SF Indiefest:This is National Wake & Souleros

This is National Wake
This is National Wake recounts the revelatory story of young musicians who dared, in 1970s South Africa, to launch a multiracial band against the backdrop of apartheid. National Wake was formed by two black brothers from Soweto and a white guitarist from Johannesburg whose collaboration broke all of apartheid’s laws. The band filmed their rebellious performances on brilliant Super 8 before the government shut them down, and director Mirissa Neff uses this archival footage, along with audio interviews, to create a grainy plunge into the past. The result is an energetic feature debut that tells the immersive story of a short-lived yet remarkable countercultural attempt to fight entrenched oppression with music. Directed by Mirissa Neff, 66 minutes.

Souleros
Soulero is a slang term used to describe soul record collectors primarily from the Mexican American (Chicano) community. This short documentary focuses on a group of record collectors in Northern California who are committed to keeping the legacy alive of so many underground soul artists alive. Directed by Jesus Cruz, 20 minutes.