The documentary, Out of Mined, which premiered to a packed house in Cape Town last week, has won a Cannes Film Award, bringing international recognition to a story about mining’s impact on South Africa’s Weskus (West Coast).
The award, announced on Saturday 27 June, was presented in the Cannes Film Awards’ Work in Progress category, which recognises outstanding films during their development.
Almost 400 people attended the world premiere at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town on Wednesday 24 June, where the film screened across all four cinemas. The documentary traces a century of diamond and heavy mineral mining along 450 km of coastline, giving voice to fishers, indigenous communities, scientists and legal experts.
“For a story about South Africa’s West Coast to receive recognition on an international stage is incredibly encouraging.” – Mike Schlebach
Mike Schlebach, managing director of Protect the West Coast (PTWC), which partnered on the film’s production, said the international recognition is significant.
“For a story about South Africa’s West Coast to receive recognition on an international stage is incredibly encouraging. We hope this award helps amplify the voices of the communities featured in the film and sparks an even broader conversation about the future of our coastline,” he said.
Director Arthur Neumeier, who made nine trips to the West Coast and Richtersveld gathering more than 20 terabytes of footage for the 60-minute film, said the award honours the communities at the heart of the story.
“This award is an honour, but more importantly, it’s recognition for the people who entrusted us with telling their story. We set out to make an honest film about a place of extraordinary beauty and complexity, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that resonate with an international audience.”
The film, produced by Eyeforce in partnership with PTWC, arrives at a critical moment for the region. In 2026 alone, 60 new mining applications were submitted in the Western and Northern Cape, while only 10% of the West Coast coastline is currently protected, according to The Tipping Point Special Report published by PTWC.
ALSO: Documentary on West Coast mining premieres to near-400 crowd in Cape Town.
Out of Mined will now begin its international film festival run, with screenings scheduled at the Berlin Indie Film Festival, the Changing Tide Ocean Film Festival and the Green Montenegro International Film Festival.
A second public screening takes place at the Labia Theatre on Wednesday 8 July at 6:15 pm. Tickets are available at www.quicket.co.za.
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