Two international awards for Mantswe a Bonono

Mantswe a Bonono, a TV documentary series that celebrates the work and lives of South Africa's published and unpublished word artists, recently won two awards at the 39th US International Film and Video Festival: episode one Free to Be... received a Silver Screen Award in the general education category and episode five Ukuphilisa (To Heal) won third place for creative excellence in the arts and culture category.

Jo Neethling, SABC Education's project manager, is elated: "These awards recognise South Africans who make magic with words; in Mantswe a Bonono viewers experience the documentaries rather than watch them, they engage with them by seeing, listening and reading. The series inspires viewers to read and write themselves."

The series was produced for SABC Education by Griffin Films; Jemima Spring directed Free to Be... and Izette Mostert directed Ukuphilisa.

The 12 episodes of Mantswe a Bonono, directed by Teddy Mattera, Vincent Moloi, Nokuthula Mazibuko, Izette Mostert, Tina-Louise Smith and Jemima Spring, are scheduled for re-broadcast on SABC 2, Saturdays, at 10.30am from 6 January 2007.

The annual awards festival received over 1250 entries from 26 countries.