Saftas: a mix of great acts and gaffes

By Debashine Thangevelo

THE 9th annual South African Film and Television Awards was definitely bigger this year – but was it better? The answer is a resoundingly inexcusable, NO!

In fact, Sunday night’s awards ceremony at Gallagher Estate may have turned things up a notch on the razzle-dazzle aspect, but, in terms of the show itself, it was an insufferable eruption of cringeworthy jokes ironically by funny man host Loyiso Gola, whose blue or green (not quite sure) socks had more character than he did, and litany of live-TV gaffes.

Aside from him indelicately cutting The Bomb Shelter’s Angus Gibson short as he approached the mike to say a few words after Isibaya’s Best TV Soap win – he also introduced actor Terence Bridgett, who was co-presenting one of the categories with the gorgeous Leeanda Reddy, as an “actress”.

Really Gola? Even if there was an error on the teleprompter, as someone at the epicentre of this industry and as a comedian who is saluted for his observational wisecracks, you should at least have picked up on this blunder.

The set-up had guests from the entertainment industry, political sector and media industry seated around this massive elongated stage – the teleprompter was located about two metres ahead of the slew of celebrity presenters.

For those that didn’t get to sample any of the canapés before hand, it also meant sitting through the show with a rumbling tummy. Now this wouldn’t have mattered one iota if the show was on point – in a similar vein to last year, with Alan Committie and Tumi Morake making it such an uproarious affair not forgetting the stellar entertainment acts. But, in the greater scheme of things, that’s a negligible point.

Thankfully, the legendary Abigail Kubeka, looking absolutely stunning in her gold gown, Khuli Chana and Jack Parrow, who were among the entertainment bill for the night, livened the jaded atmosphere.

This year’s theme boasted a “21 years coming of age theme”. The ceremony celebrated “stories from our streets to the world”.

And in a rather unparalleled move, this year featured a host of winners – most of them for the first-time, despite a handful having been in the industry for a while.

One of the big noisemakers was Emmy-nominated actress Brenda Ngxoli. Although conspicuously absent – she walked away with two honours: Best Supporting Actress – TV Comedy (Pinky, Ses’Top la III) and Best Supporting Actress – TV Drama (Gladys in Rockville). And this was her first Safta win.

I’m not sure who was more excited Somizi, in his eye-catching white suit, or his mother Mary Mhlongo, when her name was announced as Best Actress in a Lead Role – TV Comedy (MaKhambule, Skwizas). Both danced their way to stage. It was oh-so-cute.

As with every award ceremony, homage is often paid to those industry people we have lost. I’m not sure the artsy reel was an adequate way of doing justice to their talents. But they got a post-humus mention at least, I suppose.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to a very humble Marius Weyers, who regaled about his earlier acting career, where, despite finding himself face-down in fresh dung and realising that there was no “glamour” as it were as an actor, he soldiered on with this passion. He also commented on how this is such a great time for young talent to be involved in this revolutionary era of TV.

Bottom line: Saftas 2015, just when I thought they were making strides in the right direction, was nothing more than a dragged out affair that lacked showmanship. The speeches were mostly lacklustre, and Gola was insufferably mind-numbing with his strained humour.

Maybe, they should have got Expresso’s Katlego Maboe, who took the honours for Best Presenter – a new category at the Saftas, to hold the fort. He is such a natural as an entertainer.

WINNERS

Best supporting Actor – TV Comedy: Warren Masemola (Thokozani, Ses’Top la II)

Best supporting Actress – TV Comedy: Brenda Ngxoli (Pinky, Ses’Top la II)

Best Actor in a lead role – TV Comedy: Thomas Gumede (Zanele, Single Guys)

Best Actress in a lead role – TV Comedy: Mary Mhlongo (MaKhambule, Skwizas 3)

Best Achievement in Directing – TV Comedy: ZANews: Puppet Nation (Thierry Cassuto, Alex Fynn)

Best TV Comedy: ZA news: Puppet Nation: Both Worlds.

Best supporting Actor – TV Drama: Fezile Mpela (Zwide, Donkerland)

Best supporting Actress – TV Drama: Brenda Ngxoli (Gladys, Rockville)

Best Actress in a Lead Role –TV Drama: Nthathi Moshesh (Dibuseng Makwarela, Thola)

Best TV Drama: Swartwater, Quizzical Pictures.

Best Achievement in Directing – TV Drama: Swartwater (John Trengove, Jozua Malherbe, Denny Miller)