Thinus Ferreira
Netflix SA and kykNET were the two biggest winners at 2023's 17th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) on Saturday night with the streamer and the Afrikaans pay-TV channel scooping the lion's share of Golden Horns, respectively hauling home 19 and 15 of the statuettes.
Following virtual award presentations due to the Covid 19-pandemic, this year's black-and-gold-themed SAFTAs was the first one back with an in-person awards show after three years.
The in-person SAFTAs was a reset in more ways than one, with the awards show relocating back to Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg where the SAFTAs had taken place several years before, before it jumped to Sun City and even the Sandton Convention Centre.
The champagne-filled SAFTAs and its sprawling red carpet was once again a two-night event with technical awards handed out on Friday night in Gallagher's Hall 3.
It was followed by the main awards show on Saturday night and televised on SABC3 and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) as a simulcast production with former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi and Lawrence Maleka as the co-hosts.
Netflix South Africa won 19 awards in total. Silverton Siege, produced by Pambilimedia, that scored 12 nominations, won six as the night's most-awarded film.
The third season of How to Ruin Christmas also on Netflix and produced by Burnt Onion Productions, won in five categories as the South African comedy series which took home the biggest haul.
Gaia, the first Afrikaans ecological thriller film produced by Film Initiative Africa, added four wins out of its nine nominations to kykNET's bumper crop of SAFTAs - the film that scooped the second-most prizes.
The Afrikaans comedy series Hotel on kykNET managed to snag four wins, with Tali's Joburg Diary on MultiChoice's Showmax streamer also winning four awards.
Besides Netflix's 19 wins and kykNET's 15, e.tv won 12 (including three for productions on its eVOD video streaming service), while Showmax got 10, M-Net won 8, with Mzansi Magic and the SABC each snagging 6 awards in total.
The SAFTAs organisers also bestowed lifetime achiever awards on M-Net's Carte Blanche anchor and presenter Derek Watts who died last month, as well as the veteran and award-winning Afrikaans film director and cinematographer Koos Roets for their decades-long contributions to the TV and film industry.
TV soaps and telenovelas wise, e.tv's Scandal!, produced by Ochre Media, snagged 4 wins including for Best TV soap and Most Popular TV soap which was a viewers' vote category, while M-Net's cancelled Legacy produced by Tshedza Pictures also won 4 awards including Best Telenovela.
Tshedza Pictures' The River on Mzansi Magic and 1Magic, which also got cancelled, got shut out this year. After again getting 11 nominations this year just like last year, it only managed one win this time for Lawrence Maleka as best actor in a telenovela.
Netflix had the most-awarded TV drama series with Justice Served, produced by Meraki TV, that won three awards, including for best editing and with Morné Visser winning for best actor and Lerato Mvelase winning for best actress in a drama series.
Thobela Mayinje, acting CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in a statement says it "congratulates all the winners for
this year".
"You represent the best of the South African film and television
industry. We are excited by all the films now showcasing in international
festivals and markets. Feature films like Sihle Hlophe's Lobola, A Bride’s
True Price?, an NFVF-funded film which also won an award today, showcases
the depth of the South African film and television discourse and has been a
conversation starter across the continent and the world since its release."
Here is the full winners list for the 17th SAFTAs:
Best achievement in sound: documentary
Kusasa (Tim Pringle Production, Optical Films, Cape Town TV)
Best achievement in editing: documentary
Kusasa (Joe Krenzer, Optical Films, Cape Town TV)
Best achievement in cinematography: documentary
Changemaker: Simphiwe Rorwana (Yolisa Qwabaza, TCI), e.tv
Best achievement in directing: documentary
Lobola, A Bride's True Price? (Sihle Hlophe, Passion Seed Communications), SABC1
