This article appeared in the 15th May 2025 edition of Kouga Express.
Read the original article HERE.
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Local Filmmaker Secures National Grant for Short Film
LOCAL filmmaker Vicki Fourie has been awarded a prestigious grant from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) to produce a short film this year, becoming the only recipient from the Eastern Cape among just four successful applicants nationwide.
The grant, awarded under the theme “Not What Society Expects,” focuses on highlighting the lives and experiences of people with disabilities.
Fourie’s proposal, titled “ThisAbility,” was selected for its powerful representation and fresh perspective on disability.
“I am the only recipient from the Eastern Cape. A total of four filmmakers received the Not What Society Expects grant. Two are based in Johannesburg, one in Durban, and I represent the Eastern Cape,” said Fourie.
“I was incredibly surprised when I received confirmation of the grant, and I was caught off guard, as I had entered the competition in October 2024 and only received the good news at the end of February this year. It feels like a leap of faith—like walking on water,” said Fourie.
She said that the film will follow a Deaf teenager who unknowingly becomes entangled in the violent taxi crime underworld of Jeffreys Bay after falling asleep in a taxi, only to uncover a deadly secret and a family betrayal that could destroy her — or set her free.
Fourie, who wears cochlear implants herself, brings personal experience to her storytelling.
She said that her parents discovered her 97% hearing loss when she was two years old.
“It’s unclear whether I was born with it or if it resulted from a life-threatening fever I had at six months old,” said Fourie.
She said that she wore hearing aids until the age of 23, which allowed her to hear about 40%.
Fourie further said that she grew up in a hearing world and attended a mainstream school.
At 23, she received her first cochlear implant in her right ear, and at 25, the second in her left ear.
Since then, Fourie said that her hearing has improved to 80%.
“I am deeply grateful for this miracle and embrace each day as an opportunity to discover new sounds,” said Fourie.
“I’ve experienced the full spectrum of hearing, from complete deafness to hearing with aids, and now with cochlear implants. This gives me a nuanced understanding of how people hear and communicate, which greatly influences my storytelling.”
Fourie said that deafness is not just complete silence and that there is a wide range of auditory experiences.
“I want to use film and television to reflect these realities and break misconceptions. Every deaf or hard of hearing person’s world is unique, and I’m excited to visually and acoustically explore those diverse experiences on screen,” said Fourie.
In 2024, she completed her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Motion Picture Medium with a focus on scriptwriting at AFDA in Gqeberha, graduating with distinction and making the Dean’s List.
Fourie’s research thesis, titled “A Forgotten Audience: Responses of d/Deaf Audiences to Films Depicting d/Deafness,” explored the representation of d/Deaf characters in film.
“ThisAbility will offer rare and authentic Deaf representation through South African Sign Language (SASL) and immersive sound design, allowing audiences to experience the world through the protagonist’s perspective,” said Fourie.
Her plan is to film the project entirely in Jeffreys Bay and she is currently assembling a local crew through her production company, Sacambaya Films, which she officially registered in October 2024.
“I want to spotlight Jeffreys Bay and its surrounding communities, showcasing their beauty and depth. Known as a place of restoration and the ‘Town of Dreams,’ Jeffreys Bay holds untapped creative potential. There’s a prophetic word that it will one day become the Hollywood of South Africa,” said Fourie.
She further said that the name Sacambaya Films draws inspiration from the Sacambaya River in Bolivia, which according to legend housed hidden treasure.
“With this film company, I aim to uncover the hidden treasures in stories and people—there is so much undiscovered gold waiting to be found if we take the time to look for it,” said Fourie.
She said that the film must premiere before March 2026, which is according to her contract with the NFVF.
Fourie said that she hopes to host a premiere in Jeffreys Bay for the local community to celebrate together.
“It’s important to me that this film positively impacts the town—beyond its reputation for waves and shells, Jeffreys Bay has a rich cultural heritage and many untold stories,” said Fourie.
Looking beyond “ThisAbility,” she has ambitious plans for her production company.
Fourie said that she has two television series concepts in development, both set in Jeffreys Bay and both featuring protagonists with hearing loss.
“Through these stories, I hope to create job opportunities, inspire inclusion, and build a sustainable creative industry in the Eastern Cape,” said Fourie.
Filmmakers or creatives interested in partnering on this or future projects can email Vicki Fourie at vickifourie@yahoo.com.
Her filmmaking journey can be followed on her Facebook Page – Vicki Fourie, and on her blog at vickifourie.com.
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