1 Magic’s popular telenovela The River and boxing film Knuckle City cleaned up at the 2020 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). The telenovela scooped up 10 awards while the film bagged 6.
Image: The River IG
Among its awards, The River won best telenovela, best achievement in screenwriting, best actress for Sindi Dlathu, best-supporting actress, best achievement in directing and best achievement. The show’s production house Tshedza Pictures also won an additional 7 awards for its shows The Republic bringing its total to 17.
Following a successful international festival run, Knuckle City won best achievement in directing, best actor in a feature film for its lead Bongile Mantsai, and best supporting actor in a feature film among others.
Other notable wins include Somizi‘s Mzansi Magic reality show Living The Dream with Somizi winning its first SAFTA – the best structured or docu-reality show. Actress Florence Masebe also won her first best actress in a TV drama SAFTA for her role on The Republic.
Our October cover star and veteran actress Thembi Mtshali Jones was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The River and Knuckle City clean up at the 2020 SAFTAs. Take a look at the full winner’s list.
- Best Short Film: The Letter Reader
- Best Student Film: Moya
- Best Achievement in Directing – Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Directing – TV Soap: Rhythm City
- Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap: Getroud met Rugby
- Best Achievement In Original Music/Score – Telenovela: Isibaya
- Best Achievement in Editing – Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Sound – TV Soap/Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Cinematography – Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Soap/Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling – TV Soap/Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Soap/Telenovela: Arendsvlei
- Best Actress – Telenovela: Sindi Dlathu – The River
- Best Actor – Telenovela: Roberto Kyle- Arendsvl
- Best Supporting Actress – Telenovela: Mary-Anne Barlow – The River
- Best Supporting Actor – Telenovela: Loyiso MacDonald – The Queen
- Best Actress – TV Soap: Denise Newman – Suidooster
- Best Actor – TV Soap: Bongile Mantsai – Scandal!
- Best Supporting Actress – TV Soap: Kgomotso Christopher – Scandal!
- Best Supporting Actor – TV Soap: Mncedisi Shabangu – Rhythm City
- Best TV Soap: Rhythm City
- Best Telenovela: The River
- Best Achievement in Directing – TV Drama: The Republic
- Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Drama: The Republic
- Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama: Spreeus
- Best Achievement in Sound – TV Drama: The Republic
- Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – TV Drama: Spreeus
- Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Drama: Shadow
- Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Drama: Ifalakhe
- Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling – TV Drama: Ifalakhe
- Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Drama: The Republic
- Best Actress – TV Drama: Florence Masebe – The Republic
- Best Actor – TV Drama: Wiseman Mncube – eHostela
- Best Supporting Actress – TV Drama: Brenda Ngxoli – iThemba
- Best Supporting Actor – TV Drama: Seputla Sebogodi – The Republic
- Best TV Drama: The Republic
- Best Achievement in Directing – Documentary Feature: Buddha in Africa
- Best Achievement in Cinematography – Documentary: The Sound of Masks
- Best Achievement in Editing – Documentary: The Fun’s Not Over: The James Phillips Story
- Best Achievement in Sound – Documentary Feature: Dying for Gold
- Best Documentary Feature: Buddha in Africa
- Best Natural History and Environmental Programme: STROOP: Journey into the Rhino Horn War
- Discretionary Award – Natural History and Environmental Programme on Innovative Research: Cave Crocs of Gabon
- Best Children’s Programme: Words and Numbers Series 9
- Best Competition Reality Show: Ultimate Braai Master
- Best Structured or Docu-reality Show: Living The Dream With Somizi Season 4
- Best International Format Show: Celebrity Game Night S1
- Best Factual & Educational Programme: Op Seer Se Spoor
- Best Current Affairs Programme: Checkpoint – Work Hazards
- Best Variety Show: Mooi
- Best Youth Programme: MTV Shuga Down South 2
- Best Entertainment Programme: Emo 30 Jaar In Musiek
- Best Lifestyle Programme: Elders: Japan
- Best Made for TV Movie: Droomman
- Best Achievement in Directing – Feature Film: Knuckle City
- Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Feature Film: Fiela se Kind
- Best Achievement in Cinematography – Feature Film: Die Verhaal van Racheltjie de Beer
- Best Achievement in Sound Design – Feature Film: Die Verhaal van Racheltjie de Beer
- Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – Feature Film: Die Verhaal van Racheltjie de Beer
- Best Achievement in Editing – Feature Film: Knuckle City
- Best Achievement in Production Design – Feature Film: Knuckle City
- Best Achievement in Costume Design – Feature Film: Back of the Moon
- Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling – Feature Film: Knuckle City
- Best Actress – Feature Film: Clementine Mosimane –Poppie Nongena
- Best Actor – Feature Film: Bongile Mantsai – Knuckle City
- Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film: Anna-Mart van der Merwe –Poppie Nongena
- Best Supporting Actor – Feature Film: Patrick Ndlovu – Knuckle City
- Best Feature Film: Fiela se Kind
- Lifetime Achiever Award: Thembi Mtshali-Jones
- Youth Achiever Award: Thabo Welcome
- Outstanding Person with Disability Contributor Award: Boitsheko Keabetswe Malebo Matlhage
- Outstanding Provincial Contributor Award: Luzuko Dilima
- Emerging Filmmaker Award: Vusi Africa Sindane
- Best TV Presenter: Entle Bizana – Hectic on 3
- Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela: Imbewu