FULL WINNERS LIST: 15th South African Film and Television Awards sees M-Net as the big winner with 6 Golden Horns for Legacy and The River as Netflix wins 8 for How to Ruin Christmas and another win for My Octopus Teacher.

by Thinus Ferreira

The tally of the final winners' list at the 15th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) saw M-Net emerge as the big winner with 6 Golden Horn trophies for its new telenovela Legacy on the M-Net (DStv 101) channel, as well as 6 trophies for The River on its 1Magic (DStv 103) channel. 

Both Legacy and The River are produced by Tshedza Pictures.

With 8 Golden Horn trophies, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding on Netflix won the most film awards, while Griekwastad, produced by Scene23, won as best feature film.

Overall pay-TV shows across various MultiChoice's various DStv channels snagged 47 awards, while Netflix as a video streaming service clinched a total of 19 awards out of its 45 nominations - including yet another win for My Octopus Teacher from The Sea Change Project - South Africa's 2021 Oscars winner in the Best Documentary Feature category - that won the 2021 SAFTA in the category for Best natural history and environmental programme.  

Legacy won as best telenovela, e.tv's cancelled Rhythm City won as Best TV soap, and the first season of Gambit Films' Blood & Water on Netflix was awarded Best TV drama. 

SABC2's The Riviera, produced by Community Media Trust for SABC2 won as Best TV comedy.

Viewers voted Entle Bizane as the best TV presenter for Hectic on 3 on SABC3. 

The public vote for Most popular TV soap/telenovela was Gomora from Seriti Films on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) although the category was once again not truly representative since viewers once again couldn't vote for Generations - The Legacy on SABC1 or Muvhango on SABC2 since both continued with their boycott of the awards.

"I’d like to congratulate all the winners as well as our valued partners, especially our broadcast partners, Mzansi Magic and S3. It truly is an honour for the NFVF to be the custodians of the SAFTAs and to watch the industry grow and flourish," said Makhosazana Khanyile, National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) CEO.

"Amidst a global pandemic, our artists persevered, entertained, and challenged themselves and this can be witnessed in the number of nominees that this year witnessed. I'm grateful for the industry that continues to walk the SAFTAs journey with us and true to this year’s theme, the industry is absolutely still shining."

Here is the complete and comprehensive list of nominees for the 15th SAFTAs:

Best short film

Address unknown (Green Leaf Films)

Best student film

Fowl Goblin (The Animation School) 

TV soap / telenovela

Best achievement in directing – telenovela

Thabang Moleya, Nthabiseng Mokoena, Nozipho Nkelemba, Lefuno Nekhabambe (Gomora season 1), Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)

Best achievement in directing – TV soap

Danie Joubert, Roche Knoesen, Riaan Meij, Charl van Biljon, Gerrit Schoonhoven, Jaco Vermeulen (Binnelanders), kykNET (DStv 144)

Best achievement in scriptwriting - telenovela

Gwydion Beynon, Phathutshedzo Makwarela (The River), 1Magic (DStv 103)

Best achievement in scriptwriting – TV soap

Ameera Patel, Grace Mahlaba, Daryn Katz, Kelly Robinson, Mark Wilson, Nonhlanhla Simelane, Omphile Molusi, Rosalind Butler, Stephen Simm, Tereska Muishond, Themba Mahlangu, Myolisi Sikupela, Thomas Hall (Scandal!), e.tv

Best achievement in original music/score – telenovela

Brendan Jury (The River), 1Magic (DStv 161)

Best achievement in editing – telenovela

Bongi Malefo, Edgar Sibaya, Sphiwe Nhlumayo, Ula Oelsen (The River), 1Magic (DStv 161)

Best achievement in sound – TV soap / telenovela

Ben Oelsen, Tladi Mabuya, The River, 1Magic (DStv 161)

Best achievement in cinematography – telenovela

Trevor Brown, Legacy, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best achievement in wardrobe – TV soap / telenovela

Zandile Mncwango, Legacy, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best Achievement in make-up & hairstyling – TV soap / telenovela 

Jenny Sprawson, Legacy, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best achievement in art direction – TV soap / telenovela

Amanda Scholtz (Legacy), M-Net (DStv 101)

Best actress – telenovela

Sindi Dlathu (as Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana), The River, 1Magic (DStv 103)

Best actor – telenovela

Menzi Ngubane (as Judas Nqwenya), Isibaya, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)

Best supporting actress – telenovela

Michelle Botes (as Angelique Price), Legacy, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best supporting actor – telenovela

Meshack Mavuso Magabane (as Nsizwa), The River, 1Magic (DStv 161)

