Pop-up Sunshine cinema for Khayelitsha

For just R1 for popcorn‚ you can watch a movie at Buhle Sithela's pop-up cinema in Khayelitsha. It took him about two years‚ but Sithela‚ 22‚ has realised his dream of bringing cinema to the township with regular weekend film shows. He makes the popcorn himself.

"I have been catering for the kids around Harare [in Khayelitsha]. Before a screening‚ I usually go out and spread the word … I show them educational films‚ short films‚ documentaries and comedy‚" said Sithela.

Sithela says he decided to screen films in Khayelitsha because "there are no malls close by‚ and to go and watch movies you must have money for transport‚ movie ticket‚ popcorn‚ cooldrink… I wanted to bring movies to the people. I believe movies can inspire and educate people. And it's also a form of entertainment."

He saved up money to buy speakers from his business – cleaning municipal wheelie bins in his neighbourhood. He was sponsored by Sunshine Cinema with a screen and a Sunbox‚ which includes a mini projector‚ a small solar panel‚ a generator‚ light and plugs.

Sithela screens his movies in different venues – sometimes even in his own front yard – using the Sunshine screen and projector and setting up a few chairs. Movies he has screened include Sarafina‚ Long Walk To Freedom and Mr Bones.

Other movie venues in Khayelitsha are the Isivivana Centre‚ which offers film screenings in the Bertha Movie House‚ and the Snapshot Mobile Cinema started by Bulelani Mvotho‚ which screens films not only in Khayelitsha‚ but also in Gugulethu‚ Langa‚ Stellenbosch and Paarl.

Thamsanqa Dinizulu of Snapshot Mobile Cinema said: "We are based in Harare Square‚ and during the weekend we screen at the Isivivana Centre‚ or we use the hall right here next to us."

Dinizulu said the films were chosen in terms of relevance and topics suggested by people. For instance‚ he screened films about women during Women's Month. Discussions were also organised around the film.

This article was first published by GroundUp