Latest news with #FilmAwards
News24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Netflix's Disaster Holiday wins big at Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards
Proudly South African road trip comedy film, Disaster Holiday, was the biggest winner at the 12th annual Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards, which took place at the Durban International Convention Centre on Saturday evening. Created by the Ramphakela siblings, Rethabile, Katleho and Tshepo, of Burnt Onion Productions, the creative geniuses behind the How To Ruin Christmas franchise, the film scooped awards in the Best Pan African Film, Best Feature Film, Best Production Design and Best Use of KZN as a Filming Location categories. 'Winning four awards at the Sabelas is such a humbling moment. It's not just a win for us – it's a win for the entire team, for the storytellers behind the scenes and for the province of KwaZulu-Natal, which gave us such a beautiful canvas to work on,' one-third of the sibling trio, Rethabile, said. 'As the writer and director of the film, I have fond memories, as a Joburger, of driving to Durban for a holiday - the midlands and the beaches. But the highlight for me was shooting in Mtwalume - so beautiful and so untouched. A real KZN gem. I think we truly captured the magic of KZN in the film, and that's why it ended up trending globally on Netflix.' Another highlight from the glittering ceremony was renowned filmmaker Angus Gibson, of Bomb Productions, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the growth and depth of South African storytelling. Among other notable productions Gibson worked on were Yizo Yizo, Isibaya, and, more recently, Shaka iLembe. 'As Bomb, whenever we tell a story, we want the characters we depict to recognise themselves. For the last 12 years, with both Isibaya and Shaka iLembe, we have been immersed in a Zulu world, so it is from the KZN audience that we most want approval. This award is an affirmation that makes me very happy,' he said. READ | From 6 000 G-strings to 15K jobs and 100K handsewn beads: Shaka iLembe returns for S2 Back at the awards, the red carpet was nothing short of dazzling, with attendees arriving in bold, royal and legendary outfits, reflecting the evening's theme of Africa's Giants of Storytelling: From Piers to Pages. The ceremony was hosted by Umkhokha: The Curse couple Nay Mays and Hope Mbhele, with fellow House of Zwide actor Khaya Dladla hosting the red carpet. Beaming with pride over the night's success, KZN Tourism and Film Authority COO Jackie Motsepe said the evening 'affirmed the power of African storytelling'. 'From newcomers to legends, our creatives are shaping culture and inspiring futures. We're proud to see KZN emerging as a strong player on the African global film map. The Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards continue to honour excellence while driving the industry forward,' she said. See the full list of winners here:
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Star Awards 2025: Chow Yun Fat to headline annual awards ceremony on 6 July – and everything you need to know
Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat will be headlining this year's Star Awards on 6 July, returning as a special guest presenter for the annual awards ceremony's 30th anniversary. The veteran actor first attended the inaugural Star Awards in 1994, and his return marks a full-circle moment for the show. Chow, 70, has over 100 film credits to his name, starred in classics such as A Better Tomorrow (1986) and the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). Over the years, he's earned a long list of accolades, including two Golden Horse Awards, three Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actor, and the coveted Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at the 28th Busan International Film Festival. Most recently, Chow can be seen in Project Gutenberg (2018) and One More Chance (2023). He is married to 65-year-old Singaporean Jasmine Tan. Chow isn't the only veteran Hong Kong star who will have a presence at Star Awards 2025. Hong Kong actress Jessica Hsuan, who was in Mediacorp's M18 drama Kill Sera Sera, nabbed a Best Actress nomination. Hsuan previously said during a press conference in Singapore that this role is something "I've never played before". And, despite her illustrious acting career which saw collaborations with leading actors such as Louis Koo, Wong He, Julian Cheung, Nick Cheung, Roger Kwok, and Joe Ma, Hsuan didn't think she was the biggest star of the cast. It's unclear if Hsuan will be at the awards. She told Shin Min Daily News that she "hopes" to attend the event. She said, "It would be my honour if I'm invited and can get to be at the grand event. Whether or not I win the award is secondary, most importantly I would want to show