South Africa

_{Posted on Wednesday 4-07-2007}

28th Durban International Film Festival awards

_{Awards Night for the 28th Durban International Film Festival took place at NuMetro Cinecentre at Suncoast on Saturday June 30th, with 18 prizes, in form of traditional Zulu dolls, being awarded.}

_{The Best Film prize was awarded to Ezra, by UK-based Nigerian director Newton Aduaka, a story set within the conflict of Sierra Leone. The International Jury’s commendation highlighted Ezra as a “bold and daring film that takes us into the heart of the politics of war and hatred”. The award carries a cash prize of R30,000.}

_{Best South African Film award, with a cash prize of R20, 000, went to Heartlines, directed by Angus Gibson. The jury praised the film for its “attention to cinematographic detail and its unflinching adherence to its core message of redemption”. South African director Teboho Mahlatsi’s Sekalli Le Meokgo (Meokgo and the Stickfighter) scooped both Best Short Film and Best South African Short Film awards, while The Mother’s House by Francois Verster won Best South African Documentary award. The Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award, accompanied by 2,000 euro cash prize, went to Shame, a film from Pakistan directed by Mohammed Naqvi.}

_{The full list of award-winners is:}

_{Best Film: Ezra (France/Nigeria/Austria) directed by Newton Aduaka}

_{Best South African Feature Film: Heartlines, directed by Angus Gibson}

_{Best First Feature Film: shared by The Unpolished (Germany), directed by Pia Marais and The Unforgiven (Korea), directed by Yoon Jong-bin}

_{Best Direction: Jia Zhang-Ke for Still Life (Hong Kong/China)}

_{Best Actress: Cherry Pie Picache in Summer Heat (Philippines)}

_{Best Actor: Emir Hadzihafisbegovic in Armin (Croatia/Germany/Bosnia and Herzegovina)}

_{Best Cinematography: Christophe Lanzenberg for The Sensation Of Sight (USA)}

_{Best Screenplay: Gal Uchovsky and Eytan Fox for The Bubble (Israel)}

_{Special Mention Jury Prize: Meisie (South Africa), directed by Darrell James Roodt}

_{Best Documentary: Cats of Mirikitani (USA) directed by Linda Hattendorf}

_{Special Mention Documentary: Nomadak Tx (Spain), directed by Raul de la Fuente, Pablo Iraburu, Harkaitz Mtnez. de San Vincente and Igor Otxoa}

_{Best South African Documentary: The Mother’s House directed by Francois Verster}

_{Best Short Film: Sekalli Le Meokgo (Meokgo and the Stickfighter) (South Africa), directed by Teboho Mahlatsi}

_{Best South African Short Film: Sekalli Le Meokgo (Meokgo and the Stickfighter), directed by Teboho Mahlatsi}

_{Big Fish School of Digital Design Best Short Film Newcomer Award: Amambuka Westrike (South Africa) directed by Marthinus Lamprecht}

_{Special Mention Short Film: The Griot from Dapore (Burkina Faso/The Netherlands) by Jaap van Heusden}

_{Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award: Shame (Pakistan), directed by Mohammed Naqvi Emir Hadzihafisbogovic makes his character extremely believable and likable.”}

_{Audience Choice Best Feature Film: Red Like the Sky (Rosso Come Il Cielo) directed by Cristiano Bortone.}

_{FILM JURIES}

_{INTERNATIONAL JURY
Dora Bouchoucha, producer, Niki Karimi, actress, director, Pedro Pimenta, producer, festival director, Portia Rankoane, director, poet, Partho Sen-Gupta, director}

_{BEST SOUTH AFRICAN FEATURE FILM JURY
Junaid Ahmed, filmmaker; Darren Murray, filmmaker; Madoda Ncayiyana, filmmaker.}

_{DOCUMENTARIES AND SOUTH AFRICAN DOCUMENTARIES JURY
Val Adamson, photographer, Vashna Jagarnath, historian, Greg Streak, artist, filmmaker.}

_{SHORT FILM JURY
Doung Anwar Jahangeer, multimedia artist and architect; Edmund Mhlongo, filmmaker; Maganthrie Pillay, filmmaker, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL DURBAN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD JURY Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Gay and Lesbian Community Centre/Amnesty International David Spurret, Philosophy Department, UKZN; Coral Vinsen, Amnesty International Durban}

_{www.cca.ukzn.ac.za}

_{Sharlene Versfeld
Versfeld & Associates : The Communication Works
Tel: 031 201 1650
Fax: 031 201 1654
Cell: 083 326 3235
E-mail: sharlene@versfeld.co.za}

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