Heaven Reaches Down To Earth
A film by
Tebogo Malebogo
Synopsis
After Tau comes to a realization about their sexuality, it sets in motion a cascade of thoughts and emotions in Tumelo - nothing will ever be the same between them.
Highlights
Tags
2020
Drama
Fiction
Genre
Drama
,
Country
South Africa, USA
Year
2020
Length
10'00"
Themes
LGBTQIA+
,
Environment and Nature
,
BIPOC
,
Love
,
With
Thapelo Maropefela, Sizo Mahlangu
Production
Petrus van Staden (Vanishing Elephant)
Director
Tebogo Malebogo
Screenplay
Tebogo Malebogo
Cinematography
Jason Prins
Editing
Petrus van Staden
Sound
Frank David
Music
Elu Eboka, Evan S. Roth
Tebogo Malebogo
Tebogo Malebogo is a South African director. His first short, Mthunzi (2019), premiered at Locarno and New York Film Festival. It was awarded the Special Jury Award at AFI Fest. His sophomore short, Heaven Reaches Down to Earth (2020), screened at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival.
Filmography
Heaven Reaches Down to Earth | Short | 2020
Mthunzi | Short | 2019
Social media
No items found.
Festivals
Provincetown International Film Festival, US | 2021 * Best Queer Short Film award
Ciclope Awards, South Africa | 2021 * BEST NEWCOMER
Leiden Shorts, Netherlands | 2021 * Best International Short
Quibdó África Film Festival, Colombia | 2021 * Best script
New Directors/New Films, US | 2021 *Official Competition
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Switzerland | 2020 *Official Competition
Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival, France | 2021 *Official Competition
Tampere, Finland | 2021 *Official Competition
Chicago International Film Festival, US | 2020 * Official Competition
Reykjavík International Film Festival, Iceland | 2020
Hamptons International Film Festival, US | 2020
Flickerfest, Australia | 2020
Glasgow Short Film Festival, UK | 2021
Recontres Paris / Berlin, France | 2021
BlackStar Film Festival, US | 2021
Frameline, US | 2021
La Fête du Slip, Switzerland | 2021
IndieCork, Ireland | 2021
Palm Springs Shortfest, US | 2021
Dresden International Shortfest, Germany | 2021
Durban Film Festival, South Africa | 2021
Wicked Queer : The Boston LGBT Film Festival, US | 2021
Norwegian Short Film Festival, Norway | 2021
Short Waves Festival, Poland | 2021
Odense Film Festival, Denmark | 2021
Uppsala International Short Film Festival, Sweden | 2021
Pink Apple LGBT Film Festival, Switzerland | 2021
Sao Paulo int. Short Film Festival, Brazil | 2021
Festival international du court métrage de Lille, France | 2021
Gaze International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Ireland | 2021
New Directors/New Films, US | 2021
Drunken Film Fest, US | 2021
Loudoun Arts Film Festival, US | 2021
Queer Lisboa / Porto, Portugal | 2021
Oslo Fusion, Norway | 2021
Thess Int. Short Film Festival, Greece | 2021
Africa In Motion, Scotland | 2021
Damn These Heels Film Festival, US | 2021
Aesthetica Film Festival, UK | 2021
Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland | 2021
QUEERSICHT Filmfestival, Switzerland | 2021
DC Short Film Festival, US | 2021
MIX Copenhagen LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Denmark | 2021
Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland | 2021
Cinema on the Bayou, US | 2022
Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, US | 2021
San Giò Verona Video Festival, Italy | 2021
Dayton LGBT Film Festival, US | 2021
Way OUT West Film Fest, US | 2021
Seattle Queer Film Festival, US | 2021
CINEMANCIA, Colombia | 2021
Minimalen Short Film Festival, Norway | 2021
Queer Borders Film Festival, Scotland | 2021
Cinema Queer, Sweden | 2021
shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival, Online | 2021
Afrikana Independent Film Festival in Richmond, US | 2021
CinemAfrica (via Cinema Queer Sweden), Sweden | 2022
""By Any Means"" Screening: MOMA, US | 2021
Outfest Fusion, US | 2021
NBO Film Festival, Kenya | 2021
Cineclube Mocambo, Brazil | 2021
XPOSED Queer Film, Germany | 2022
KASHISH Mumbaï Int. Queer Film Festival, India | 2022
PinX, Belgium | 2022
On The Pulse (Via Cinemagic Belfast), Ireland | 2022
LGBTQIA+ Thinking Film Screening, US | 2022
Movies That Matters, Netherlands | 2022
Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus (shape_SHIFT screening), US | 2022
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Canada | 2021
Inside Out LGBT Film Festival, Canada | 2021
Imagine + Nation, Canada | 2021
Court Queer Shorts, Canada | 2021
Cape Breton Centre for Immigration, Canada | 2021
Nickel Independent Film Festival (short film of the week screening), Canada | 2022
Vimeo Staff Pick, Online | 2022
Lagos Pride Film Fest, Africa | 2022
Drunken Film Fest Oakland, US | 2022
Positively Different Short Film Festival, Greece | 2023
Ouaga Coté Court, Burkina Faso | 2022
Philly Palestine Coalition, US | 2022
Black Film Festival, Switzerland | 2023
Queer People of Colour Film Festival, Ireland | 2023
Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Canada | 2022
News
TWO NEW INTERNATIONAL TITLES AT LOCARNO
Thrilled ta announce that our two latest and highly anticipated international acquisitions will have their World Premiere at Locarno!
