ABELONE FILMS presents FORGIVENESS by Director Felix Julian Koch on disconnection in society, filmed in Bishop Lavis Township and awarded with Silver at the Young Director Award

ABELONE FILMS presents the trailer for the short film FORGIVENESS, a passion project in cooperation with Director Felix Julian Koch, brought to life together with an amazing crew both behind and in front of the camera. The film is featured at festivals worldwide at the moment and has just won Silver at the Young Director Award (YDA) following nominations in three categories.

“We are super happy to announce the wonderful achievement of being shortlisted in three categories at YDA in Cannes. Recognition in the categories ‘Changing the World Frame by Frame,’ ‘Passion Project,’ and ‘Short Film up to 10 Minutes’ is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved; the effort and passion put into the project, the challenging film production in the Cape Flats, the community, and the story it tells. We’re looking forward to shining a light on a side of Cape Town that hasn’t been seen all too often,” says ABELONE FILMS.

With his film FORGIVENESS, Director Felix Julian Koch, who skillfully captures the breadth and depth of human emotion in his stories, has brought the touching journey of a South African man from a harsh background, marked by violence and imprisonment, to the silver screen. The film explores the subject of disconnection in modern society, highlighting how crucial forgiveness is for personal and emotional growth.

Shot locally in the Cape Flats – a community living in the shadows of the vibrant Mother City often overlooked by society – the film shows an area known to many only from the window of a car passing by on the highway. A veil of anonymity behind which a harsh reality lies hidden. A reality marked by gang activity and severe living conditions.

Besides filming, numerous photos were shot and sounds were recorded – soon to be displayed in a series of exhibitions across Germany and South Africa.

Felix Julian Koch is an award-winning director whose work embodies the essence of modern cinematography and profound storytelling. At an early age, his passion for telling stories already found its perfect canvas in motion pictures. His career began with directing, producing, and writing across various formats, from commercials and music videos to documentaries and short films. Notably, his talent caught the eye of the esteemed German ad agency Jung von Matt, where he worked as a creative producer and in-house director. Today, he lives in Hamburg, Germany and Cape Town, SA, working as an independent director and photographer on the global stage. His portfolio boasts collaborations with renowned brands such as Montblanc, Mercedes-Benz, O2, and BMW, as well as names including Roger Federer, Hugh Jackman, Victoria Swarovski, Andre Schürrle or Toni Kroos.


CREDITS
Director: Felix Julian Koch
Director of Photography: Rory O’Grady
Starring: Deverol Peters, Sergio Luitjies, Aunty Maggie, Johny van Wyk, June van Merch
Editor: Yannis Panther
Executive Producer: Søren Haxholm & Inga Schlüter c/o ABELONE FILMS
Producer SA: Michelle Geeringh
Unit Manager: Chris Cloete
Written by: Lisa Palos and Felix Julian Koch
1st AC: Damien Walsh
Loader: Sam Maritz
Gaffer: Jean Pierre du Preez
Grip: Alex Kauffenstein & Itumeleng Mdodana
Location Fixer: Lee Cloete
Security: Johny Van Wyk
Editor: Yannis Panther
Sound Design: Yannis Panther & Nick Nowottny
Sound Mix: Nick Nowottny
Digital Colorist: Dominic Phipps
Title, Design & Poster: Michael Mandrup

See further work by Felix via abelone.rocks/felix-julian-koch and more projects by ABELONE here abelone.rocks/.
GoSee : abelone.rocks