2 minute read
AWARDS AND HONOURS
by Softcopy
Once again Drama alumni win big at the 2020 Saftas
ANDILE DUBE AND NOXOLO MEMELA
Advertisement
Once again, former Drama and Production Studies students proved they are a force to be reckoned with in the competitive film and television industry by walking away with top awards at the 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) recently.
At the awards ceremony, which was held virtually this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Wiseman Mncube won Best Actor in a Drama for his role as Jama in EHostela. Christa Biyela was announced as the winner in the Best Achievement in Scriptwriting category for 1Magic’s telenovela, The River. For the second time in a row, Ferry Jele won Best Achievement in Directing for The River. Last year, Jele won the same award for directing The River.
Two other drama graduates, Dawn Thandeka King and S’dumo Mtshali, walked away with top awards at last year’s SAFTAs.
King won Best Actress in a Lead Role for her role as tough ringleader Ma Z on Mzansi Magic prison drama series Lockdown. Mtshali, who shot to fame after winning SABC1’s reality competition Class Act in 2010, was announced as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on season 2 of Is’Thunzi.
An excited Mncube, who currently stars in South Africa’s mostwatched telenovela, Uzalo, took to social media and said this was his vision, and now it has come through. “Vision. I had a dream and envisioned it, today I see that dream in living colours. What an honour,” he tweeted. Drama and Production Studies’ head of department, Professor Deborah Lutge, said for her department these achievements mean that students require role models that re-imagine the trajectories of their lived narratives.
“Success stories are rare, and during the pandemic as the arts community expresses its fragility, it is refreshing to offer good news and the promise of hope. The Department currently offers only an undergraduate qualification that rests on two primary areas of focus, Performance and Directing, and all students major in both as well as select additional areas of study, one of which is Scriptwriting for theatre and screen. This year it is indeed vindicating to note the winners filled three diverse categories: Directing, Acting and Scriptwriting. In my 30 years of service to the Department of Drama and Production Studies, the broad application of our artists has filled me with proud moments full of love and passionate thanks, and this SAFTA result serves among the proudest,” she said.
Professor Lutge congratulated her former students, saying, “Congratulations to all our graduate nominees and the winners on your impressive and phenomenal successes. There is always a long journey to success so bravo to all the brave pursuing artistic truth, excellence and the dreams a select few realise.”
DUT Drama alumni and SAFTA winner,