Best documentary short
A Camera on my Lap (twospinningwheels)
Best made-for-TV documentary
Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star ( Storyscope), Netflix
Best documentary feature
Lobola, A Bride's True Price? (Passion Seed Communications), SABC1
Best children’s programme
Nick Music Africa (VIS Studios), Nickelodeon Africa
Best educational programme
MTV Shuga: What Makes A Man (Taung Film Studios), MTV Africa
Best factual programme
Rebounders: Grizelda Grootboom (Red Sugar Productions), SABC1
Best competition reality programme
Tropika Island of Treasure: All Stars (Cardova Productions), SABC3
Best structured soapie reality show
Life with Kelly Khumalo (GOAT Originals), Showmax
Best structured/docu-reality show
Sex in Afrikaans (Provoco), Showmax
Best youth programme
TREND (Green Planet Productions), kykNET
Best online content
Lunch with Hitler (Argento Holdings)
Best lifestyle programme
Homegrown Taste South Africa (Rapid Blue), BBC Lifestyle
Best current affairs programme
Mining Takedown, Carte Blanche (Combined Artistic Productions), M-Net
Best made-for-TV movie
Whatever it Takes (RHP International), eVOD
Best international format
Survivor SA: Return of the Outcasts (Afrokaans), M-Net
Best entertainment programme
Miss South Africa 2022 Live Finale (Black Swan Media), M-Net
Best variety show
Sunday Sexy Love (Media24), Mzansi Magic
Best achievement in make-up/hairstyling: TV comedy
How to Ruin Christmas (Silindile Dladla, Burnt Onion Productions), Netflix
Best achievement in wardrobe: TV comedy
Tali's Joburg Diary (Erin Simon, Sketchbook Studios), Showmax
Best achievement in sound: TV comedy
Hotel (Tim Pringle, Giles Heesom-Green, Melani Robertson, Nagvlug Films), kykNET
Best achievement in art direction: TV comedy
Hotel (Merishen Wessels, Nagvlug Films), kykNET
Best achievement in editing: TV comedy
How to Ruin Christmas (Bongi Malefo, Khulekani Zondi, Melanie Golden, Burnt Onion Productions), Netflix
Best achievement in scriptwriting: TV comedy
Tali's Joburg Diary (Julia Anastasopoulos, Ari Kruger, Gilli Apter, Daniel Zimbler, Sketchbook Studios), Showmax
Best achievement in cinematography: TV comedy
Hotel (Dino Benedetti, Nagvlug Films), kykNET
Best achievement in directing: TV comedy
Tali's Joburg Diary (Ari Kruger, Sketchbook Studios), Showmax
Best achievement in make-up/hairstyling: TV drama
Desert Rose (Marika Callop, Quizzical Pictures), M-Net
Best achievement in wardrobe: TV drama
Lavish (Brenda Khambula, Hela Media), Mzansi Magic
Best achievement in sound: TV drama
Donkerbos (Jozua Loots, Nagvlug Films), Showmax
Best achievement in original music/score: TV drama
Ludik (Peach Van Pletzen, Rose and Oaks Media), Netflix
Best achievement in art direction: TV drama
The Brave Ones (Jacobus Smit, Ochre Media), Netflix
Best achievement in editing: TV drama
Justice Served (Nicolas Costaras, Blessing Khulekane Zondi, Megan Gill, Lucian Barnard, Meraki SA), Netflix
Best achievement in cinematography: TV drama
Blood Psalms (Willem Nel, Yellowbone Entertainment, Showmax
Best achievement in scriptwriting: TV drama
Good Men (Portia Gumede, Steven Pillemer, Christo Davids, Duduzile Zamantungwa Mabaso, Sunni Faba, Ochre Media), SABC1
Best achievement in directing: TV drama
Donkerbos (Nico Scheepers, Nagvlug Films), Showmax
Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling: TV soap/telenovela
House of Zwide (Mina Shembe, Itumeleng Ledwaba, Nakedi Makgato, Musa Mnisi, The Bomb Shelter), e.tv
Best achievement in wardrobe: TV soap/telenovela
House of Zwide (Beverly Mogorosi, Teddy Geldart, The Bomb Shelter), e.tv
Best achievement in sound: TV soap/telenovela
Suidooster (Lloyd O'Connor, Suidooster Films), kykNET
Best achievement in editing: TV soap/telenovela
Diepe Waters (Paul Martin van Wyk, Marthinus van Rhyn, Khathu Mudau, Wynand Verster, Rick Dodgen, Daniel de Villiers, Penguin Films), kykNET
Best achievement in original music/score: telenovela
The Black Door (Mandla Ngcongwane, Jamela Vuma, Kurt Slabbert, Black Brain Pictures), e.tv
Legacy (Brendan Jury, Tshedza Pictures), M-Net
Best achievement in cinematography: telenovela
The Black Door (Lavhelani Mudau, Gaopie Kabe, Black Brain Pictures), e.tv
