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At an event held in Johannesburg on 23 September in which South African pay-TV channel M-Net and cinema chain Nu Metro honoured Dr John Kani’s award-winning directorial debut, Nothing But The Truth, the imminent launch of the African Film Library’s new Video On Demand (VOD) website was announced.

An M-Net initiative, the African Film Library’s VOD website (www.africanfilmlibrary.com) features Nothing But The Truth and a host of other classic, award-winning feature films, shorts and documentaries from 50 years of the African continent’s film production. The online library allows you to search by director, genre or language, watch trailers and download the films of your choice.

Once launched, a wide selection of videos will be available for download. Consisting of award-winning works from more than 80 filmmakers including Senegalese Ousmane Sembene and Djibril Mambety, Yousef Chahine from Egypt and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia, the African Film Library is the largest online library of African films in the world. Through the imminent video-on-demand service, viewers will be able to easily pay for and download digitally remastered footage. Similar to a DVD rental service, they will have 24 hours access to the content. While the content is portable, the licence is not. Viewers can download the film on to a disc or flash drive, but will be required to pay again should they wish to watch it on another device or after the 24 hour period has expired.

M-Net CEO Patricia Scholtemeyer said that M-Net is proud to play a part in showcasing African film to the world. “Mike Dearham and his team have worked tirelessly on building this library and we are delighted that the African Film Library Video On Demand website will spread the continent’s special brand of cinematic magic around the globe.”

At the function, the Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Nelisiwe Mbatha-Mtimkulu, handed over one of the awards to Dr Kani and praised him for his contribution to the Arts in South Africa.

Nothing But The Truth was originally conceived as a stage play by Kani in honour of his late brother. The film was adapted for the screen and released in 2008. Nu Metro has also released the film on DVD, following the launch of a print version of the play of which 300 000 copies have already been distributed to schools across the country as part of the English Alternative Language curriculum.

“The launch of Nothing But The Truth has given Nu Metro the means to further the ongoing relationship with M-Net in showcasing and launching local product on a variety of platforms,” said Debbie McCrum, General Manager of Nu Metro Films. “Nu Metro is extremely proud to be associated with this prestigious title especially in light of its profoundly far-reaching effect through the schools as well as on an entertainment level.”

Nothing But The Truth is a gripping investigation into the complex dynamic between those black South Africans who remained in the country and risked their lives to lead the struggle against apartheid and those who returned victoriously after living in exile. In New Brighton, South Africa, 63-year-old librarian Sipho Makhaya prepares for the return of the ashes of his brother Themba, recently deceased while in exile in London after gaining a reputation as a hero of the anti-apartheid movement.

The New York Times called Nothing But The Truth “a deeply felt portrait that delicately weaves the extraordinary and the ordinary in its characters’ lives.” It received the Silver Stallion and Peace Prize at Fespaco 2009, Best African Film and the Catholic Peace Prize at the Milan African Film Festival 2009 and Best Film at both the 2009 Yaounde and Harare Film Festivals.