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Francois du Plessis in Walvis Bay
Francois is the film producer for the SARChI Chair of Ocean Cultures and Heritage within the Faculty of Humanities, headed by Prof Rose Boswell.
One of the chair's key goals is to create a series of films through the Blue Values Journey project, where Soul Release is housed.
"During the chair’s research, we encountered a man from Blanco, George, a First Nations healer diviner.
He shared with us a dream he had years ago about souls trapped on Shark Island, located in Lüderitz, Namibia," Francois explained.
"The film follows his journey to Shark Island, the ceremony he performed there, and how he connected with the Lüderitz community."
Francois initially presented Soul Release as part of his Honours coursework, which he completed in 2024 under the supervision of Professor Subeshini Moodley and the guidance of Tarryn Rennie.
He also credits the invaluable contributions of Dr Jessica Thornton, who works for the Ocean Cultures Heritage Chair.
"The research centres on ethnographic filmmaking - documenting everyday people, specifically those who live by the ocean," Francois said.
He added, "Being selected by SIEF, an international organisation and leader in the field of anthropology, is a tremendous honour. Out of so many submissions, for a Southern African film to be chosen is quite special, especially for our University."
According to SIEF, the organisation's primary mission is to unite scholars from the fields of ethnology and folklore, creating platforms for critical debate, networking, and intellectual exchange.
Scene from the film. Shark Island Memorial. The healer at Shark Island.
Francois attributes his passion for photography to his uncle, who gave him his first camera at age six, and his mother, who inspired his love for teaching.
"As a child, I enjoyed helping my mom teach other kids new skills," Francois said. "There's an indescribable joy when a student 'gets it,' and you see them grow. For my own students, if they understand and apply basic photography and video principles, they'll create beautiful images and films."
The SIEF conference will take place from 3 to 6 June.
"I’m truly excited for the screening. Having anthropologists and ethnographic filmmakers watch the film is a bit daunting, but it will certainly be a valuable learning experience," said Francois.