Best actress – TV soap

Petronella Tshuma (as Pearl Genaro), Rhythm City, e.tv

Best actor – TV soap

Clint Brink (as Steve Abrahams), Binnelanders, kykNET (Dstv 144)

Best supporting actress – TV soap

Masasa Mbangeni (as Thembeka Shezi Nyathi), Scandal!, e.tv

Best supporting actor – TV soap

Mothusi Magano (as Tumishang), Skeem Saam, SABC1

Best TV soap

Rhythm City (Quizzical Pictures), e.tv

Best telenovela

Legacy (Tshedza Pictures), M-Net (DStv 101)

TV drama

Best achievement in directing – TV drama

Etienne Fourie, Elanie Rupping, Tydelik Terminaal, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best achievement in scriptwriting - TV drama

Portia Gumede, Duduzile Mabaso, Lufuno  Nemungadi, Lidudumalingani Mqombothi, Housekeepers season 2, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)

Best Achievement in editing – TV drama

Miriam Arndt, Alistair Thomas, Still Breathing, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best achievement in sound – TV drama

Sound & Motion Studios Sound Team, Blood & Water season 1, Netflix  

Best achievement in original music/score – TV drama

Kurt Slabbert, Jamela Vuma, Mandla Ngcongwane, Lockdown season 5, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)

Best achievement in art direction – TV drama

Carlu Portwig, Agent, Netflix

Best achievement in wardrobe – TV drama

Lehasa Molloyi, Nokuthula Hlatshwayo, Hannie Molefe, John Moremi, Nobuntu Ndaba, Kgomarelano Ntlane, Queen Sono, Netflix

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling – TV drama

Babalwa Mtshiselwa, Trackers, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best achievement in cinematography – TV drama

Zenn van Zyl, Blood & Water season 1, Netflix

Best actress – TV drama

Kate Liquorish (as Abi), Still Breathing, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best actor – TV drama

Brandon Auret (as Danny), Still Breathing, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best supporting actress – TV drama

June van Merch (as Sara), Sara se Geheim season 3, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best supporting actor – TV drama

James Ngcobo (as President Malunga), Queen Sono, Netflix

Best TV drama

Blood & Water season 1, Gambit Films, Netflix

TV comedy   

Best achievement in directing – TV comedy

Lucilla Blankenberg, Lederle Bosch, The Riviera, SABC2

Best achievement in scriptwriting – TV comedy

Byron Abrahams, Lwazi Mvusi, Joshua Rous, Meren Reddy, Black Tax season 1, BET (DStv 129)

Best achievement in editing – TV comedy

Tessa Verfuss, Gugulethu Sibandze, Melanie Jankes, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix

Best achievement in sound – TV comedy

Janno Muller, Thapelo Makhubo, Jeanre Greyling, Jonty Everton, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix

Best achievement in art direction – TV comedy   

Martha Sibanyoni,Thabiso Senne & Savannah Geldenhuys, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix

Best achievement in wardrobe – TV comedy

Sheli Masondo, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling – TV comedy 

Babalwa Mtshiselwa, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix  

Best achievement in cinematography – TV comedy 

Lance Gewer, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix    

Best actress – TV comedy    

Busisiwe Lurayi (as Tumi), How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix

Best actor – TV comedy

James Borthwick (as Freddie), Hotel, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best supporting actress

Martelize Kolver (as Brenda), Hotel, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best supporting actor – TV comedy

Desmond Dube (as Shadrack), How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Netflix

Best TV comedy

The Riviera, Community Media Trust, SABC2

Documentary feature

Best achievement in directing - documentary 

Rehad Desai, Mark Kaplan, How to Steal a Country, M-Net

Best achievement in cinematography – documentary

Devin Carter, Chasing the Sun, SuperSport

Best achievement in editing – documentary

Megan Gill, How to Steal a Country, M-Net

Best achievement in sound – documentary feature

Charlotte Buys, How to Steal a Country, M-Net

Best documentary feature

How to Steal a Country, Uhuru Productions  

Best documentary

Lindela Under Lockdown!, Passion Seed Communications

Best made-for-TV documentary

Chasing the Sun, T+W, SuperSport     

Best natural history and environmental programme

My Octopus Teacher, Sea Change Project, Netflix   

Best children’s programme

Talakani Sesame season 11, Ochre Media, SABC2

Best competition reality show

Celebrity Mystery Box, Brightfire Pictures, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)

Best structured / docu-reality show

Pale Ya Koša, Full Circle Productions, SABC2

Best structured soap reality show

Life with Kelly Khumalo, Barleader TV, Showmax

Best international format show

Hoor My! Sien My! Soen My!, Afrokaans, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best educational programme

