Posted on by

SKEEF to feature at kykNET’s Silwerskermfees in August

Jacaranda FM host, TV presenter and Producer of SKEEF Renaldo Schwarp (27) sets out on a journey to discover how other people’s sexual identity has influenced them in the four-part Afrikaans documentary series. PHOTO: Twitter (@RenaldoSchwarp) 

Jacaranda FM host, TV presenter and Producer of SKEEF Renaldo Schwarp (27) sets out on a journey to discover how other people’s sexual identity has influenced them in the four-part Afrikaans documentary series. PHOTO: Twitter (@RenaldoSchwarp)

“Moffie”, “faggot”, “skeef”…words loosely hurled around South Africa’s social sphere, are just some of the jarring realities the LGBTQI community are faced with on a daily basis.

However, the derogatory tag has been ripped off and reclaimed in a bold bid to take back one’s own identity in SKEEF – a four-part Afrikaans documentary series that has recently made waves in the media.

“Ja, jy kyk ‘skeef’ na ons, ja, ons mag dalk skeef wees vir jou. But, this is who we are and there’s nothing wrong with it. It doesn’t need fixing,”  comments Renaldo Schwarp (27), Jacaranda FM host, TV presenter, old Matie and producer of SKEEF, as he adds that his intention was to reclaim the term.

When Schwarp heard the news that his documentary had been chosen to be screened at the Silwerskermfees in August, he was “in ecstasy”.

The hour-long documentary is set to air at the Silwerskermfees between the 21st and 24th of August at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, Cape Town. 

Launched online during Pride Month in June this year, “the response was amazing,” says Schwarp. 

https://twitter.com/Sherlin_Barends/status/1134048278339903490

SKEEF has made waves in South Africa. PHOTO: Twitter (@RenaldoSchwarp)

Grappling with what to title the documentary, Schwarp’s daunting decision received some mixed feedback from many people who are gay. However, he emphasises that his intention when choosing the title was restorative. 

What initially began as a personal project exploded into an arguably unprecedented venture into territory where few have been before, unraveling the realities and the experiences of the LGBTQI community in South Africa. 

While section 9 of South Africa’s Constitution paints a progressive picture of LGBTQI rights, as well as being the only country out of 54 in Africa where same-sex marriage is legal, SKEEF reminds the viewer that the experiences are still vastly different on the ground.

SKEEF features big names like comedian Marc Lottering, co-writer of “Kanarie” Charl-Johan Lindenvelder, Good Things Guy Brendt Lindeque and musician Joe Foster who unravel their experiences and the harsh realities of identifying as LGBTQI in South Africa from “coming out”, to fearing getting work, to the apprehension of showing affection in public, to being disowned by family.

When Schwarp realised that SKEEF had the potential to be much larger than a personal project, he pitched the documentary series to a handful of production houses. He was met with scepticism – the topic dismissed as “too taboo, too risqué, too serious or too niche – that’s actually what one of them said,” adds Schwarp. 

Schwarp understands the difficulty in locking down sponsors and “big decision makers” who tend to be hesitant to back the topic with money and brand as there is often doubt whether such projects would appeal to an Afrikaans community who are inclined to come from a more conservative audience bracket.

Schwarp decided to produce it independently, which he comments, “was a massive task”, having had a modest team of three during production and post-production, taking around half a year to roll out. 

SKEEF Production and Public Relations Coordinator for Sharp Pictures, Cher Petersen, also features, sharing her journey and experience of working through her identity as a trans woman against a backdrop of conventional environments. 

Petersen met Schwarp while working at MFM radio station in Stellenbosch and jumped into the project, as she wanted to send the message that the LGBTQI community are just people. 

When asked what Petersen hopes people will take away from SKEEF, she comments: “I think if a kid walks out of the theatre having watched SKEEF at the Sliwerskermfees and says to their mom: ‘wow, I didn’t know that’s how much people struggle and why? Love is love’, questioning their ideologies and beliefs – I think most importantly that”.

SKEEF reminds the viewer that it doesn’t matter what you are but rather who you are.

“Maar wat ons vergeet het, is dat ons nie eintlik praat oor issues of kwessies of selfs probleme nie…maar ons praat eintlik oor mense,” – Renaldo Schwarp, SKEEF. 

Producer of SKEEF, Renaldo Schwarp (27) and Production and PR Coordinator for Sharp Pictures, Cher Petersen (25) donning SKEEF t-shirts. PHOTO: Twitter (@budgebridge)

Producer of SKEEF, Renaldo Schwarp (27) and Production and PR Coordinator for Sharp Pictures, Cher Petersen (25) donning SKEEF t-shirts. PHOTO: Twitter (@budgebridge)

KykNET’s Silwerskermfees will also host a panel discussion centred on LGBTQI and religion, touching on policies in the church that don’t make queer people feel welcome as well as sharing stories of the lived experiences of those who are changing the narrative.

SKEEF was made available to watch for free on netwerk24.com on the 3rd of June and is also available on YouTube.

Grab a cup of coffee and listen to the podcast below where I sit down with Cher Petersen. We chat about everything from when she learned her identity to queer-friendly spaces to views around the phrase “coming out”. Cher also offers advice to those who want to “come out” but don’t know how to as well as advice to those who have “come out” and whose family and friends are battling to accept it.

*The original version of this article has been updated since posting to update visual elements.