The winners of kykNET’s exciting hybrid 10th Silwerskerm Film Festival were announced today (Saturday, 26 March) during two awards ceremonies, proudly sponsored by the City of Cape Town. First, the festival’s exquisite new glass trophies, crafted by the fine artist Lothar Böttcher, were handed out at the Technical Awards at the Theatre on the Bay. Then, the winners of the main categories were honoured at a glitzy event, held at The Bay Hotel’s Rotunda in Camps Bay.
South Africa’s first ecological horror film Gaia scooped the Best Feature Film Award. This groundbreaking local film, produced by Jaco Bouwer, Tertius Kapp and Jorrie van der Walt, also earned Jaco Bouwer the award for Best Director. In addition, Gaia won the awards for Best Make-up and Hair Styling, Best Editor and Best Sound Design.
Nine feature films competed for the prestigious Silwerskerm Film Awards this year, and Barakat walked off with six of the accolades, including for Best Script. Barakat’s screenplay was penned down by Amy Jephta and Ephraim Gordon, who has been making waves with their work since stepping into the industry at the Silwerskerm Film Festival in 2017 with their first short film win.
This year’s Best Short Film, Leemtes en leegheid, made festival history by becoming the first short film in ten years to be chosen as the Audience Favourite. The producer and director of this moving short film about dealing with loss, Gabriella Blumberg and Jordy Sank, will also visit the famous Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, courtesy of the NFVF. This exciting trip to expose them to the international film festival arena was announced at the main awards.
However, a surprise also awaited the winners in the Best Actor and Best Actress Short Film categories, Marlo Minnaar and Carla Smith. International star and festival patron, Arnold Vosloo, will hone their skills in a special mentorship session.
Three writers who penned down new screenplays as part of the Silwerskerm Film Festival’s new script search also received R50 000 each. These prizes went to AnnMaree Barry, Jan Lampen and Mariska Denysschen.
Furthermore, industry legends Jan du Plessis and Karen Meiring were the recipients of Special Awards, honouring their contribution to developing the local film landscape.
The complete list of winners:
FEATURE FILMS
BEST FEATURE FILM
Gaia
BEST DIRECTOR – FEATURE FILM
Gaia – Jaco Bouwer
BEST ACTOR – FEATURE FILM
Stiekyt – Paul du Toit
BEST ACTRESS – FEATURE FILM
Barakat – Vinette Ebrahim
BEST SCRIPT
Barakat
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – FEATURE FILM
Stiekyt – Albert Pretorius
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – FEATURE FILM
Barakat – June van Merch
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC – FEATURE FILM
Barakat – Kyle Shepherd
BEST COSTUME DESIGN – FEATURE FILM
Barakat – Ayesha Khatieb
BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING – FEATURE FILM
Gaia – Sulani Saayman
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – FEATURE FILM
Barakat – Sumaya Wicomb
BEST SOUND DESIGN – FEATURE FILM
Gaia – Tim Pringle
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER – FEATURE FILM
Stiekyt – Eduan Kitching
BEST EDITING – FEATURE FILM
Gaia – Leon Visser
SHORT FILMS
BEST SHORT FILM
Leemtes en leegheid
BEST DIRECTING – SHORT FILM
My Beskermer – D.W. Smith (Diana Mills Smith)
BEST ACTRESS – SHORT FILM
Aan/Af – Marlo Minnaar
BEST ACTRESS – SHORT FILM
Skyn – Carla Smith
BEST ENSEMBLE – SHORT FILMS
Skyn
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC – SHORT FILM
Bennie Bingo – Ryno Posthumus
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – SHORT FILM
Baber
BEST EDITING – SHORT FILM
Die Horries – Regardt Visser
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER – SHORT FILM
Baber – Justin Youens
BEST SCRIPT – SHORT FILM
Leemtes en leegheid – Jordy Sank, Terence Makapan
BEST EXISTING WORK
Ekstasis
AUDIENCE FAVOURITE
Leemtes en leegheid
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
My beskermer
“DRAAIBOEKSOEK” WINNERS:
Mariska Denysschen
Jan Lampen
AnnMaree Barry
HONORARY AWARDS
Karen Meiring
Jan du Plessis
Viewers can watch the short films on DStv Now and DStv CatchUp. ‘Gaia’ will be on DStv BoxOffice from 22 April.
