South African film producer, Anant Singh, has hailed Oscar winning documentary, My Octopus Teacher, as a passionate ode to conservation by filmmaker, Craig Foster.
Foster’s film won Best Documentary at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
The Netflix original documents his experiences with a young octopus that he keeps track of for a year. The two eventually form a bond, allowing Foster to see the animals’ underwater world through her eyes.
Singh says Foster’s win has inspired a new generation of film makers.
“Filmmakers are making documentaries from their iPhones and this gives them huge inspiration to continue and be passionate about storytelling. And Craig has been a passionate storyteller of documentaries and such a wonderful person who does great work. We were very fortunate to work with him on a film about 8 or 10 years ago,” he adds.
Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, has congratulated the winners of the South Africa Netflix documentary for bagging the award.
Winde says the country is proud of the achievement.
“I would really like to say on behalf of our government in the Western Cape, to everyone involved in the making of the film, My Octopus Teacher, congratulations. You make us so proud. It really was an amazing feat in winning that Oscar. Well done. Thank you.”
Craig Foster says he is deeply honoured to receive this accolade:
