Starline to shop profile of SA comic icon

Laughing at the Dark follows the career of Pieter-Dirk Uys

UK sales house Starline Entertainment has picked up a feature documentary profiling a legendary South African comedian described as Nelson Mandela’s comedy hero.

Laughing at the Dark is a profile of Pieter-Dirk Uys, directed by Willem Oelofsen and produced by Cape Town-based Marche Media.

South African pay TV operator Mnet is already onboard as the local broadcaster and the doc features contributions from Charlize Theron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sophia Loren, as well as the late Nelson Mandela.

The comic alter egos of Pieter-Dirk Uys – particularly socialite activist Evita Bezuidenhout – were instrumental in exposing the absurdity of Apartheid during its most oppressive days

The doc joins existing art profiles such as My View: Clem Burke and Marina Rebeka: Blessings of Will and Talent on the Starline slate ahead of Mipcom in Cannes next month.