Best achievement in art direction: TV soap/telenovela
Legacy (Amanda Scholtz, Tshedza Pictures), M-Net
Best achievement in scriptwriting: telenovela
DiepCity (Nontuthuzelo Magoxo, Mandla Ngcongwane, Mpumelelo Nhlapo, Black Brain Pictures), Mzansi Magic
Best achievement in directing: telenovela
The Wife (Fikile Mogodi, Stained Glass TV), Showmax
Best achievement in scriptwriting: TV soap
Scandal! (Ameera Patel, Grace Mahlaba, Thomas Hall, Paul Grootboom, Nonhlanhla Simelane, Omphile Molusi, Rosalind Butler; Teresca Muishond, Themba Mahlangu, Kelly Robinson, Ochre Media), e.tv
Best achievement in directing: TV soap
Suidooster (Erina Niemand, Shirley Ellis, Romano Gorlei, Richard September, Suidooster Films), kykNET
Best achievement in make-up/hairstyling: feature film
Silverton Siege (Nicola Roodt, Pambilimedia), Netflix
Best achievement in costume design: feature film
Silverton Siege (Ruy Filipe, Pambilimedia), Netflix
Best achievment in sound design: feature film
Silverton Siege (Barry Donnelly, Pambilimedia), Netflix
Best achievement in editing: feature film
Silverton Siege (Richard Starkey, Pambilimedia), Netflix
Best achievement in production design: feature film
Silverton Siege (Chantel Carter, Pambilimedia), Netflix
Best achievement in original music/score: feature film
Gaia (Pierre-Henri Wicomb, Film Initiative Africa), kykNET
Best achievement in cinematography: feature film
Gaia (Jorrie van der Walt, Film Initiative Africa), kykNET
Best achievement in scriptwriting: feature film
The Umbrella Men (John Barker, Philip Roberts, Known Associates Entertainment), eVOD
Best student film
Shumba (AFDA)
Best supporting actress in a TV soap
Odelle de Wet (Binnelanders, Stark Films), kykNET
Best supporting actor in a TV soap
Charlie Bouguenon (Binnelanders, Stark Films), kykNET
Best supporting actress in a telenovela
Deli Malinga (Redemption, Burnt Onion Productions, Seriti Films), BET
Best supporting actor in a telenovela
Thulani Mtsweni (Gomora, Seriti Films), Mzansi Magic
Best actress in a TV soap
Cindy Swanepoel (Binnelanders, Stark Films), kykNET
Best actor in a TV soap
Melusi Mbele (Scandal!, Ochre Media), e.tv
Best actress in a telenovela
Michelle Botes (Legacy, Tshedza Pictures), M-Net
Best actor in a telenovela
Lawrence Maleka (The River, Tshedza Pictures), 1Magic
Best TV soap
Scandal! (Ochre Media), e.tv
Best telenovela
Legacy (Tshedza Pictures), M-Net
Best supporting actress in a TV drama
Nthati Moshesh (Savage Beauty, Quizzical Pictures), Netflix
Best actor in a TV drama
Morné Visser (Justice Served, Meraki SA), Netflix
Best actress in a TV drama
Lerato Mvelase (Justice Served, Meraki SA), Netflix
Best supporting actor in a TV drama
Craig Urbani (Makoti, Urban Brew Studios), SABC1
Best TV drama
Lavish (Hela Media), Mzansi Magic
Best supporting actress in a TV comedy
Kate Normington (Tali's Joburg Diary, Sketchbook Studios), Showmax
Best supporting actor in a TV comedy
Desmond Dube (How to Ruin Christmas, Burnt Onion Productions), Netflix
Best actress in a TV comedy
Thando Thabethe (How to Ruin Christmas, Burnt Onion Productions), Netflix
Best actor in a TV comedy
James Borthwick (Hotel, Nagvlug Films), kykNET
Best TV comedy
How to Ruin Christmas (Burnt Onion Productions), Netflix
Best short film
Cogito Ergo Sum (S.S.L Studios)
Best supporting actress in a feature film
Awethu Sharon Hleli (You're My Favourite Place, Yellowbone Entertainment), eVOD
Best supporting actor in a feature film
Chris Chameleon (Wild is the Wind, MYD88 FILMS), Netflix
Best actress in a feature film
Noxolo Dlamini (Silverton Siege, Pambilimedia), Netflix
Best actor in a feature film
Jarrid Geduld (Indemnity, Gambit Films)
Best achievement in directing: feature film
Gaia (Jaco Bouwer, Film Initiative Africa), kykNET
Best feature film
Gaia (Film Initiative Africa), kykNET
Best natural history and environmental programme
Crocodiles Revealed (Earth Touch), National Geographic Channel
Outstanding person with disability award
Jabaar Mohamed
Youth achiever award
Xolisa Mpafa
Lifetime achiever award
Derek Watts
Lifetime achiever award
Koos Roets
Best TV presenter (public vote)
Tshegofatso Mosupye (Yo MTV Raps Uncapped, VIS Studios), MTV Africa
Most popular TV soap or telenovela (public vote)
Scandal! (Ochre Media), e.tv
