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The Ultimate Book Show with Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni

The Ultimate Book Show is a new television series for Literature. A typical episode is a 46-minute encounter between the host, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni, and one guest author in a setting that provides room for intelligent, insightful interviews with interesting subjects that go beyond standard talk-show conversation.

A Timeline of our Milestones:

• 15-23 April 21- Season One is recorded on location in Cape Town, producing 13 x 46-minute-long episodes.

• 20 Aug. 21- The show is launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scotland, and a private screening in Cape Town.

• 22-28 Feb. 22 - Season Two is filmed in Qonce, producing another 13 episodes of the same length.

• 28 April 22 - First Licensing meeting with national broadcaster.

• 17-28 May 22 – Featuring at Festival de Cannes, France, with a 3-hour timeslot for screening and discussion.

• In short: 1 Year, 2 Cities, 26 hrs. of 4K UHD Footage, 1000 Still Photography, 2 Festivals.

  • Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni
    Director
    Wanda, Wanda The Brave
  • Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni
    Writer
  • Dr Mamphela Ramphele
    Key Cast
    A Life
  • Prof. Zakes Mda
    Key Cast
    Wayfarer's Hymns
  • Dr Sindiwe Magona
    Key Cast
    When The Village Sleeps
  • Prof Pumla Dineo Gqola
    Key Cast
    Female Fear Factory
  • Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh
    Key Cast
    Democracy & Delusion
  • Buhle Ngaba
    Key Cast
  • Mohale Mashigo
    Key Cast
  • Loyiso Mkize
    Key Cast
  • Dr Xolisa Guzula
    Key Cast
  • Khanyo Mjamba
    Producer
  • Meekaaeel Adam
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Television
  • Runtime:
    60 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    25,488,100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K UHD
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Edinburgh International Book Festival
    Edinburgh
    United Kingdom
    August 20, 2021
  • Festival de Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    May 20, 2022
  • National Arts Festival
    Makhanda
    South Africa
    June 29, 2022
Director Biography - Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni

For positively impacting the world through storytelling in Film & Literature, living an indelible mark for generations, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni was recently listed on Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans (2022). She is the holder of two master’s degrees from the University of Cape Town and Peking University in Beijing (Summa Cum Laude). Her creative endeavor began as a single story of Wanda and has since become a serialized storybook with international honors: Skipping Stones Honor Awards (Oregon, 2021), for promoting an understanding of cultures, cultivating cooperation and encouraging a deeper awareness of diversity; Best Children’s Book of the Year (2022) selected by the Bank Street College of Education (New York City, 2022), for its literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the emotional impact on young readers. Sihle-isipho is the inspiring force behind The Ultimate Book Show, operating as the Head of Production of this pioneering documentary series that lifts the place of Literature in society. In just one year, Sihle-isipho has hosted the show in Cape Town and Qonce, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Festival de Cannes, and will be presenting it in California at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival and MIPCOM in October 2022.

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