my support." Kill Sera Sera stars local actor Christopher Lee (a Golden Bell winner), Taiwanese actor James Wen (also a Golden Bell winner), Chantalle Ng, and Damien Teo. Nominated alongside Hsuan are Chantalle Ng (Hope Afloat), Felicia Chin (I Do, Do I?), Hong Ling (Unforgivable), and Jesseca Liu (Unforgivable). The other nominees in the performance categories are: Best Actor Christopher Lee (Kill Sera Sera) Andie Chen (Born to Shine) Qi Yuwu (Once Upon A New Year's Eve) Richie Koh (Coded Love) Gavin Teo (To Be Loved) Best Supporting Actor Guo Liang (To Be Loved) Pierre Png (Moments) Xu Bin (Kill Sera Sera) Chen Hanwei (Unforgivable) Chen Shucheng (Unforgivable) Best Supporting Actress Tasha Low (Coded Love) Cynthia Koh (Hope Afloat) Lynn Lim (Kill Sera Sera) Meixin (Born To Shine) Ya Hui (Coded Love) The annual Star Awards is a platform for Mediacorp to honour and celebrate local creativity and talent. Since its inception in 1994, it has been instrumental in showcasing Singapore stories and nurturing talent, including the recognition of some of the biggest local stars. Today, it continues to be one of the most well regarded and highly anticipated awards event in the local Chinese entertainment industry. The 2019 Star Search champion Zhang Zetong clinched the Best Actor award for his role as the villain in All That Glitters and cried as he delivered his acceptance speech. "I feel that this win isn't just because of my own ability. A lot of the times, it's a group of people who contribute to the creation of a character, so thank you to every crew member on All That Glitters," he told local media after the win. Meanwhile, actress Aileen Tan scored the Best Supporting Actress win for her role of Chen MeiHui in 2023 action drama series Shero. She told Yahoo Singapore separately on her win that she still has 'a lot of things to learn' and yearns to keep going further. Veteran host Kym Ng snagged the Best Actress award, her first big win in the performance categories, and openly admitted to local media that she really wanted it. Ng had only won the Best Supporting Actress twice prior to this. She said, "I didn't think I'd win this award, but I really wished and prayed very hard that I can win." Jeremy Chan, who is more known for his comedic roles, took home the other big acting trophy of Best Actor. He attributed the win to his co-stars Ayden Sng and Desmond Tan, and told Yahoo Singapore that he was able to play off their strong performances. Star Awards 2025 will be the 30th anniversary of the annual awards show and the overarching theme will be "Walking Through Time Together". The ceremony will be held on 6 July at The Theatre at Mediacorp. The main show starts at 7pm, and will be hosted by veteran host Guo Liang and second-generation actress Chantalle Ng. This will be Ng's hosting debut. Hong Kong actor Sean Lau will be presenting awards this year, marking his return to the Star Awards after 25 years. Meanwhile, homegrown singer Kit Chan will be performing some memorable soundtracks from local television. Before the ceremony, viewers can enjoy the red carpet Walk of Fame, from 5pm to 6.30pm, hosted by a 'Fashion Squad' comprising hosts Dennis Chew, Herman Keh, Hazelle Teo, and Denise Camillia Tan. Backstage Live (3.30pm to 10pm) will also return with radio station Yes 933's The Daka Show anchors Jeff Goh, Chen Ning and Gao Mei Gui. This is where audiences can enjoy a real-time, all-access pass to behind-the-scenes artiste prep, instant reactions and unscripted moments as results roll in. The post-show party will return after a hiatus of six years, giving viewers a glimpse into candid moments and backstage reactions. This will be held on the same evening from 10pm to 10.30pm. The eligibility criteria for some awards has shifted. In the category of the Top 10 Most Popular Artistes Award, for the first time, artistes who are nominees of any performance-based award will automatically qualify to run for the popularity award in the same year. Artistes who play the lead role or main host in a series with at least two episodes, as well as artistes who have a total of at least 13 episodes in a combination of roles, will also be eligible. The Most Popular Rising Star award is for artistes with five or fewer years of experience, but now, artistes who receive the award three times will automatically be placed into the Top 10 Most Popular Artiste Award category. And, the Best Rising Star award now allows for repeat nominations, as long as nominees continue to have five or fewer years of experience and have not won in the same category. Public voting is now underway for the categories of Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes, and Most Popular Rising Star award. Catch the Star Awards 2025 live on Channel 8, Channel U, mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on 6 July (Sunday).
