South Africa is planning on sending a skollie to the Oscars. The local film, Noem my Skollie, has been selected as the official South African entry for next year's Academy Awards in the best foreign film category.Noem my Skollie, based on the life of scriptwriter John Fredericks, is set in the world of prison gangs. It tells his story during the 1960s on the Cape Flats and how he used his gift of storytelling to avoid joining the prison gang system.It is also the directorial debut of Daryne Joshua and showcases a powerful score by Cape Town musician Kyle Shepherd.Crying as he relayed his news, Fredericks, 70, said the selection was "great"."I'm elated and proud that my film has been chosen. I've achieved the impossible dream. I have a miniature Oscar trophy on my desk and now it could be a reality," he said.Joshua was equally proud and said even though the road to the Oscars was still long, being selected meant more international exposure for the film and South Africa."You can't pre-empt the success of a film but when I read the script I knew it would move people. The great thing is that members of the academy and producers will watch the film, so even if we don't make it, they watched it and so the film becomes a calling card."Jan du Plessis, director of M-Net movies said yesterday: " Noem my Skollie has been a project close to our hearts at M-Net and kykNET is incredibly proud of every single person who brought this authentic South African story to life."What makes it even more special is that this moving film is the work of a first-time director and that the story is rooted in the true-life experiences of the screenwriter."It's a film the world needs to see," Du Plessis said...