Oil on Water wins best best Feature Film at Everglades International Film Festival

South African feature film, Oil on Water, was awarded Best Feature Film at the Everglades International Film Festival on Saturday, 29th September 2007.

Oil on Water was the only South African feature film nominated in this category and took gold ahead of five other international films from the UK, Canada and Ireland, including award winning director Ivan Kavanagh's Tin Can Man which recently won two International Awards at this year’s Sydney Underground Film Festival.

A new feature film Oil on Water, produced exclusively out of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and due for release in cinemas in October 2007, won Best Feature Film at the Everglades International Film Festival on Saturday, 29th September 2007. The Festival showcased the talent of films from the likes of four-time Emmy Award winner, Mike Reiss, award-winning filmmaker, Gary Null, and multi-award winning Director and Cannes winner, Michael Attardi. Oil on Water is directed by South African acclaimed Director, Peter Matthews, who accepted the award for the film.

Hailed by filmgoers as one of the best films to come out of this country in recent years, Oil on Water was the only South African film nominated and it took the Gold Award from the United Kingdom, Canadian and Irish films nominated in the Best Feature Film category, including award winning director Ivan Kavanagh's new feature Tin Can Man which recently won two International Awards at this year’s Sydney Underground Film Festival.

The film is an insightful portrayal into what it is like to live with an undiagnosed psychological disorder and touches on emotional, psychological and spiritual issues that affect every human being at some time in their lives. Oil on Water has been described as a filmmaking tapestry, layered and textured with exquisite cinematography and psychological drama. The film depicts some of the most stunning locations in KwaZulu Natal. Because of the universality of the issues it addresses and the quality of the production, it has also been praised by international industry players, ahead of its distribution overseas.

Everglades International Film Festival is the sister festival to the Swansea Bay Film Festival and both festivals honor the individual voice. Oil on Water aims to uncover one of the world’s most heartbreaking and afflictive secrets – the effects of schizophrenia on those who suffer from it, and on those who love and live with them. According to writer and producer Elle Matthews, “Over 51 million people in the world suffer from the disorder, which is ten million more than the estimated 41 million people who are infected with HIV/Aids. Schizophrenia does not differentiate between race, culture and social class. It affects one in 100 people worldwide and is the leading cause of suicide in the world. Those statistics demand greater awareness for this mental disorder, and Oil on Water gives an honest voice to this silent killer.”