By Aurelie Kashama.
Caption: Sibusiso Tsanyane (Right) and Nothando Chiume, the daughter to Legendary Connie Chiume).
The Directors Guild of South Africa (DGSA) has marked a defining moment for the local screen industry with the successful launch of its inaugural DGSA Creative Awards, placing a long-overdue spotlight on the directors and creative talent shaping South Africa’s film, television, and digital storytelling landscape.
Held in Cape Town, the awards ceremony brought together industry leaders, creatives, and stakeholders in a first-of-its-kind platform dedicated to recognising directing excellence not only as a craft, but as a driving force behind the country’s cultural and economic narrative.
More than a celebration, the event signalled a shift toward greater recognition, protection, and elevation of South African directors within an increasingly competitive global industry. It also reinforced the importance of authorship and authentic storytelling in positioning South Africa as a powerful creative voice on the world stage.
A deeply significant moment of the evening was the posthumous presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to the late Connie Chiume, honouring her enduring contribution to the arts and her impact on generations of performers and storytellers.
“This moment marks more than an awards ceremony — it is the beginning of a movement to honour, protect, and elevate South African directors,” said Andile Sinqoto, DGSA Chairperson.
The evening recognised outstanding achievements across multiple categories, highlighting both established names and emerging voices shaping the future of the industry.
Key winners included:
• Best Director: Mandla Dube — Silverton Siege
• Best Feature Film: Kelsey Egan — The Fix
• Best Director – Short Film: Jozua Malherbe — ENGEL
• Best Documentary Feature: Yaseen J Khan — Robots
• Best Director – TV Series: Jozua Malherbe & Karen Jeynes — Recipes for Love and Murder
• Best Director – Commercial: Lourens van Rensburg — Chicken Licken Soulfluncer
• Best Director – Music Video: Macmillan Mabaleka — The Big 3 Trilogy
• Best Director – Digital: Dibi & Zigi — Snippets
• Best First-Time Director: Meekaaeel Adam — The Trek
Crafts Awards:
• Outstanding Cinematic Vision: Mandla Dube — Heart of the Hunter
• Best Editing: Meekaaeel Adam — The Trek
• Best Cinematography: Hayden Brown — Bergbruidjie Acting Awards:
• Best Actress: Connie Ferguson — Heart of the Hunter
• Best Actor: Thabo Rametsi — Kalushi
• Best Supporting Actress: Robyn Roussouw — The Fix
• Best Supporting Actor: Julian Robinson — Just Now Jeffrey
The launch of the DGSA Creative Awards marks the beginning of what is set to become an important annual platform – one that not only celebrates excellence, but actively contributes to the growth, visibility, and sustainability of South Africa’s screen industry.
As the industry continues to evolve, initiatives such as these play a critical role in ensuring that local talent is recognised at home, while being positioned to compete and collaborate on a global stage.