Made In SA season 6, Ochre Media, SABC3

Best factual programme

Devi, e.tv

Best current affairs programme

Carte Blanche, Women's Month special, M-Net (DStv 101)

Best variety show

Republiek van Zoid Afrika, Brainwave Productions, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best youth programme

Africa's Biggest Brags, Lincoln Green Media, MTV Base (DStv 322)  

Best entertainment programme

Maak My Famous Showcase, All Star Entertainment, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best lifestyle programme

Come Again, Tshedza Media, SABC1

Best made-for-TV movie

Loving Thokoza, Black Brain Pictures, Mzansi Magic (Dstv 161)  

Best online content

The Adventures of Noko Mashaba - Lockdown Shandis, Rams Comics, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)   

FILM

Best achievement in directing – feature film

Jozua Malherbe, Griekwastad kykNET (DStv 144)   

Best achievement in scriptwriting – feature film

Rene van Rooyen, Toorbos, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best achievement in cinematography – feature film

Rory O'Grady, Riding with Sugar, Netflix

Best achievement in sound design – feature film

Sound & Motion Studios Sound Team, Riding with Sugar, Netflix

Best achievement in original music/score – feature film

Andries Smit, Toorbos, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best achievement in editing – feature film

Lucian Barnard, Griekwastad, kykNET (DStv 144)

Best achievement in production design – feature film

Kate van der Merwe, Riding with Sugar, Netflix

Best achievement in costume design – feature film

Annie Seegers, Riding with Sugar, Netflix

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling – feature film

Menio Kalymnios, Stella Kalymnios, & Hannes Oosthuizen, Triggered, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play   

Best actress – feature film

Tinarie Loots (as Ava), Gat In Die Muur, Netflix

Best actor – feature film

Tshamano Sebe (as Lazarus), 8, Netflix

Best supporting actress – feature film

Tarryn Wyngaard (as Samiah), Stam, DStv BoxOffice    

Best supporting actor – feature film

Hakeem Kae Kazim (as Mambo), Riding with Sugar, Netflix

Best feature film

Griekwastad, Scene23, DStv BoxOffice

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Gcina Mhlophe

Best TV presenter (public voting category)

Entle Bizane, Hectic on 3, SABC3

Most popular TV soap / telenovela (public voting category)

Gomora, Seriti Films, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)

     

ALSO READ: FULL NOMINEES LIST for 2021's 15th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs): Tshedza Pictures leads with 12 nominations each for The River on 1Magic and Legacy on M-Net.

ALSO READ: 2021's 15th South African Film and Television Awards: The full list of winners of Night 1 technical craft awards.

ALSO READ: 15th South African Film and Television Awards executive producer Anneke de Ridder on 2021's SAFTAs show: 'Tune in for a surprise or two'.

15th South African Film and Television Awards executive producer Anneke de Ridder on 2021's SAFTAs show: 'Tune in for a surprise or two'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The main award show of the 15th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) on Saturday evening will be the first-ever simulcast on the SABC's S3 channel and M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on DStv - during a Covid-pandemic year.

Anneke de Ridder, executive producer, talks about the challenges the production team faced this year in bringing the socially distanced, hybrid-show to stage and to broadcast this year, this year's theme of "still shining", the task of fitting everything in, and the "surprise or two" waiting tonight.

What are some of the big challenges in producing this year's 15th SAFTAs?

Anneke de Ridder:  One of the biggest challenges for any award show overall is that you've got so many stakeholders. Even though we're honoured and very excited about the fact that it's a simulcast on S3 and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) it does complicate things a little bit just from an audience perspective.

An award show is an award show but the moment you put it on TV it's also an entertainment show and you've got to make sure that you give the audience what they want - it needs to be entertaining but you also need to be true to the industry and you need to give the industry something that they also enjoy.

That's probably one of the biggest challenges that there are so many different parties involved that you need to keep happy.

And how is the Covid-pandemic adding another dimension? In 2020 the SAFTAs was already a virtual event streamed online. This year it's a hybrid one.

Anneke de Ridder: This year is a hybrid as you say. We've watched all of the award shows since Covid and looked at what they did. Our biggest challenge I think is how to bring the people into the room without bringing the people into the room.

We had to think long and hard about it and I think we came up with some pretty good alternatives - a lot of it is pre-recorded - every single nominee had to pre-record an acceptance speech for instance in case they win - so that's a lot of work.

We also had a Whatsapp line for the public and invited them, and we're also pre-recording them and putting them into the award show, just to give a bit of life and to make sure that it's not just presenters announcing winners all the time.