🪩 THE BLESSING
dir. Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel
prod. 444 Films, Atelier de Production
2026 | 24’ | france, switzerland
Pardi di domani : Competition Corti d'autore
In attendance : Caroline Poggi, Jonathan Vinel, Fabien Dao, Edouard Lalanne, Marion Dana, Lazare Aïbout Sibille, Tam Dan Vu
🥀 IN THE SILENCE AFTER
dir. Sebastian Delascasas
prod. Sebastian Delascasas, Reuben Hamlyn
2026 | 17' | qatar, usa, columbia
Pardi di domani : Concorso Internazionale
In attendance : Sebastian Delascasas, Reuben Hamlyn, Tam Dan Vu
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
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SKINNY BOTTINES wins top prize at Cannes Critics' Week
SKINNY BOTTINES (dir. Romain F. Dubois, prod. Couronne Nord) wins the Sony Discovery Prize for Short Film at Cannes Critics' Week!
“It’s hard to put into words, but imagine making a self-funded film with friends and winning at Cannes. I’m so proud of the crew, so proud of my friends. I return with a heart filled with joy and a suitcase packed with goodies. I’m thrilled that SKINNY BOTTINES found its audience. I feel privileged, loved, sexy.” - Romain F. Dubois, filmmaker
Learn more
SKINNY BOTTINES in competition at Cannes Critic's Week
SKINNY BOTTINES, romain f. dubois' first solo short (prod. couronne nord) in competition at cannes' critic's week (may 13 - 21, 2026). with the team in attendance (romain f. dubois, couronne nord, dominick rustam, aksel leblanc, travelling distribution).
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book a meeting with us from may 16 to 21, inclusive:ji
buyers : laurence blais, admin@travellingdistribution.com
programmers, filmmakers / producers : tam dan vu, coordo@travellingdistribution.com
learn more ↗
JAZZ INFERNAL wins top prize at Sundance
still freshly glowing from its international premiere, will niava’s JAZZ INFERNAL wins the oscar®-qualifying short film jury award : international fiction at SUNDANCE! 🥺🏆💖💌
jury citation: “this film deeply resonates in a way that lingers long after viewing, powerfully blending evocative atmosphere, gorgeous cinematography, music, and global storytelling influences into a profoundly singular vision.”
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✈️ Travelling is back at Clermont Ferrand!
Travelling Distribution will be at Clermont-Ferrand from Saturday, January 31 (evening) to Friday January 6 (morning).
We're bringing 6 films with us - and a lot of cool merch, so leave room in your suitcase!
Three shorts in competition : BOA, WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND, AIR HORSE ONE + three shorts at the market : TBA. Teams in attendance.
Book a meeting with us from Jan 1 to Jan 5 :
Buyers : Laurence Blais, admin@travellingdistribution.com
Programmers : Tam Dan Vu, coordo@travellingdistribution.com
C'EST MA SOEUR | Berlinale Generation
C’EST MA SOEUR (THAT’S MY SISTER) directed by Zoé Pelchat, written by Léalie Ferland Tanguay, produced by Papillon Films, will have its World Premiere at Berlinale Generation 14plus. Team in attendance.
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Press Inquiries : caroline@pixellex.ca
Learn more ↗
3 films | SXSW
1-2-3 films at SXSW (March 12–18, 2026)! Teams in attendance.
A WOLF IN THE SUBURBS
*World Premiere
dir. Amélie Hardy, prod. Metafilms
2026 | documentary | 19’
AIR HORSE ONE
*North American Premiere
dir. Lasse Linder, prod. Dynamic Frame, Black Boat and White Boat
2025 | documentary | 21’
WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND
*US Premiere
dir. Jean-Sébastien Hamel & Alexandra Myotte
2025 | animation, genre | 11’
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Press Inquiries : caroline@pixellex.ca
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BEAU TEMPS, MAUVAIS TEMPS | Slamdance
Florence Lafond’s BEAU TEMPS, MAUVAIS TEMPS (NO MATTER THE WEATHER) will be in competition at Slamdance (Feb 19 - 25, 2026) in the Documentary Shorts Competition.
Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
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Jazz Infernal at Sundance
After TIFF and TIFF Canada's Top Ten, Will Niava’s JAZZ INFERNAL (prod. Telescope, Disamare, Scara-b) will have its international premiere at Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 16 - 26, 2026). Team in attendance.
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Press Inquiries : caroline@pixellex.ca
Info + Screening Times ↗
WE WERE THE SCENERY | 98th Oscars® Shortlist
WE WERE THE SCENERY (dir. Christopher Radcliff, prod. Cathy Linh Che, Jess X Snow) is shortlisted at the 98th Academy Awards® for Best Documentary Short Film!
Distribution Inquiries : info@travellingdistribution.com
Watch now (US, Canada, UK) ↗