Former Miss Deaf SA, Vicki Fourie
Miss Deaf SA’s project wins the NFVF Grant to create a short film focused on disability representation.
Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa— Vicki Fourie, a talented filmmaker from Jeffrey’s Bay and Miss Deaf SA 2009, has been awarded a prestigious grant from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) to produce a short film this year. Fourie was one of only four successful applicants to win the grant, which was part of a competition under the theme “Not What Society Expects“.
The initiative, which sought to highlight the lives and experiences of persons with disabilities, invited proposals that focused explicitly on disability narratives. The selected proposals required a captivating narrative centred around a clear, unique concept. Fourie’s proposal was chosen for its powerful representation and fresh perspective on disability.
The NFVF’s initiative aims to produce short films that entertain, inform, and educate audiences, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. According to the NFVF, “The films produced out of this initiative will meet the NFVF’s requirements for content that informs, educates, entertains, and offers unique, diverse perspectives.”
Fourie’s film project aims to fulfil the task of creating a 5- to 10-minute final film, as required of each selected filmmaker. Fourie’s achievement follows her impressive academic background. In 2024, she completed her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Motion Picture Medium with a focus on scriptwriting at AFDA in Port Elizabeth. Graduating with distinction and making the Dean’s List, Fourie’s concept for a short film was chosen out of twelve Honours students.
Her script draft and concept served as the basis for the final film, which explored disability themes and specifically focused on a Deaf protagonist. It premièred at the Nu Metro Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth in November 2024.
In addition to her practical work, Fourie’s research thesis, titled ‘A Forgotten Audience: Responses of d/Deaf Audiences to Films Depicting d/Deafness’, delves into the representation of d/Deaf characters in film and the various ways filmmakers can make films more accessible to d/Deaf audiences.
In 2009, Vicki was crowned Miss Deaf SA. She also participated in the Miss Deaf International pageant in 2010 in Las Vegas, where she was crowned 2nd Princess. In July 2011, Vicki participated in Miss Deaf World 2011, which took place in Prague, Czech Republic.
Vicki wears cochlear implants, a personal experience that profoundly influences her approach to disability representation in her films. Her commitment to authentic and respectful portrayals of disability is key in her work, ensuring her stories resonate with the disabled community and broader audiences.
Currently, Vicki is working on the first draft of her short film, which includes treatment and character development. As she prepares for production, she hopes to build a crew from Jeffrey’s Bay to help complete her production company, Sacambaya Films.
Sacambaya Films is inspired by the Sacambaya River in Bolivia, which, according to legend, housed a hidden hoard of treasure. Vicki reflects on this connection: “With this film company, I aim to uncover the hidden treasures in stories and people—there is so much undiscovered gold
We need to dedicate the necessary time to search for it.
Vicki Fourie’s passion for inclusive storytelling, her dedication to elevating marginalised voices in films, and her rich background as a writer and filmmaker make her a rising star in the South African film industry. For more updates on her upcoming short film, follow Vicki
on her social media channels and her website, www.vickifourie.com.
