Silwerskermfees short films: ‘n Poppy op die heuwel

With: Lauren Joseph, Marunzo Thomas, Charlene le Roux and Maurice Carpede

When their beloved grandmother Poppy dies, siblings Laila and Josh return to the Namaqualand farm where they spent most of their lives. For Laila, it’s clear: Poppy must be buried beside her parents on the land where generations of their family once lived. But the farm has changed hands, and the new owners deny permission for the burial . Laila refuses to accept this and decides to fulfil Poppy’s wish. But what does it truly mean to honour those we have lost? And what does it cost to claim a past that no longer has a place for you?

Producer: Deidré Jantjies
Production Company: Winnow Productions
Director: Winford Collings
Screenwriter: Winford Collings
Editors: Winford Collings, Shabdeen Cader & Deidré Jantjies
Cinematographer: Gray Kotze
Soundtrack/Original Score: Michael Bopape

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.