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Black Burns Fast

Generation 14plus 2026
© Urucu Media
Seventeen-year-old Luthando, adorkable, bookish and forever drifting between reality and her vivid inner world, returns for another year at a prestigious South African all-girls’ boarding school. The place is governed by a conservative culture where reputation is everything, and nonconformity is quietly disciplined. As the lone scholarship girl, Luthando has learned to keep her head down, her marks up, and her single mother’s high expectations close to her heart. Her world is turned upside down by the arrival of a bold and effortlessly charismatic new pupil, Ayanda. The two begin a secret romance and Luthando is ushered into Ayanda’s orbit of confident, carefree friends, tasting a freedom she has never experienced at the school before. But juggling her old life, new friendships and first love becomes too much. When jealousy pushes Ayanda into a reckless decision, this not only threatens Luthando’s scholarship, but also her future and her relationship with her mother. Luthando finds an unexpected courage and firmly stands up for her truth: she is queer, and she will no longer shrink from anyone. A film about the joy that comes from owning one’s own story and identity.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by Sandulela Asanda (Director, Screenplay)
with Esihle Ndleleni, Muadi Ilung, Mila Smith, Khensani Khoza, Ntsimedi Gwangwa, Basetsana Motloung South Africa 2025 English, Xhosa 100' Colour International premiere | Debut film recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Esihle Ndleleni (Luthando)
  • Muadi Ilung (Ayanda)
  • Mila Smith (Jodie)
  • Khensani Khoza (Zenande)
  • Ntsimedi Gwangwa (Lazola)
  • Basetsana Motloung (Anele)

Crew

Director Sandulela Asanda
Screenplay Sandulela Asanda
Cinematography Pierre De Villiers
Editing Talya Kahan
Music Sne Dladla
Sound Design Michael Botha
Production Design Tirath Bhoola
Casting Cait Pansegrouw
Animation Nicolai Groudev
Producers Cait Pansegrouw, Elias Ribeiro
Executive Producer Helen Kuhn

Produced by

Urucu Media

Kapstadt, South Africa

World Sales

Amazon Prime

Additional information

The pressure and heat of these expectations that I felt as a queer Black teenager inspired me to write this film and name it ‘Black Burns Fast’. I wrote this film for a younger me and other Black girls to show the jubilation of girlhood and that there is joy to be had outside of the things that confine us. The joy and exuberance of being a teenager is what drives the lighthearted approach to this film, especially as we see the world through Luthando’s eyes, while also talking about the realities that people of colour continue to face. The film’s theme largely represents the conflict between the modern and the traditional, and so does the environment of the school. This film approaches the seemingly progressive South African society in a satirical manner to uncover the elements of racism, classism, sexism and homophobia that are still very much present in our schools. I hope this irreverent and comedic approach will make audiences more comfortable discussing and interrogating these issues. (Director's statement)

Photos

Sandulela Asanda

©Felix Seuffert

The filmmaker comes from the Eastern Cape in South Africa and has a degree in film from the AFDA film school in Cape Town. She is an alumna of the Locarno Film Festival BaseCamp, the Durban FilmMart and the Realness African Screenwriters’ Residency. Her first short film, Mirror Mirror, screened in the 2023 Generation section at the Berlinale and won the award for Best South African Short at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). Black Burns Fast is her debut feature film.

Filmography

2022 Mirror Mirror; short film, Berlinale 2023 2025 Black Burns Fast; Berlinale 2026

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026