Latest news with #Don'tGiveUp
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
WATCH: Leleti Khumalo's unexpected encounter with Ramaphosa
President Ramaphosa has congratulated actress Leleti and her team on their award. Veteran actress Leleti Khumalo recently had an unexpected encounter with President Cyril Ramaphosa as she travelled to and from the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards in Monaco. Khumalo, best known for her iconic role in Sarafina!, had been in Monaco for the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, where the short film Don't Give Up, in which she stars, won the award for Best Creation in the Fiction category. The film, produced by veteran filmmaker Anant Singh, tells the harrowing story of a homeless mother trying to survive on the streets of Johannesburg with her two sons. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Khumalo gushed about crossing paths with President Ramaphosa both before her departure and again upon her return to South Africa. 'I had the pleasure of bumping into our President upon our departure to Monaco. We were travelling to different countries, but were scheduled to be on the same flight. We had a great conversation, and he also wished me great luck for the awards and my nomination.' She added: 'To my surprise, we bumped into him again on our return to South Africa – on the same flight again – but this time I had the award with me. It was truly an honour to show him the award and how well South Africa had been represented at Monaco.' ALSO READ: South Africa's award-winning trio bags another accolade at Monte-Carlo Television Festival Ramaphosa congratulates Leleti and the team President Ramaphosa also took to social media to congratulate Khumalo and her team, saying he was delighted to have met the actress. 'Leleti did have something to declare: she'd returned from the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, where she and acclaimed film producer Anant Singh had won the prestigious Golden Nymph Award for their work on the short film Don't Give Up, which portrays life on the streets of Johannesburg for a begging mother of two. 'I congratulate Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh for flying our flag and for spotlighting one of our nation's socioeconomic challenges.' On my travels to and from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada, I had the good and proud fortune of bumping into our veteran star performer Leleti Khumalo at OR Tambo International Airport. Leleti did have something to declare: she'd returned from the Monte Carlo Television Festival… — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 19, 2025 NOW READ: Bolt pokes holes in TikToker Simthande Myeza's abduction claims
eNCA
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
SA Film, "Dont Give Up" wins at Monte-Carlo Festival
JOHANNESBURG - A South African production has received international recognition at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Don't Give Up , produced by Anant Singh and starring Leleti Khumalo, won Best Creation in the Fiction category at the Golden Nymph Awards. READ: Cinema | Family drama 'Sabbatical' hits SA big screens Actress Leleti Khumalo and producer Anant Singh discussed the film's journey and impact during an interview with eNCA.
TimesLIVE
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Ramaphosa lauds Leleti and Anant for flying the SA flag high in Monte Carlo
President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded actress Leleti Khumalo and film producer Anant Singh for winning the prestigious Golden Nymph Award, at the 64th Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, Europe. While travelling from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada, Ramaphosa had an encounter with Leleti at OR Tambo International Airport where she showed him her accolade for the short film Don't Give Up. 'I had the good and proud fortune of bumping into our veteran star performer Leleti Khumalo. Leleti did have something to declare: she'd returned from the Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, where she and acclaimed film producer Anant Singh had won the prestigious Golden Nymph Award for their work on the short film, Don't Give Up, which portrays life on the streets of Johannesburg for a begging mother of two. 'I congratulate Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh for flying our flag and for spotlighting one of our nation's socioeconomic challenges,' he wrote on X.
