'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' blitzes Germany

/ Zoo Palast/

 Katie Melua on the red carpet / Videovision Entertainment (p)

Anant Singh, Idris Elba, Zindzi Mandela and Justin Chadwick / Videovision Entertainment (p)

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom was launched in Berlin with great fanfare with a series of events which included a benefit banquet for the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Monday night at which international singing sensation, Katie Melua and South African-German singer, Joy Denalane performed. This was followed by a gala premiere last night at which producer Anant Singh, director Justin Chadwick, lead actor Idris Elba, Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Zindzi Mandela and Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation represented the film.

The film was the first film to premiere at Berlin's historic Zoo Palast cinema since it re-opened in November 2013 after a major renovation to restore the glory of the former Cold War-era theatre which was a cultural hub of the city. Among the VIP guests at the premiere were German celebrities, Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Oscar Nominee Armin Mueller-Stahl who starred in Singh’s production, The Long Run.

The film which has been dubbed in German, is distributed by Berlin-based Senator Film, and will be released across Germany on Thursday, 30 January on 280 screens.

“The reaction was amazing and the standing ovation all through the credits was incredible,” said producer, Anant Singh. “We are proud to be working with Senator Film in Germany and look forward to the opening tomorrow,” continued Singh.

South African Ambassador to Germany and former Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile hosted a post premiere reception at the South African Embassy in Berlin in honour of the film.

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom continues to be released in major international territories and will be released this week in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Nigeria and Ghana. This will be followed by releases in Hong Kong, Australia and Greece on 6 February, and then by Finland a week later and Turkey on 28 February.