WARD lets imagination take the wheel

South African director WARD has launched this thrilling trailer for his debut feature documentary, The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix, produced by Giant Films in creative partnership with Accenture Song. 

The two-minute trailer offers an exhilarating glimpse into the full-length film, which blends cinematic, narrative-led storytelling with stylised CGI sequences to explore a town brought to life by a one-of-a-kind, imagination-fuelled sporting event. 

Rather than foregrounding the hardship and poverty faced by children in Philipstown, Ward takes a quiet, observational approach, allowing their story to unfold through the ambition, excitement and sense of possibility that wire car racing brings. 

“In our research and time spent with the community, one truth stood out clearly: the wire car is so much more than a toy,” says Ward. “It’s a portal into joy, self-expression and freedom. The moment children push their handcrafted cars, the weight of their environment seems to lift. They become creators of their own worlds.” 

The documentary serves as the cornerstone of a wider social impact ecosystem built to channel international attention into tangible upliftment. The newly formed Philipstown WireCar Foundation now operates year-round programming for youth in the town, while a wire-car-inspired mobile racing game and e-commerce store create sustainable revenue streams for the community’s artisans and makers.