Ster-Kinekor theatres and Saftas announced winner of young achiever award

 

The who’s who of the South African film and television industry put on their best as they walked the red carpet with their peers. This, in preparation for the announcement of all the winners at the 12^th Annual SAFTAs (South African Film and Television Awards) ceremony at Sun City this evening (24 March).

Among the list of recipients of a much-treasured SAFTA statuette was a young and talented actor, who is destined for bigger and brighter things on both the big and small screen. The Young Achiever Award, sponsored again this year by Ster-Kinekor Theatres, was handed over to a thrilled Ayanda Sithebe by Motheo Matsau, Chief of Marketing and Sales of the country’s leading cinema exhibitor. The sponsorship is a further display of Ster-Kinekor’s continued support of the local film industry, and the development of the exciting young talent therein.

 

“Ayanda is a most worthy recipient of this inaugural Youth Achiever Award, and our sponsorship of this award is a continuation in showing the industry that we are committed in collaborating with the South African Film Industry. The SAFTAs provides an excellent avenue for us to demonstrate our assurance to the flourishing South African film industry.

“But, more importantly, we are pleased to be sponsoring the award for the second year, an innovative category that recognises and rewards the exciting young talent in our country who are destined to become the industry’s rising stars of tomorrow,” says Motheo Matsau, Chief of Marketing and Sales of Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

“Focusing on growing the youth market is a key sector within our marketing strategy. This sponsorship opportunity further strengthens that strategy. It also gives us access to some of the exciting and developing talent within the sector, who are destined for future success.”

Ayanda Sithebe is a creative entrepreneur with a daring approach to the projects that he works on. He has over 12 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, he is innovative and works hard to make an impact.

He is the CEO and founder of actor spaces, a digital platform for actors that consists of a digital magazine that promotes excellence within acting spaces in theatre, film and television.

“We are looking forward to working with Ayanda, and exploring some interesting opportunities and collaborations with this creative talent going forward,” remarked Matsau.

“It is important that all sectors within the industry work together to ensure our continued commitment to the growth and success of South Africa’s growing film industry. As such, our continued partnership with the NFVF to sponsor the SAFTAs category that focuses on youth achievement is our commitment to ensuring a healthy pipeline of talent and content into the future.”

The special Youth Achiever Award category is presented to a newcomer or young individual in the industry who has demonstrated excellence in their craft. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), custodians of the SAFTAs, called for nominations for this category, one of three discretionary awards to be presented at the awards event this evening.

The panel of judges, comprising members of the SAFTAs committee, CCIFSA, SASFED, SABC, M-Net, eTV and StarSat), evaluated the nominees’ submissions of work, their impact on the future of, and their development, the industry. The choice of Sithebe as the worthy recipient of this award was a unanimous agreement by the panel.