Fish Hoek’s Uga Carlini has added another accolade to her growing list of accomplishments, with her latest win at the Writer’s Guild of South Africa’s Muse Awards.
The multi-award-winning film-maker’s third feature film, Beyond the Light Barrier, won the Best Documentary Screenplay award at Cape Point Vineyards on Saturday October 7.
“Winning this award is an incredible honour, and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” Ms Carlini told the Echo.
“When a film takes 13 years to make, like this one did, I have many people to thank for their golden nuggets, input, and support for what became the final version of this script.”
Beyond the Light Barrier, narrated by John Kani, delves into the life of Elizabeth Klarer, a South African meteorologist who devoted herself to proving the existence of Akon, her extraterrestrial lover from the planet Meton in the Proxima Centauri solar system.
The film weaves together archival footage, interviews with Ms Klarer’s family and friends, insights from South African ufologists and the mystic Credo Mutwa, offering a comprehensive look into Ms Klarer’s enigmatic life.
Ms Carlini’s fascination with Ms Klarer’s story began when she was just eight years old, after reading an article by journalist Petrovna Metelerkamp in Huisgenoot. This article sparked her enduring fascination with the story.
“I want to express my gratitude to Elizabeth Klarer for her courage in writing Beyond the Light Barrier and insisting on its publication as a non-fiction work,” she said.
Toni Cardonna, the producer of the world’s first Ethereum-funded movie, The-Pitts-Circus, and an executive producer on Ms Carlini’s film, praised her as an exceptional artist who knows how to navigate challenges and manages to make things happen.
“The reason I think many more producers, networks, and studios should join her journey and invest in her next projects is that she has everything a successful film-maker needs. The artistic competence and knowledge, the human aspect that is needed in a people’s business, and the persistence, stamina, and stubbornness to bring projects to life.”
The film opened at the Encounters Documentary Film Festival, held in Johannesburg and Cape Town from June 22 to July 2. There, it was a finalist for the Adiaha Award, which recognises outstanding documentary films made by African women.
It also received a special mention for the Al Jazeera Best Documentary Award for the Best African Documentary. Additionally, it won the Best Foreign Documentary award at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, and the Best Feature Documentary award at the 8 & HalFilm Awards.
Ms Carlini, the founding owner of Towerkop Creations film production company, has been a leading force in championing female-driven heroine stories.
She was voted Woman of the Month in the Extraordinary Women of South Africa initiative and was inducted as a member of the South African/American Business Chamber.
Beyond the Light Barrier is available for global audiences to stream on Amazon Prime.
