportunity for great storytelling while giving viewers something that they have not seen before,” said Harriet Gavshon, managing director at Quizzical Pictures. “Innovation was key in bringing aspects of the film to life, combining drama with animation.”

“It’s always a great feeling bringing a character to life on-screen, and my character Mandla encounters a complex set of situations that take him down an unexpected path,” said Mampofu. “Figuring out how he evolves throughout the course of the film was fulfilling for me, and I think will be captivating for viewers as well.”

In addition to FESPACO, THE LUCKY SPECIALS was selected for the Toronto Black Film Festival, the Harare International Festival of the Arts, the San Francisco Black Film Festival, and the Zanzibar International Film Festival.

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