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Speaking Through Colour: a short film featuring REDinc. Artist: Mbathta Nguta

Published: 13 Oct 2017

(L) REDinc. artist Mbatha Nguta with Filmmaker Darius Devas (R)

At the Byron Film Festival (L-R): REDinc.’s Jenny London, Maggie Nguta (Mbatha’s mum), Darius Devas (filmmaker), Mbatha Nguta (REDinc. artist)

Over the past two months Darius Devas, Byron-Shire raised filmmaker (who won the Young Filmmaker of the Year Award at the first Byron Bay Film Festival), has been shooting endless hours of footage of Mbatha Nguta at both his painting and dancing activities. This included half a Sunday at our art studio where he interviewed Mbatha’s mother Maggie about her thoughts and impressions of Mbatha’s artwork. The result is an exquisite 5-minute film called Speaking Through Colour.
Darius states in his description of the film “ Through his connection to painting and dancing, Mbatha finds a powerful and joy filled way to express himself. The film explores his relationship with colour and movement as a form of language of his own”.

I was lucky enough to attend the world premiere of Speaking Through Colour at the Byron Bay Film Festival on the 9th October, with Mbatha, Maggie and Darius and a packed house in the theatre of the Byron Bay Community Centre. Mbatha joined Darius on the stage and enjoyed pointing out all the ceiling lights to the audience. He then settled in and watched his movie, obviously connecting with the colour and joy depicted on the screen. Maggie’s description “it was just beautiful”.

No need to be disappointed you missed the premiere – it will be shown at the Screenworks film festival in Lismore 1st December. Just breathtakingly beautiful.