Latest news with #RethabileRamaphakela
IOL News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From obstacles to opportunities: the positive impact of AI on film-making
Young film-makers are being hailed for their use of technology in making movies like 'Disaster Holiday' which won four Simon 'Mabhunu' Sabela Awards this past weekend. Image: File Young film-makers and content creators are on an upward trajectory, thanks to advances in technology and artificial intelligence that have helped remove obstacles in their path. It is a sentiment shared by many, including Jackie Motsepe, COO of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, and legendary South African film-maker Angus Gibson, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at its Simon 'Mabhunu' Sabela gala function at the Durban International Convention Centre this past Saturday. Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, filmmaker Angus Gibson, pictured with Dr Sibusiso Ndebele, chairperson of the KZNTAFA board. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Motsepe told "Independent Media Lifestyle" that the calibre of entrants in this year's awards - in its twelfth year - stands out, and she attributed this to technological advances and the dedication of mentors who have helped hone the skills of newcomers who are enlisted into the authority's internship programme, which takes in 30 trainees each year. "They are making content through their own devices, and every single day, people in KwaZulu-Natal are working on productions, so we're seeing sharpened skills, whether in acting or script writing," she said. Gibson, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the growth and depth of African storytelling and groundbreaking work on productions such as "Yizo Yizo", "Shaka iLembe" and countless documentary features, went a step further, saying that digital technology had democratised the industry. "I have a theory that digital media, the video camera you're using right now, has kind of democratised the process of film-making, it is no longer an elite thing," he said. Rethabile Ramaphakela and the cast of 'Disaster Holiday' accept the award for Best Feature Film at the Simon 'Mabhunu' Sabela Awards. Image: Supplied Rethabile Ramaphakela, who accepted the Best Feature Film Award for "Disaster Holiday", which she wrote and directed, added: "I definitely think technology has changed things. "When I was at film school, I didn't have a phone that had high-quality enough to make content. Even now, with TikTok, creatives are n making their own stories. "Technology has helped, but on the other side, we have AI coming in and we're not too sure what that means for jobs, so it is a little scary. "But what I always say is that the heart of a film can never be recreated by a computer or machine. Human beings make hearts, and they can't replicate that," she said. During a webinar on Wednesday, hosted by Russian media outlet Sputnik, its AI Project Head, Egor Arkhipov, made the point that video content production has been made so much faster through AI, freeing up creatives to spend more time on flexing their imagination instead of tedious research, rendering and editing. "When we look at the history of us as homo sapiens, there has always been shifts and technological advances that have neutralised certain types of work to be needless, and new types of jobs have opened up," he said, adding that AI creates opportunities for people to be more imaginative, while they leave the "heavy lifting" to artificial intelligence.
TimesLIVE
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
The future of film: women win big at the Simon Sabela Awards
The 12th annual Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards took the Durban International Convention Centre by storm on the weekend in a celebration of this year's winners in local film and television. Topping the winners list this year was Rethabile Ramaphakela's Disaster Holiday with four major awards. A surprise winner was newbie Dineo Nxumalo, the youngest of the teen and tween entrants, who won in the Newcomer Actress category. Both were proud of the progress being made by women in film, and said it was high time they got their dues. 'You always come to these things and you think maybe I'll get one,' said Ramaphakele, who walked away with wins for Best Pan African Film, Best Feature Film, Best Production Design, and Best Use of KZN as a Filming Location.
IOL News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'Disaster Holiday' wins big at the 12th Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards
The annual celebration took place at the Durban ICC under the theme 'Africa's Giants of Storytelling: From Piers to Pages', a fitting homage to a night steeped in heritage, creativity and excellence. Mzansi film and TV stars shone bright on Saturday, July 19, at the 12th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards. This year marked a milestone for the awards as they recognised talent across 25 competitive categories. Leading the pack of winners was the film "Disaster Holiday", produced by Rethabile Ramaphakela, which secured an impressive four accolades: Best Pan African Film, Best Feature Film, Best Production Design, and Best Use of KZN as a Filming Location. "Masinga the Calling" followed closely behind with three awards. Mbuso Khoza picked up Best Supporting Actor in a Film, while Mark Engels took home Best Director and Best Screenplay. Best Supporting Actress in a Film went to Zola Mhlongo, and Best Newcomer Actress to Dineo Nxumalo for the movie "Sent". On the TV front, Kwenzo Ngcobo clinched the Best Actor award for his performance in "Scandal", while Nqobile Magwaza was recognised as Best Actress for her work in "Smoke and Mirrors". Meanwhile, Best Actor and Actress in a Film went to Ntando Mncube for "Themba" and Sibongiseni Shezi for "Umjolo: The Gone Girl", respectively.
