“The most unlikely great documentary of the year is this one.” – Living Life Fearless
Dusty & Stones is a continent-crossing hero’s journey story told through country music. The documentary intimately chronicles the remarkable ride of cousins Gazi “Dusty” Simelane and Linda “Stones” Msibi, a determined duo of struggling country singers from the tiny African Kingdom of Eswatini (known as Swaziland at the time of filming) who long for their big break.
When they are unexpectedly invited to record their songs in Nashville and to compete in a Texas battle of the bands, Dusty and Stones embark on their long-awaited first pilgrimage to the ancestral heart of country music.
Over a momentous ten-day road trip through the American South, Dusty and Stones bring their music to life in a top Nashville recording studio, explore the storied locales of their favorite country songs, and excitedly engage with the culture they’ve long felt part of from afar.
But this sense of kinship is abruptly thrown into question when Dusty and Stones arrive in the small town of Jefferson, Texas to compete in the battle of the bands. There, the hostile leader of the local backing band threatens to derail the cousins’ debut American performance. As their family and friends back home wait for good news, a shell-shocked Dusty and Stones must take the stage and fight to bring home an award for Swaziland.
Awards
DOC NYC
New York
United States
November 17, 2022
World Premiere
US Competition Grand Jury Prize Nominee
Calgary International Film Festival's Top Docs Screening Series
Calgary
Canada
February 1, 2023
International Premiere
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Missoula, Montana
United States
February 18, 2023
Northwest Premiere
Hot Docs' Doc Soup Screening Series
Toronto
Canada
March 1, 2023
Oxford Film Festival
Oxford, Mississippi
United States
March 4, 2023
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival
Sebastopol, California
United States
March 12, 2023
California
Curtain Raiser Film
Filmfort at Treefort Music Fest
Boise, Idaho
United States
March 24, 2023
Opening Night Film
Annapolis Film Festival
Annapolis, Maryland
United States
March 24, 2023
Salem Film Fest
Salem, Massachusetts
United States
March 27, 2023
Virtual Only
RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
United States
April 14, 2023
Best Director Award - Documentary Features
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Minneapolis, Minnesota
United States
April 16, 2023
Florida Film Festival
Maitland, Florida
United States
April 17, 2023
Special Jury Award for Debut Feature
Atlanta Film Festival
Atlanta, Georgia
United States
April 20, 2023
Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature
BAFICI
Buenos Aires
Argentina
April 21, 2023
South American Premiere
Thin Line Festival
Denton, Texas
United States
April 28, 2023
Jury Award for Best Feature
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
San Luis Obispo, California
United States
April 28, 2023
Audience Award for Best Documentary
DOK.fest München
Munich
Germany
May 4, 2023
European Premiere
NorthwestFest
Edmonton
Canada
May 7, 2023
deadCenter Film Festival
Oklahoma City
United States
June 10, 2023
SoundTrack_Cologne
Cologne
Germany
June 22, 2023
Special Jury Mention
Woods Hole Film Festival
Woods Hole, MA
United States
August 1, 2023
Special Jury Mention - Best Documentary Feature
Nowadays Summer Screening Series
Queens
United States
July 25, 2023
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
Middlebury, Vermont
United States
August 23, 2023
Opening Night Film
Filmfestival Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel
Austria
August 24, 2023
Oulu Music Video Festival
Oulu
Finland
August 27, 2023
Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, North Carolina
United States
September 24, 2023
Woods Hole Film Festival - Best of the Fest Screening
Cotuit, Massachusetts
United States
October 11, 2023
Film Stills
