Global Screen, the Munich-based international sales outfit, has boarded worldwide sales on “The Trek,” the upcoming first feature from leading South African cinematographer and director Meekaaeel Adam. The film is a horror-Western, in which starvation, suspicion and madness plague a family as they cross the Kalahari Desert under the eyes of primeval spirits.
“The Trek” is set in 1846, when a Dutch-Afrikaans family and their British travel companion set off on a challenging journey through the Kalahari Desert. Along the way, they meet Atshumao, a stoic man of the Khoen people, one of Southern Africa’s original indigenous, nomadic population groups.
Despite Atshumao’s warning, the group attempts a shortcut through the unforgiving landscape, unaware that this will lead them to cross paths with two ancestral spirits – who will settle a centuries-old dispute by betting on the family’s lives. The group of travelers is soon plagued by misfortune, tragedy, thirst, hunger and disturbing visions. As the situation escalates and an ominous entity closes in on them, fear and paranoia set in. How far will they go to survive?
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The film stars an established South African cast which includes Morné Visser (“The Kissing Booth 1,2,3”), well-known comedian Rob van Vuuren (Netflix series “Ludik,” “Slumber Party Massacre,” “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom,” “The Mauritanian”), Trix Vivier (“Trackers,” “Legacy”), Maurice Carpede (“The Kingdom”), Camilla Borghesani (“Roxy”) and newcomer Leah Lindeque.
Durban-born Adam, whose background includes commercials, music videos and documentaries, has quickly emerged as one of South Africa’s leading young talents since moving into feature films. His first feature as DOP, Apartheid political thriller “The Last Victims” (2019) was recognized with over 20 awards at international festivals including a best cinematography nod at the RapidLion Film Festival, also known as the South African International Film Festival. Adam also recently directed and served as cinematographer for one episode of “Stories of a Generation – With Pope Francis,” the Netflix docu-series that features Martin Scorsese.
Adam has since shot two more South African features, “Skaapoboer” (2023) and “The Score” (2024). Adam will serve as “The Trek’s” cinematographer as well as the film’s director. As a project, “The Trek” was the winner from South Africa at the 2021 JETS program hosted by the European Film Market in Berlin.
Global Screen’s Martin Schneider describes “The Trek” as the kind of special elevated genre cocktail today’s buyers are always on the hunt for: “The film is an innovative blend of historical thriller, survival horror and supernatural elements that draws on authentic Southern African lore and history as well as its unique Kalahari Desert setting. The story also incorporates the complex themes at the forefront of today’s cultural conversations, especially the dark legacy of racism and colonialism.
“Meekaaeel has established himself over the last years as one of South Africa’s best DOP’s and now one of the country’s most exciting up-and-coming directors. His story-centric approach to shooting and commitment to visual storytelling make him the perfect fit for this special genre project. In terms of Meekaaeel’s precision and the visceral nature of his filmmaking, we are reminded of movies like ‘Bone Tomahawk’ by S. Craig Zahler and directors who craft gripping, multilayered genre films with substance as well as scares, like Karyn Kusama or Jeremy Saulnier, also a DOP turned director.”
Adam commented: “The key conflict that the film explores is the oldest one of them all: the struggle over land. Our family of settlers, whose arrival tips the natural balance, are put on a brutal collision course with forces that are bound to protect the land at any cost. Both sides in this conflict stand to lose everything and there’s a feeling of inevitability as each step on their journey strips them of more of their humanity. I think this speaks to the loss of innocence that the colonial project brought about and the importance of looking back so as not to let history repeat itself. A partner like Global Screen – who understands the weight of this story – is indispensable in allowing ‘The Trek’ to be seen by genre and film lovers far beyond South Africa.”
Faithful to South Africa’s multilingual history, the film is majority English language, but also features dialogue in Afrikaans and Khoekhoengowab, a now endangered language that makes heavy use of click consonants.
“The Trek” was written by James C. Williamson, J. Hannah Massyn and Sandulela Asanda. Williamson’s 2020 festival hit “Fried Barry” played Sitges, Fantasia and L’Étrange Film Festival and found distribution in over 70 countries, including deals with Shudder and ShowMax.
“The Trek” will also feature original music from Haezer, one of South Africa’s top electronic musicians.
Williamson commented: “The Trek is testament to horror films’ ability to be as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. It comes at an important time in history when the consequences of colonialism and land dispossession are as pertinent as ever. Meekaaeel and the rest of the creative team have tackled these topics with nuance and courage. We’re thrilled that Global Screen shares our enthusiasm for bringing this truly special story to an international audience.”
“The Trek” is currently in post-production and expected to launch at a major film festival in the second half of 2024. The film is produced by Williamson for The Department of Special Projects and Warren Gray for Resistance Pictures in co-production with Alto Media (South Africa), Resistance Pictures (Cape Town), and Sternenberg Films (Germany). It is supported by South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry and National Film and Video Foundation.
“The Trek” reflects a growing focus on genre content for Global Screen, part of the Telepool Group, best known for its expertise with animation, family entertainment and prestige drama. Global Screen’s foray into elevated genre includes the Sandra Hüller led nightmare-thriller “Sleep,” a debut feature by Michael Venus in which the Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated Hüller plays a woman plagued by horrific dreams, which become a never-ending nightmare haunting an entire village community.
Recent genre titles handled also include “You’re Not Me” (Tú No Eres Yo) by Goya-nominated producers Marisa Crespo and Moisés Romera, a Spanish-language satirical thriller, which launched at Fantastic Fest in Austin, before having its international premiere at Imagine Film Festival Amsterdam.
