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LATEST RELEASES:

“ZIMBABWE – A NEW DAWN” – Episodes 1 & 2  - August 2009

-       Written, directed & photographed by Kevin Harris.

In June 2009, Tellytrack SA commissioned Kevin Harris to travel to Harare, Zimbabwe to cover the Borrowdale Turf Club’s Golden Jubilee celebration-weekend of 28^th June. The brief included affirming the tenacity of the horse-racing fraternity in Zimbabwe & to promote support for the industry amongst the South African horse-racing industry Tellytrack viewership.

Taking advantage of the access offered by this event, Harris was able to enter Zimbabwe &

- although officially restricted to the horse-racing environment of Borrowdale - brought back a broader report on contemporary Zimbabwe viewed through the window provided by the thoroughbred horse-racing industry and their celebration of the 2009 Borrowdale Golden Jubilee.

THE BARTIE LEISHER STORY  - May 2009
 -  Written, directed & photographed by Kevin Harris.

Born in Mayfair Johannesburg in 1962 – the youngest of nine siblings – Bartie Leisher at age 23 became the youngest South African jockey to earn Springbok Colours.   
He again took SA colours in 1985.  
Known as the jockey who would “always ride to win”, Bartie was well-loved by the rank-&-file South African public and brought a measure of personal integrity to the sport of horse-racing. 
In 1987 he was offered a contract to ride in Hong Kong and became the first South African ever to win an International Jockey Championship when he beat Hong Kong’s top riders to take the cup for the 1988 Hong Kong horse-racing season.
It was Bartie Leisher who opened the door and paved the way to the international arena for future South African Champions  Dougie Whyte, Felix Coetzee and the legendary Muis Roberts.
Riding the crest of the wave in Hong Kong - Bartie was again heading the Championship Log – when, on the 25^th March 1989 he took a fall & suffered a near-fatal head-injury.
In a gutsy show of determination, Bartie battled the debilitating effects of the resulting brain-damage to fight his way back into the saddle and pick up the pieces of his shattered career.
This is his story.

THE STORY OF ENOS MAFOKATE – March 2009 
- Written, directed & photographed by Kevin Harris.
From groom to International Champion Horseman, for Enos Mafokate - born into the discriminatory era of Apartheid South Africa – it’s been a long hard road. 
The first black South African to compete & triumph in international show -jumping – Enos has a deep spiritual relationship with “the horse” & has devoted his life’s work to the care of horses in South Africa’s townships. 
His dream is to set up a world-class Equestrian Centre in Soweto township. 
This is the story of Enos Mafokate – comitted and accomplished horseman – proudly South African and a dedicated friend of the horse. 

LIFE IS ART -    the story of Mpumelelo Paul  Grootboom – 48 min - 2008
- Written & directed by Jonathan Boynton-Lee. Edited by CA Van Aswegen.
 Photographed & Produced by Kevin Harris.

A 48 minute documentary on the life of acclaimed provocative South African playwrite, 
Paul Grootboom. 
Focussing on the rehearsal run-up & subsequent performance in Viena of his play, “Inter-Racial”, the documentary is an intimate interrogation of the turbulent life of  the man dubbed “township Tarentino” -  a journey from his troubled childhood to unconventional entry into the world of theatre where Paul Grootboom manages to find therapy & refuge. 
Written & Directed by Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Edited by CA Van Aswegen.  Produced / Cinematography by Kevin Harris – 2008.

IN THE SHADOWS OF BEAU BASSIN – 48 mins – September 2007
- Written, directed & photographed by Kevin Harris.
Europe – 1940.
As Adolf Hitler’s intent becomes clear, thousands of Jews – denied travel documents -frantically attempt
to flee the continent and Nazi persecution.
After months of fear, intimidation & uncertainty – on September 4th two ships - the Uranus and the Helios – edge their way down the River Danube – destination Palestine.
Crammed on board – some three thousand Jewish refugees - possibly the last known group attempting to escape Hitler’s clutches & certain death.
On board that September evening in 1940 were the Rapynski Family – Mordechai & Peshach with their two young children, Yitzac & Hella.
This is their story – and that of 1581 of the refugees who left Bratislava by ship on that day.
Arriving at Haifa after a grueling three-month ordeal at sea they were denied the Promised Land – and deported by the British Authorities to the Island of Mauritius.
 “In the Shadows of Beau Bassin” is also the story of Geff Geffroy – and his quest for the truth concerning his religious identity.
On the passenger list of the detainees deported to Mauritius was a Miss Skydeberg.
Geff’s late maternal grand-mother’s maiden name was in fact Skydeberg.
But, born and raised in a traditional Catholic family in the village of Beau Bassin, Geff knew nothing of the Jewish detainees that had been interned behind the prison walls.
Every day, he passed the prison on his way to work.
It had never occurred to him that his grandmother might in fact have been Jewish.
“In the Shadows of Beau Bassin” is the little known saga of 1581 Jewish refugees deported to Mauritius in 1940 and detained at Beau Bassin Prison for some four and a half years.

IN THE DOCK  (click on title link for more) – 48 mins – April 2007
- Written, directed & photographed by Kevin Harris. 
-  the introspective personal journey of local South African anti-Apartheid film-maker Kevin Harris – looking back at his life-experience and the long road that led to the “Delmas Treason Trial”.

DESMOND & LEAH TUTU – A Love Divine  (click on title link for more) – 24 mins - October 2006
- Written, directed & photographed by Kevin Harris.
- a documentary exploration of the life & marriage of Desmond & Leah Tutu and the love that has kept them together for the past fifty-years.

FOR BETTER – FOR WORSE (click on title link for more) – 24 mins - October 2006
- Written & directed by Jonathan Boynton-Lee. Produced & Photographed by Kevin Harris.
-  a deeply personal character study on the lives of Dr Ceiri and Angus Alexander, and the children they treat at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. We take a journey with them and experience their work with our countries children. We join them in moments of reflection and fear, follow their trials and tribulations, constantly staring death in the face. Written & Directed by Jonothan Boyntan-Lee. Produced  / Cinematography by Kevin Harris.

1976 – FINGER ON THE TRIGGER (click on title link for more) – August 2006
- Written & directed by Guy Hubbard & Zingi Mkefa. Produced & photographed by Kevin Harris.
- 2 x 24min episode documentary on SA photo-journalist Peter Magubane with a particular focus on his involvement in the June 16th 1976 Soweto student uprising. Written & Directed by Guy Hubbard & Zingi Mkefa. Produced / Cinematography by Kevin Harris.