AFDA proudly celebrates the outstanding achievements of its alumni at the inaugural Directors Guild of South Africa (DGSA) Creative Awards, where multiple graduates were recognised for their excellence in directing across film, television, and digital storytelling.
Among the evening’s top honourees was Jozua Malherbe, who received two prestigious awards. He was recognised as Best Director of a TV Series for Recipes for Love and Murder, alongside Karen Jeynes, and took home Best Director of a Short Film for Engel.
Adding to AFDA’s strong presence at the awards, alumnus Gcinuhlanga Dibi was honoured with the Best Director – Web Series/Digital Content award for Snippets, highlighting the growing impact of digital-first storytelling and emerging formats within the industry.
The DGSA Creative Awards mark a significant milestone for the South African film and television industry. As a newly established platform, the awards set a high benchmark for recognising innovation, artistic excellence, and the creative vision of directors shaping the country’s storytelling landscape. The initiative celebrates not only exceptional work, but also the individuals driving the evolution of the industry.
Founded to advance the craft of directing, the DGSA plays a vital role in advocating for directors, fostering collaboration, and promoting excellence across film and television. The inaugural awards ceremony, held in Cape Town, brought together industry leaders and creatives in a landmark celebration of South African storytelling.
The success of both Jozua and Gcinuhlanga reflects the calibre of AFDA alumni working at the forefront of the creative economy. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to current students and graduates, demonstrating the power of compelling storytelling and a strong creative vision in building sustainable careers across an evolving industry landscape.
Reflecting on the recognition, Jozua shared on social media:
“Thank you to everybody who helped make this beautiful work possible. The first awards evening was a delight with a room filled with like-minded filmmakers wanting to see positive change in our industry to ensure sustainability and prosperity. We take small steps to build a big future.”
“Thank you to everybody who helped make this beautiful work possible. The first awards evening was a delight with a room filled with like-minded filmmakers wanting to see positive change in our industry to ensure sustainability and prosperity. We take small steps to build a big future.”
AFDA congratulates both Jozua and Gcinuhlanga on these remarkable achievements and looks forward to their continued contributions to South African and global cinema.