Beyond the Light Barrier
| Beyond the Light Barrier | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Uga Carlini |
| Written by | Uga Carlini |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Georgia Court |
| Edited by | Joe De Ornelas |
| Music by | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder |
Production company | Towerkop Creations |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | South African |
| Language | English |
Beyond the Light Barrier is a 2023 South African documentary film directed, written, and produced by Uga Carlini.[1][2] Narrated by John Kani, the film examines the life and claims of Elizabeth Klarer, a South African meteorologist who alleged she had a romantic relationship with an extraterrestrial being named Akon from the planet Meton in the Proxima Centauri system.[3] It premiered at the Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival in June 2023 and was released worldwide on Amazon Prime on 6 October 2023.[4]
Synopsis
[edit]The film focuses on Elizabeth Klarer (1910–1994), a South African meteorologist who claimed she was abducted by an alien named Akon in the 1950s. She said she lived on Meton for four months, fell in love with Akon, and had a son with him, later sharing details of alien technology upon returning to Earth. The film uses interviews, archival footage, and animations to explore her story and its cultural context, narrated by John Kani, without confirming or denying its validity.[5]
Cast
[edit]- Sue Armstrong as Herself
- Beth Brady as Young Elizabeth
- John Kani as Narrator
- Paul Brogan as Himself
- Chester Chandler as Himself
- Denis Delestrac as Herself
- Elizabeth Klarer as Herself (archival footage)
Production
[edit]The film was written, directed, and produced by Uga Carlini under Towerkop Creations. The film took 13 years to complete, evolving from Carlini's earlier short film, Good Planets Are Hard to Find, which also focused on Elizabeth Klarer. It incorporates comic-book-style animations directed by Inka Kendzia and illustrations by Carmen Ziervogel.[6] The project was partially funded through Ethereum cryptocurrency and received support from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) of South Africa.[7]
Release
[edit]The film premiered at the Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival in June 2023 and screened at festivals such as the Hilton Arts Festival and the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto.[8][9] It was released globally on Amazon Prime on 6 October 2023.[4]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Female Eye Film Festival | Best Foreign Documentary | Uga Carlini | Won | [10] |
| Encounters South African International Documentary Festival | Best Documentary Film by an African Woman | Nominated | [11] | ||
| Best South-African Film | Nominated | ||||
| 2024 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Documentary Feature | Nominated | [12] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Quirky South African Story About Alien Love To Be Streamed On Amazon Prime". 2oceansvibe.com. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Uga Carlini on 'Beyond the Lightbarrier: The Elizabeth Klarer Story'". ofm.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "When Stars Collide – Paul Slab's New Play Meets Uga Carlini's New Film at Hilton Arts Festival". hiltonvillage.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Unique SA Story About Alien Love Set to Stream on Prime". sapeople.com. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Doccie Interrogates Alien Birth in South Africa". citizen.co.za. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Beyond the Light Barrier". 2023.encounters.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "National Film and Video Foundation" (PDF). nfvf.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "The Hilton Arts Festival" (PDF). hiltonfestival.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Watch a Stellar Lineup of Titles at the Female Eye Film Festival". shedoesthecity.com. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Award Winners & Honourable". thefemaleeyefilmfestival.com. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Industry Events". 2023.encounters.co.za. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "2024's SAFTA Nominations Announced: See All the Dominators and New Categories at This Year's Event". news24.com. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
External links
[edit]
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