The Lucky Specials is a cover band in a dusty town in southern Africa. Mandla is a miner by day and plays lead guitar for The Lucky Specials by night. He dreams of making it big in the music industry. When tragedy strikes The Lucky Specials, Mandla and his friend, Nkanyiso, struggle to hold everything together.

Produced by Discovery Learning Alliance and Quizzical Pictures in association with Tangled Bank Studios, with support from Wellcome Trust, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and USAID and PEPFAR through Management Sciences for Health (MSH), The Lucky Specials is slated to entertain millions with its dynamic storyline, African music, and a unique look at tuberculosis..

The cast includes Oros Mampofu, Sivenathi Mabuya, Blondie Makhene, Richard Lukunku, Thomas Gumede, Fulu Mugovhani, and Linda Sebezo. The film is directed by Rea Rangaka.

“Media, particularly film, has immense power to entertain, to express emotions, and to inform individuals in a way that nothing else can,” says Aric Noboa, president of Discovery Learning Alliance and producer of The Lucky Specials. “This film has it all: a new genre of music created specifically for the movie, a great story and a powerful message. We are privileged to work with our distinguished partners to bring this story to audiences across southern Africa and around the world.”

“When I read the script, it connected,” says Rangaka. “I am drawn to films that have powerful messages, especially when they come packaged in a good story. This story, as well as working with a great cast and crew, made The Lucky Specials a deeply personal experience for me; I think audiences will understand and identify with what the characters are going through.”

“Rea has succeeded in bringing together the best of fiction and nonfiction storytelling to create a spectacular film,” says Noboa. 

“Films like The Lucky Specials create an opportunity for great storytelling while giving viewers something that they have not seen before,” says Harriet Gavshon, managing director at Quizzical Pictures. “Innovation was key in bringing aspects of the film to life, combining drama with animation. With this great content, the heartbeat of the film comes through.”

The world premiere of The Lucky Specials took place on Friday, 17 February at Montecasino in Johannesburg, South Africa. The film will air on SABC1 in the coming weeks.

“We are excited at this collaborative effort between SABC 1, ‘Mzansi’s official storyteller’, and the creators of The Lucky Specials - a film that tells an authentic Mzansi story that aims to inspire, educate, motivate, and entertain our youthful audiences,” says Clara Nzima, SABC 1 channel head.

“In line with our new communication message ‘Life & TV Are One’, The Lucky Specials draws inspiration from social realism. The movie not only reflects young people’s stories but also gives them tools to navigate life. SABC 1 viewers should look forward to an exclusive viewing of this gripping South African film coming to our screens in the month of May 2017.”

“Not only will this movie entertain millions of people across the African continent, but it will also impart critical lifesaving information. Quite simply, this is a film everyone needs to see,” says United States consul general, Christopher Rowan, speaking on behalf of USAID/Southern Africa.

“The Lucky Specials has the potential to help people realise that they can overcome curable diseases like tuberculosis,” says Dr. Erin O’Shea, president of HHMI. “This is a story of triumph over adversity, and it poignantly demonstrates the importance of access to medical care and information.”

“I hope this film will play an important role in encouraging discussions and increasing understanding of the reality of living with tuberculosis, by providing a gripping personal story which explores the impact of the disease,” says Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome Trust. “Building on the success of Inside Story, this film will not only bring the science to life but also offer a relevant and engaging drama to a young mass audience.”

“The Lucky Specials lifts the viewer's experience beyond the drama being played out on the screen, providing a profound connection with audiences and helping them make informed decisions about their health,” says Vickie Barrow-Klein, interim president and CEO of MSH.

For more information, visit www.lucykspecials.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.