AFDA is proud to announce that AFDA alumnus Adze Ugah’s feature film Sierra’s Gold won the Best South African Film award at the Durban International Film Festival 2024. The jury said: “This audacious film constantly surprised us while deftly juggling genres and taking us on a totally wild ride, an experience that was heightened by watching with an audience whose visceral reactions palpably matched our own, likely just as the filmmaker intended.”
The film, which Adze, produced, directed and scripted tells a compelling story about an eccentric young black visual artist in Johannesburg who discovers she is pregnant. Her boyfriend and manager convinces her to consume an abortion-inducing concoction but instead she is bestowed with the inexplicable ability to excrete gold coins.
Adze Ugah’s foray into filmmaking began after obtaining a Diploma in Motion Picture Production at the National Film Institute, Jos, Nigeria and then an Honours degree in Motion Picture Medium from AFDA.
He has directed several television drama series for both the SABC and DSTV cable TV platforms, with directing credits on drama series such as Shaka ilembe, Nqobile, House of Zwide, Zone 14, Isibaya, Jacob’s Cross, Society, Skwizas, Room 9, My Perfect Family, Tshisa III, Mfolozi Street, to mention a few.
In 2010 his documentary feature, The Burning Man, was awarded 4 Golden Horn awards at the SAFTAS.
His first feature film GoGo Helen, premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in 2013.
In 2014 and 2015, Adze Ugah was awarded the Golden Horn at the SAFTAS for Best Directing on the Mzanzi Magic daily drama, Isibaya.
Mrs. Right Guy, a romantic comedy he directed, under the NFVF slate films, was the second highest-grossing local South African film in 2016. His follow-up film Looking for Love, was also a smash hit in cinemas in 2017.
His filmography includes acquisitions for Amazon Prime Video such as Rage of a Lioness, Pride of a Lioness, Lilith and Eve. The Netflix acquisitions such as Slay, All About Love, and the Netflix Original film, Jewel. He has earned writing credits on the Netflix series Castle and Castle Season 1 and 2, War and Wrath, and Blood Sisters Season 2. Skwizas season 3 to 5 and Jacob’s Cross, to mention a few.
