PALAMA Productions will debut their latest feature film Dis ek, Anna at the Durban International Film Festival, which runs from today until July 26.Based on the fictionalised autobiographical best-sellers Dis ek, Anna and Die Staat teen Anna Bruwer by Anchien Troskie, written under the pseudonym Elbie Lötter, the film has been adapted for the big screen by Tertius Kapp.

The film — produced by Niel van Deventer (Suurlemoen, Anderkant Gister) and directed by Sara Blecher (Ayanda, Otelo Burning) — is a harrowing, but ultimately uplifting story of a young woman who finds the strength to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and forge a new life.

Anna Bruwer is sexually abused by her stepfather over a period of eight years. Unable confide in anyone, she is rendered voiceless and inhabits a shadow world of shame, foreboding and secrecy, until she is finally able to break free from her tormentor.

“Bringing this film to screen has been a labour of love,” says Van Deventer. “It is very important to me to find projects that have the potential to become films that transcend the borders of our language and country. Anna is certainly such a story.”

Dis ek, Anna is being released at cinemas across the county on October 30.

The film, which is one of the films in competition at DIFF, can be seen at Suncoast at 4.30 pm on July 19, the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal at 8.15 pm on July 21 and at Suncoast at 7 pm on July 23. For more information go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za/