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
South Africa's award-winning trio bags another accolade at Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Actress Leleti Khumalo, producer Anant Singh, and director-writer Darrell Roodt jointly won another award this week. If it's not broke, don't fix it, they say. And the film trio of actress Leleti Khumalo, producer Anant Singh, and film director and writer Darrell Roodt need not fix anything, as the three scooped another award last night at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. 'I'd like to thank the Videovision team and the director, Darrell Roodt, who came up with this amazing project. And I thank Anant for always believing in me and for always having faith in me,' Khumalo said in her speech. South Africa's trio won the Golden Nymph Award in the 'Special Creation' category for the film Don't Give Up. Seen as the European equivalent of the television Oscars, the Monte-Carlo Television Festival honours exceptional storytelling from around the globe, including productions made for digital platforms. This year was the 64th edition of the festival. 'This is a film about homeless people who have no voice and has no dialogue. It is essentially a homage to the silent movie, and it represents homeless people all around the world,' said film producer Anant Singh in his acceptance speech. ALSO READ: Sarafina! becomes first SA film to return to Cannes Film Festival after 30 years The trio's winning streak Roodt, Singh, and Khumalo have previously collaborated on other award-winning projects. Roodt was the director of the Oscar-nominated movie Yesterday, in which Khumalo plays the role of a mother living with HIV/Aids. Singh wears the producers' hat in that movie, too. The trio also worked together in the creation of the iconic film, Sarafina! The classic 1992 musical drama returned to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France in 2023, under the Cannes Classics section. This is a first for a South African film. Also in 2023, Sarafina! was honoured with a Special Screening at the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival at the prestigious 700-seater Cinéma le Colisee with lead star Khumalo in attendance. The now 55-year-old Khumalo was the lead on Sarafina! as an 18-year-old. Roodt, who wasn't present at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, has also worked with Singh on another award-winning film, Cry, the Beloved Country. ALSO READ: Sarafina! wraps up a successful 2023 with honours at Marrakech Film Festival The film Titled Don't Give Up, the film follows the life of Faith (portrayed by Khumalo), a beggar and single mother of two sons, Lucky and Siyabonga. While washing her sons at a tap in a bus depot, Faith is assaulted by a security guard, portrayed by the late actor Sello Motloung. In her bid to escape this battering, Faith and her sons try to run away, but Siyabonga gets caught in the wire fence and almost has his thumb ripped off. Faith is unable to help him beyond wrapping it up in a torn piece of her skirt. She begs for money from uninterested commuters on her corner. The film focuses on the life of a vagrant amidst the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg. 'We are delighted to have this little South African film about homeless people win this special prize,' said Singh. The music of Philip Glass and Peter Gabriel gives a voice to the voiceless, homeless people. 'The music of Philip Glass and Peter Gabriel gives it that special magic,' said Singh. The film has not yet been released in South Africa, with screenings planned for later this year. NOW READ: WATCH: 'Youngins' stars confirm final season in Soweto
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Robin Wright looks glamorous in a sequinned gown while Suits star Sarah Rafferty is chic in a white dress as they lead stars at Monte-Carlo TV Festival
Actresses Robin Wright and Sarah Rafferty put on glamorous displays as they attended the Closing Ceremony of the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Tuesday. House Of Cards star Robin, 59, had travelled to southern France to accept the Crystal Nymph Award from the Prince and Princess of Monaco to recognise her achievements during a long acting career. The American actress - who starred as Claire Underwood in House Of Cards for more than 70 episodes - seemed elated to be in attendance as she was pictured arriving with Henri Smith. Wearing her short blonde hair brushed to the side, Robin dazzled on the red carpet in a glitzy flowing dress which she accessorised with a matching bag and a pair of hooped earrings. While Sarah, 52 - who had been invited to the festival alongside John Reardon to present the Best Creation Award - stunned in a white gown while letting her ginger locks flow past her shoulders. She also cracked a smile while posing for photos with Aussie actress Rachel Griffiths, 56, who sported a poker-dot red and white dress for the evening. After taking to the stage later in the ceremony, the Suits star awarded the Best Creation award to Don't Give Up, a South African production following a single mother struggling to provide for her children. The awards show also saw German movie On A Day In September scoop Best Film, while Vanguard was awarded Best Series. Individual awards were handed to charismatic Scandinavian actor Jakob Oftebro as Best Actor for his part in Vanguard, as On A Day In September star Hélène Alexandridis was crowned best actress. Robin - who has enjoyed a 40-year career as an actress - was rewarded for her efforts in the industry later on with the Crystal Nymph Award, previously won by stars such as Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas. Just a day earlier, the 59-year-old American opened up about her time on House Of Cards and her fight for equal pay. During a chat with Variety, the experienced actress said: 'When David Fincher introduced House of Cards to me, he said, "This is going to be the future, it's going to be revolutionary". 'Yes, it was difficult (trying to achieve equal pay), I am going to be honest. When I said, "I think it's only fair because my character became as popular as (Kevin Spacey's), they said, "We can't pay you the same as an actor, so we will make you exec producer and you can direct". 'I asked, "Why can't you pay me as an actor" - "Because you didn't win an Academy Award".' Aside from Robin and Sarah, a host of other stars also flocked to Monte-Carlo for the awards ceremony. Bond girl in the 1995 007 movie Golden Eye, Famke Janssen, 60, was one of those in attendance, with the actress arriving in a glamorous strapless white and black dress. While Gabrielle Lazure, 68, proved age is just a number in a red and gold dress which she accessorised with both golden jewellery and heels. Percy Jackson and Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd looked typically dapper for the evening as he donned an all-black tux Percy Jackson and Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd looked typically dapper for the evening in an all-black tux. The 51-year-old was joined by his girlfriend of two years Danielle Savre, 36, who wore her blonde hair up after slipping into a black dress. And much-loved Starsky & Hutch actor Antonio Fargas, 78, seemed in great spirits for the evening some 50 years after he starred in the show. Donning a clean black and white outfit, Huggy Bear actor Antonio sported a new-look goatee beard as he posed for photos in picturesque Monaco.
