Silwerskermfees short films: Short back & sides

With: Ruan Wessels, Heléne Lombard, Megan Vorster

Freek is a socially awkward young man who has cut himself off from the world. He hides behind cynicism and a quiet rage, inherited from his emotionally unstable father. After a major fallout with his best friend, he ends up in a warm, welcoming hair salon – far outside his comfort zone – where Fernanda, a vivacious hairdresser with her own scars, recognises something in him and draws him out of his hard shell. She begins to challenge him to see himself and the people around him differently. When he wants to turn away from everything and everyone again, he realises he is turning into the man he never wanted to be. Will Freek take Fernanda’s hand and make the terrifying leap out of isolation?

Producer: Morné du Toit
Production Company: Helder Films
Director: Hennie van Deventer
Screenwriter: Hennie van Deventer
Editor: Jurg Slabbert, Ruan van Rooyen
Cinematographer: Amelia Henning
Soundtrack/Original Score: Augusta Zietsman

The kykNET Silwerskerm Festival is a prestigious and proudly South African and Afrikaans film festival that has supported, empowered, and developed the local film industry for more than a decade. While a number of feature films from seasoned filmmakers make their world debut or South African premiere at this prestigious event, the festival is also a showcase for emerging talent: a series of short films, produced under the festival’s banner with the necessary mentorship, annually shine a spotlight on their craft.
The Film Festival proudly presents 6 short films from up-and-coming filmmakers, 4 short films from established filmmakers, and 5 short documentaries from the 2026 kykNET Silwerskerm Festival programme. More detailed information about the short films is available on our website. These short films were produced under the mentorship of kykNET and M-Net and premiered at the 2026 kykNET Silwerskerm Festival in Camps Bay.