Multiple award winner 'Mbiya and His Cow' on SABC1

Ciak Junior is an international TV project that exposes children to hands-on television production. The competition gives children aged between 10 and 15 the chance to write a story in any language about an event that changed their lives and the winning story is made into a film. Children learn about scripts, shoots, editing and making a film, which is then judged with others from around the world. Winners are flown to Italy to attend the awards ceremony and meet other young filmmakers from around the world.

According to Jacqui Hlongwane-Papo, project manager at SABC Education, "Mbiya and His Cow tells the story of a boy named Mbiya and his friend, a black and white cow by the name of Bantom. One morning young thugs hijack Bantom and beat up Mbiya. An old man and his tortoise guide the distraught Mbiya through an emotional rollercoaster of humiliation, happiness, fear, courage and death."

The piece took the grand jury prize for best film, best film as voted by children, best film as voted by television broadcasters, and the Mayor of Treviso's award for excellence.

"This innovative project supports young writers and future filmmakers and allows additional opportunity for the SABC to showcase our children's stories to the rest of the world," Jacqui commented.