Mdantsane film-maker Qubeka scoops top SA industry awards
Mdantsane-born film-maker Jahmil Qubeka and his team scooped several awards for Sew
the Winter to My Skin at the South African Film and Television Awards at Sun City on Saturday.
The film, which has been showcased around the world, including at the Toronto Film Festival last year and opened at the Cape Town Film Festival, was on show at The Cinema at the Steve Biko Centre in King William’s Town last month.
The film, a feature inspired by John Kepe, a Robin Hood figure in 1940s South Africa, scooped five awards at the Saftas.
Qubeka said he was humbled and inspired by the array of awards they received.
“Our productions are all about promoting an authentic South Africa on an international scale, and we are proud to have had the Sew the Winter to
My Skin as part of South Africa’s entry into the Oscars.
“We are extremely proud and honoured for the recognition of what we are doing and extremely grateful for the support we have been getting,” he said.
Qubeka and his partner, Laylor Swart, founded Yellow Bone Entertainment, and have already created three films in the more than two years they have been running the company.
Swart, a producer and editor, Xhosa sci-fi short which opened also scooped Best Youth Achiever at the International BRICS Film at the prestigious event. Festival held in China in June
“It’s a nice feather in my hat, 2017. and obviously a great honour to Eastern Cape-born actors have accomplished so many Zolisa Xalavu, Brenda Ngxoli awards in the little time and Mandisa Nduna are among we have been running our the actors in the recent film, company. with Xalavu scooping an award
“It really is a new dawn for for best supporting actor in film in South Africa as I don’t a feature film on Saturday think there’s ever been a film evening. that has won both best short The pair said the awards were film and best feature film, a breath of fresh air, ahead of which we did in one night. their latest film, Knuckle City,
“Those are both the most which comes out in May. prestigious awards in the film The boxing film was shot in industry,” she said. East London, Mdantsane and
The Cape Town-born coowner Potsdam. said their award for best “We have received so much short film was for Stillborn ,a support from the government and its agencies, with the most being from the department of trade & industry, industrial development corporation and National Empowerment Fund, among others.
“They have played a great role in helping us make these films real and in taking them around the world,” said Swart.