Covid has forced us to think outside of the box and that's a very good thing, but yes, it's different to how we used to work. We have to keep numbers on set small. 

The other thing with Covid is when we plan we want to finalise what will be on the SAFTAs stage in May and you don't know what the status by that time will be. So you basically have to plan with a worst-case scenario in mind.

The last thing you want is where you've got some live elements and all of a sudden there's a national lockdown again and then the SAFTAs basically can't happen. So you have to plan out a worst-case scenario.

The theme this year is "Still Shining". How will this theme be worked into the 15th SAFTAs broadcast in terms of the colours and atmosphere and what viewers will see on screen?

Anneke de Ridder: The executive producer's job on the SAFTAs is a freelance job and I also produce Idols on Mzansi Magic. And having done Idols for so many years - last year was the hardest one I've ever had to do, working in the industry with Covid.

I think every single person working anywhere, but specifically in South Africa's film and TV industry and who made it through the past year and a half, deserves the title of "still shining" because the boundaries of everything kept changing and it was difficult. It was also a first in terms of circumstances.

In terms of bringing the "still shining" theme to the SAFTAs we went in our creative approach with neon lights and the idea is to put the industry and the names of South Africa's film and TV practitioners up in lights - and just to celebrate. 

For the set, we will stick to gold and "still shining" when we announce the winners and then when it comes to the various performances we will introduce a lot of other colours to break it up a little bit so that the entire show is not just gold.

With more of the 15th SAFTAs broadcast pre-recorded is it easier to map and time-track it out because there's always a time overrun? Does pre-recording make it easier to package it for television?

Anneke de Ridder: It definitely does because time is always a challenge. You also allocate seats to people and then you point the camera and then somebody else is sitting there - so that's often a little bit of a dilemma.

You tell the camera if this person wins you pick him or her up there and then they're not sitting in the right spot. And then all the "dead space" so to speak when people walk to stage to accept an award, and those type of things.

This year's 15th SAFTAs main broadcast on Saturday evening is a 2-hour show and not a 3-hour show as in the past, but we've managed to fit 33 nominations into the 2-hour show which I think is actually very good. You time it out to the tee. 

Hopefully we will come out exactly on 2 hours, that is what has been planned and we have been rehearsing it and it's going according to plan. There is always a surprise or two on the night, but hopefully it will be 2 hours but the pre-records definitely does make it a lot easier.

The SAFTAs is also a few months later this year than last year so the period spans longer than a year and with Covid more people passed away so you sit with more names in the In Memoriam segment and there are a few new categories that were added for the first time. How tricky or difficult is it to decide what goes into the telecast and how much time to give to segments?

Anneke de Ridder: Very! Ha ha ha. I think it's a debate that will live on for as long as the SAFTAs live on.

I think you go on what has been done previously but I will go out on a limb here and say that I think it's time that we relook the structure of the SAFTAs. 

And when I say that I mean is it a 2-night event, or is it maybe a 3-night event in terms of the number of categories that we have to cover but that's always a very tricky discussion that takes hours and hours to decide who goes into which night.

I don't think you'll ever be able to please everybody but we do have the different industry bodies and we sit with them and they also have input, as well as all the different roleplayers from the SABC to MultiChoice and e.tv and that's how we ultimately decide what goes where - by committee.

In building the puzzle for this year's 15th SAFTAs TV broadcast what about the production maybe surprised you?

Anneke de Ridder: I didn't think we'll be able to pre-record all of the nominees and we did. You're talking about over 300 people. When I first thought about it I just said "We have to do it" if this is the road we're going down on. And we actually got to do it. 

I also think that the turnaround time this year was quite tight because we only closed entries in January and you can plan an award show as much as you want but you only get really into it once you've got all of the nominees and it finally becomes real as a production. So the turnaround time was very tight. 

Don't Look Down who is handling the 15th SAFTAs production for us this year has been absolutely amazing and I'm really, really proud of the awards show broadcast that is going on air on Saturday.

Why should viewers tune in on Saturday evening to watch the 15th SAFTAs?

Anneke de Ridder: I think people will really want to watch the performances that we've chosen and incorporated into this year's award show.

The performances are live because we felt that there have been so many performances that have been pre-recorded. The energy of a live performance, done live on stage is very exciting. 

Then there's a little something-something with Mpho Popps as we go into the 15th SAFTAS as a show that I think is going to be very entertaining that people will love, so tune in.

The Night 2 main 15th SAFTAS award show is simulcast on Saturday on S3 and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) from 19:00, preceded by a red carpet show from 18:30