As a proud supporter of diverse representation in film, I am absolutely thrilled about the upcoming production of “Granny Lee.” Having lived through the tumultuous 1980s in South Africa myself, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to this story. The fact that it’s based on a real-life figure who defied societal norms and lit up the underground disco scene during such a challenging era is truly inspiring.
In April 2025, a movie about the life of renowned South African transgender figure Granny Lee will start being filmed in Johannesburg.
During the current BFI London Film Festival, the project named “Granny Lee” took part in the Film London Production Finance Market.
The main character is modeled after a genuine individual who was both able to pass as white and identified as trans woman, and made a splash in the clandestine disco world of 1980s South Africa. Amidst the tumultuous setting of Apartheid-era Johannesburg and the rampant HIV/AIDS pandemic, the movie will chronicle the journey of Granny Lee, who serves as a mentor to a mourning mother, navigating her way through the city’s LGBTQ subculture.
Soli Philander, a versatile figure in South African showbiz, is set to play the role of Granny Lee. Meanwhile, Alexandra Billings has taken on the position of executive producer for this venture, under her own production company, Schmengie.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the dynamic duo, The Gabriels – father Ian Gabriel and son Gabe Gabriel – will be at the helm of an upcoming project. With Ian Gabriel’s impressive resume, including South Africa’s Oscar submission “Four Corners,” we can expect a deeply personal portrayal of 1980s Johannesburg in this feature.
The movie unites several well-known film production companies. Known Associates Entertainment, headed by Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri and Joel Chikapa-Phiri, who presented “Death of a Whistleblower” at its Toronto premiere, takes the lead in South Africa’s involvement. Shant Joshi’s Fae Pictures, famous for the Sundance and GLAAD Media Award-winning film “Framing Agnes” and Pakistan’s Oscar entry “In Flames,” represents the Canadian side. Yanick Letourneau’s Peripheria, producers of Ivory Coast’s Oscar submission “Night of the Kings,” also joins as a co-producer. Tamryn Reinecke’s Pale Rebel Productions, known for their SXSW award-winning film “It Is In Us All,” completes the production team.
The executive producers are Alexandra Billings and Chrisanne Blankenship-Billings (for Schmengie), Conor Barry (for Savage Productions), as well as Lindsay Blair Goeldner and Abdul Malik (for Fae Pictures).
The collaboration on this project involves teams from South Africa, Canada, and Ireland. Financing for the venture comes from the Known Associates Group, while Telefilm Canada and Screen Ireland are actively participating in it.
At present, the team is working on selecting an actress for the character of Irene, the mother, in collaboration with casting director Jessica Kelly. Earlier, the movie had been showcased to possible funders who specialize in funding gaps during the BFI London Film Festival’s Production Finance Market.
Project ‘Granny Lee’ aspires to be the first production resulting from the updated coproduction agreement between Canada and South Africa, a deal that was sealed during MIP Africa in early September.
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2024-10-14 11:16