AFDA students and alumni once again are making an impact at the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards receiving 12 nominations.
In the Best Student Film category AFDA Durban Honours films “Winterslaap” and “Dog Trainer” are nominated alongside second year film AFDA Durban film “The Yellow Dress”. AFDA student films have an extraordinary record at the Simon Sabela Awards, having won the Best Student Film award for the last seven years in a row. Furthermore, AFDA students and films have received countless nominations and awards in the professional film and television categories. In 2020 Megan Van Der Merwe took the Best Short Screenplay Award for the honours film “Thulile” against films written by seasoned professionals and in 2019 Sibongiseni Shezi won the Best Actress in a Feature Film award for her stand out performance in the AFDA Durban 2018 experimental short film “Run”.
AFDA alumni shine in this years acting categories with Byron McNeil nominated as Best Supporting Actor in Film for his role in “Bonsai”, Fanele Zulu picks up a nomination for Best Actor in a Film for his role as Joe in “Uthando Lwethu”, Londiwe Shange is nominated in the Best Actress in a Film category for her role in “Ngikhona” and Thuthuka Mthembu.receives a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress for TV category for her role as Nonkanyiso in “Uzalo”.
Behind the scenes AFDA alumni are also in the spot light. Minenhle Luthuli is nominated in the Best Screenplay – Short category for her short film “Heart Attack”. Valencia Jo-Ann Joshua and her company The Dream Lab Productions snatch 4 nominations for the film “Before 8am” nominated in the Best Made for TV Film, Best Micro Budget Film and Best Screenplay Short categories. “Radio” By Gwyn music video produced by Valencia and Black City is nominated in the Best Use of KZN in a Music Video category.
The 10th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards is a celebration of a decade of excellence in the film and television industry. Hosted at the Durban ICC, by the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission together with the Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs department, this prestigious event honours outstanding talent, creativity, and storytelling in KwaZulu-Natal’s vibrant entertainment landscape. Esteemed government officials, renowned film and TV contributors, and industry professionals gathered to acknowledge and applaud the exceptional achievements of this years’ nominees. The Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela KZN Film and Television awards have grown from 5 categories to over 30, representing the pinnacle of excellence and showcasing the diversity and richness of the KwaZulu-Natal film industry.
The awards will take place on the 22nd of July 2023 at the Durban ICC, and they will coincide with the Durban International Film Festival.
