AFDA film and television graduates ready for new careers

The awards ceremony is unique in that the audience attending the film festival on the previous evenings got to participate in the 'judging' process and played an important role in choosing the winners. "We're ultimately making films to entertain an audience and so the best judges of our students' works are the people who paid to watch them," says Garth Holmes (co-founder & chairman).

Winners

The nominees this year presented films from diverse genres including drama, crime-thriller, dark comedy and horror, plus from the newly introduced television production (TVP) category.

• 3rd-year undergraduate winners are: Nthabiseng Mpotoane for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Silence and I; Steven Ward for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Rift; Diona Stevic Marinko for Best Screenplay for Venus Reborn; and Vauneen Pretorius for Best Director for Silence and I

• 4th-year postgraduate awards saw two winners for Best Director, Bongani Vincent Masilela for Ana, Patrick and Nicolas and Cole Matthews for Faceless. Best Producer went to Nicole Kitt for Life, Death and Jazz, while the Best 4th Year Film was awarded to Ana, Patrick and Nicolas

• winners for TVP undergraduate awards went to Naleni Subrayen for Best Actress in a Television Production for V 4 Virgins Episode 12, while the same series and episode won Best Television Script, Best Television Multicamera Directing Team and Best Television Production

• postgraduate television production My Sister for Best Actress in a Television Production won by Katleho Sekhotho, and Best Television Production, while the Best Television Screen Play was awarded to Julian Koboekae for Housedad

• Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to two 3rd-year undergraduates, CA van Aswegen and Tom Marias for their contribution to the development of the South African feature film industry.

"We are proud of the works produced by the graduates of 2013 and we look forward to watching these young, talented filmmakers and performers take on the South African industry in the future," concludes Holmes.