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taormina To Fete Monica Bellucci With Special Award To Mark ‘Malèna' 25th Anniversary
EXCLUSIVE: Taormina Film Festival will present Monica Bellucci with a Special International Award and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Giuseppe Tornatore's Sicily-set drama Malèna in which she starred, at its upcoming edition later this month. Bellucci will receive the honor at a gala event in Taormina's ancient amphitheater at which the film will be screened. The official poster of the Taormina Film Festival 2025 is also dedicated to Malèna. More from Deadline Geoffrey Rush To Receive Taormina Film Festival Excellence Award Olivia Wilde To Receive Taormina Film Festival Creativity Award Helen Hunt To Receive Taormina Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award The 2000 World War Two-set romantic drama stars Bellucci as a woman living on her own in a small Sicilian town, while her husband is away fighting, whose beauty and sensuality raises suspicion among the other townspeople. Taormina described Bellucci as one of the 'most famous and fascinating icons of Italian and international cinema', praising her 'magnetic charisma, her innate elegance and a unique expressive intensity' and highlighting her credits such as The Passion of the Christ, Irreversible and Spectre. 'We are honored to welcome Monica Bellucci, one of the most beloved and representative interpreters of our cinema,' said Tiziana Rocca, Artistic Director of the Taormina Film Festival. 'Her talent and elegance have left a profound mark on works that have made history, and the 25th anniversary of Malèna is the perfect opportunity to celebrate her with the warmth of the Taormina audience. The Teatro Antico will be the ideal setting for this unforgettable tribute.' Taormina Film Festival is an initiative organized by the Taormina Arte Sicilia Foundation, directly promoted by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment of the Sicilian Region, with the support of the MiC, Ministry of Culture – General Directorate of Cinema and Audiovisual. Best of Deadline 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Times of Oman
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Gulf Film Festival opens submissions for participation
Muscat: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has announced the opening of submissions for the upcoming Gulf Film Festival, scheduled to take place in Muscat during 16-19 November 2025. The event will be organised in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and aligns with the festival's regulatory framework established by the GCC Secretariat General, as part of the implementation of the GCC Cultural Strategy 2020-2030. The ministry has extended an invitation to all Omani filmmakers to submit their works and compete across the festival's various categories, including feature films, short films, and documentaries. Participants will vie for financial awards, with prizes awarded for Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, and Best Documentary, in addition to other awards such as Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Actor and Actress. This event presents a promising opportunity for Omani talent to showcase their creativity on a Gulf-wide platform, reinforcing Oman's presence in the regional cinematic landscape.
Times of Oman
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Submissions invited for taking part in Gulf Film Festival
Muscat: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has announced the opening of submissions for the upcoming Gulf Film Festival, scheduled to take place in Muscat during 16-19 November 2025. The event will be organised in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and aligns with the festival's regulatory framework established by the GCC Secretariat General, as part of the implementation of the GCC Cultural Strategy 2020-2030. The ministry has extended an invitation to all Omani filmmakers to submit their works and compete across the festival's various categories, including feature films, short films, and documentaries. Participants will vie for financial awards, with prizes awarded for Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, and Best Documentary, in addition to other awards such as Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Actor and Actress. This event presents a promising opportunity for Omani talent to showcase their creativity on a Gulf-wide platform, reinforcing Oman's presence in the regional cinematic landscape.
