When British Filmmaker Luke Bradford travelled to Tanzania to make a documentary which featured members of a community living with albinism, he met Florence. She’d had both her arms hacked off because of the belief that the body parts of people with albinism have special powers – yet still managed to find joy in life. This encounter inspired the development of WHITE GOLD. This live-action short film went on to premiere at The Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it won the Best Narrative Short prize, and has won numerous prestigious awards including Best Narrative Short at The African Film Festival and Best Acting at Global Impact Film Festival.
Mansa (Refilwe Modiselle), an African woman with albinism has had her arm hacked off by Natron the witch doctor in the name of witchcraft. Robbed of her security, career and dignity, Mansa now hunts Natron in a bid to confront him and seek her revenge.
The persecution of people with albinism still persists in the 21st Century. The superstition is widely prevalent in Africa, particularly in East Africa. People with albinism have been persecuted, killed, and dismembered and even had their graves desecrated. The NGO Under the Same Sun has recorded more than 520 such attacks since 2006. Criminals can gain up to $75,000 U.S. for the sale of a whole body according to the U.N. Few attackers and witchdoctors have been brought to trial, let alone convicted. Not one buyer in this macabre trade has ever been prosecuted.
Writer/Director Luke Bradford has filmed in over 30 countries and witnessed some extremes in life. These experiences and a passion for social awareness have shaped Luke’s storytelling. After graduating with a 1st Class Degree in television production, Luke has worked across hundreds of productions over the past 20 years with 24 award wins and a further 44 nominations. Luke was 2nd Unit Director on 5 episodes of the UK’s MARCELLA for ITV and Netflix; he is currently working on a movie project involving Bear Grylls and YBG Films.
This topical film stars Refilwe Modiselle, who is South Africa’s first professional fashion model with albinism. She was nominated for Oprah Magazine’s POWER LIST and began her acting career. Refilwe has won several international acting awards for her performance as Mansa in WHITE GOLD.
Producer Jackie Sheppard is known for the features ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA, starring Daniel Radcliffe, AFRICA UNITED, and the multi-award winning short I AM SAMI. She has produced films that have won over 70 awards around the world. Producer Luke Walton is the founder and director of the Pitch Film Fund which invests in emerging talent in film industry.
Producer Jackie Sheppard is known for the features ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA, starring Daniel Radcliffe, AFRICA UNITED, and the multi-award winning short I AM SAMI. She has produced films that have won over 70 awards around the world. Producer Luke Walton is the founder and director of the Pitch Film Fund which invests in emerging talent in film industry. He’s also the director of Reel Issue Films and has been producing numerous shorts since 2006.
Taken from the website of Under The Same Sun, an NGO working with people with Albinism.
