Latest news with #LeletiKhumalo
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.
News24
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
‘We came back home with it' - Leleti Khumalo celebrates big win at international film festival
It was a day the about the lights, cameras and action. The film and television industry has been her bread and butter for as long as we've known her. From Sarafina, Invictus, to Yesterday and Free State, Leleti Khumalo has poured her heart out on our screens. After years of being on screen, Leleti finally took the leap of faith in 2018 by going behind the scenes. While leading the cast on Imbewu: The Seed, the icon co-produced the drama series alongside Duma kaNdlovu and Anat Singh. The series placed a scandalous focus on the KZN-based families of the Bhengus and Rampersads as they navigate love, betrayal, and loyalty. Read more | Leleti Khumalo, Duma Ndlovu, Anant Singh say they're proud of their creation as Imbewu comes to end Five years later, the series was canned after garnering a solid, loyal viewership on This was just the start of a whole new illustrious chapter for her. And this past weekend was evident of this. At the 64th edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Leleti was honoured for her film, Don't Give Up. A film where she collaborated with Darrel James Roodt, the director of the Oscar-nominated film Yesterday in which Leleti starred, along with Anant Singh, who was also in attendance at the prestigious award ceremony. Taking the excitement to her Instagram page, Leleti celebrates the win. 'And just like that, Savela sabuya nayo indondo (We came back with the award). The Monte-Carlo Television Festival awarded us the Golden Nymph award in the 'Special Creation' category for the film 'Don't Give Up'. In its 64th edition this year, the Monte-Carlo Television festival has become one of the most prestigious international television festivals in the world, showcasing quality content from around the world, including digital platforms. The festival is considered to be the television equivalent of the Oscars in Europe.' Read more | 30 Inspiring Drum Women | 'The young ones now call me Dr Gogo' – iconic actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones 'An absolute honour to have gone up and accepted this award with my producer, Anant Singh, someone who is always by my side in my career. Another huge thank you to our director, Darrell James Roodt. I'm forever grateful to work with you. Thank you to Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco for so warmly welcoming and congratulating us in your beautiful country,' she continued. President Cyril Ramaphosa has since congratulated the trio for their victory.
News24
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Golden Nymph triumph: Ramaphosa congratulates Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh
President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh for winning the Golden Nymph Award at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival for the short film Don't Give Up. The film, a heart-wrenching portrayal of Johannesburg's homeless, won Best Creation. 'I congratulate Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh for flying our flag and for spotlighting one of our nation's socio-economic challenges,' reads a post on the president's X account. President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated actor Leleti Khumalo and film producer Anant Singh for their win at the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival. The short film Don't Give Up, starring Khumalo, produced by Singh and written and directed by Darrell Roodt, won the festival's Golden Nymph Award in the Best Creation category. The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, 17 June and in attendance were Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, who presented two awards. PascalThe festival, originally created by Prince Rainier III of Monaco and now under the patronage of Prince Albert, showcases the best of television worldwide. The free festival is open to everyone and runs over five days, culminating with the closing ceremony and the Golden Nymph presentation. On Thursday, President Ramaphosa shared on X that he bumped into Khumalo at OR International Airport during his travels to and from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada. '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 socio-economic challenges,' reads the post. 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 The film follows Faith, a homeless beggar and a single mother of two young sons, Lucky and Siyabonga, who live in an abandoned car in an alleyway in central Johannesburg. 'One day, while washing her sons at a tap in a bus depot, Faith is assaulted by a security guard. In her bid to escape this battering, she 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 disinterested commuters on her corner,' reads the synopsis. Watch the trailer here. Accepting the award, Khumalo thanked the festival, the Videovision team and director Darrell Roodt 'who came up with this amazing project.' She continued: 'And I thank Anant for always believing in me and for always having faith in me. To the Prince and Princess, thank you for having us here in Monte Carlo, and I'd also like to thank my family for always supporting the work I do. Thank you so much; this is humbling.' Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Singh said that winning was a pleasant surprise. '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, and the music of Philip Glass and Peter Gabriel give it that special magic. 'We are delighted to have this little South African film about homeless people win this special prize. I'd like to acknowledge the creation of these awards by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, acknowledge your Highness Prince Albert, for continuing to celebrate the creative communities, which is so important. It's my third year here at the Festival, and I am delighted to take home this Golden Nymph with Leleti.'
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.
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Local films, 'Don't Give Up' and 'Black Women and Sex' win prestigious international awards
"Don't Give Up" is produced by Anant Singh, and stars Leleti Khumalo. Image: Supplied South African film "Don't Give Up" has received international recognition at the prestigious 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival. "Don't Give Up" which is produced by Anant Singh and directed by Darrell James Roodt, recently screened at the popular festival. It went on to win Best Creation in the Fiction category at the coveted Golden Nymph Awards. "Don't Give Up" stars legendary Mzansi actress, Leleti Khumalo, who plays Faith, a single mother struggling to provide for her two young sons, Lucky and Siyabonga. She begs for money from disinterested commuters on her corner and lives in an abandoned car in an alleyway of central Johannesburg. She tries to increase her takings with a sign, but has to beg for the cardboard for the sign from antagonistic newsvendors. She cannot write so has to find someone to write the sign for her, which takes her into the dangerous area of Hillbrow. "We are thrilled that 'Don't Give Up' was selected by the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. This is an exceptional honour as the festival is among the most prestigious in the world. 'Don't Give Up' is a unique film that was 15 years in the making and used the technique of classic silent films with no dialogue," shared Singh. He added: "The film confronts the serious social issues of poverty and homelessness that affects people around the world, whose challenges and tribulations are never heard." Faith, a single mother struggling to provide for her two young sons, Lucky and Siyabonga. Image: Supplied The festival culminated with the awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 17. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco where in attendance. Other award winners included Sweden's 'Vanguard', which took home the Best Series prize, while Germany's "On A Day In September" won Best Film. The Jury Special Prize went to Australia's "Good Cop/Bad Cop". South Africa's winning streak did not stop there. Local filmmaker Godisamang Khunou's documentary, "Black Women and Sex", won the Best Documentary Feature at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) which took place from June 11 to 15, in Miami Beach, Florida. Founded in 1997, the ABFF is dedicated to showcasing film and television content by and about people of African descent. "Black Women and Sex" follows three women; Zambian media personality Iris Kaingu who was incarnated after her sex tape was leaked, South African gender equality activist and transwoman Glow Makatsi and Nigerian chef Olawumi Oloye. In an online interview, Khunou said the documentary took about six years to make. "In the process I was winning a lot of awards too for development, and I worried that the film wouldn't live up to the hype in the making of it, so it was very validating that I delivered what I had promised in those years when it won as a complete project at ABFF,' she said. "Black Women and Sex" will also showcase at the National Arts Festival's Fringe Programme later this month.
