Late actress Busi Lurayi’s award nomination, that came four days after her death, is testament to her amazing work.
This is how the production team of comedy series How to Ruin Christmas responded to 16 nominations received for the 16th SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas)
The nominees were announced on Thursday.
Lurayi, who died on Sunday, is nominated in the category best actress in a TV comedy for the role of Tumi. The series is nominated for best achievement in wardrobe in a TV comedy, best achievement in sound and best achievement in cinematography in a TV comedy, among other categories.
Burnt Onion Productions, which produces How to Ruin Christmas, said in a statement to Sowetan: “We are incredibly honoured by the Safta nominations for How To Ruin Christmas. It is such a rewarding feeling to have all the hard work by our incredible cast and crew recognised by the industry. We are still deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved colleague, Busi Lurayi.
“Her nomination is a testament to her amazing talent and her legacy of performances throughout her career. She will always and forever be our Tumi.”
The Netflix series is followed closely by The River, DAM and Tali’s Baby Diary, with 11 nominations each. Mzansi Magic’s DiepCity and Suidooster on Showmax both got 10 nominations each.
The show G.I.L. and House of Zwide on e.tv received nine nods each. SABC1’s popular show Skeem Saam got six nominations, while 7de Laan received three nominations. Giyani: Land of Blood received two nominations, while newcomer The Estate, which is flighted on SABC3, received three nods.
Showmax’s popular show The Wife received 10 nominations with its stars such as Bonko Khoza, Abdul Khoza and Zikhona Sodlaka receiving nominations.
Seasoned actor Don Mlangeni-Nawa believes the two nominations he received for roles in different shows might change his luck when it comes to the Saftas.
The legend is nominated for best actor in a telenovela for his role in The Estate.
He is further nominated in the best supporting actor in a telenovela category for his role in The Legacy.
“Last year, we faced our greatest challenge ever post-Covid and this year we celebrate the connectedness that helped us get through, while actively promoting optimism within our local industry. I have been nominated eight times in the Saftas but never won it,” Mlangeni-Nawa said.
“I hope this time I will come back with something. Being nominated when you are a seasoned actor like us means a lot. It also shows that when we do our work people are watching what we do. I loved portraying these two roles.”
TV director and producer Mandla N is over the moon after three of the productions produced by his Black Brain production company received nominations at South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas).
Black Brain productions that received nominations includes eHostela which got 6, DiepCity received 10 and Boxing Day scored one.
Speaking to Sowetanlive, Mandla N said: “It is a bitter sweet for us because they come just after losing one of our family members Busi Lurayi. She has been part of Black Brain for years. It is nice pick up after such sad news. It terms of the nominations, we are very proud because we are putting a lot of hard work as different teams shooting different productions. It is encouraging to get such recognition.”
“We are proud of DiepCity because it is one of ambitious projects that we started with half unknown cast. We believed that if something created in SA and is about the country, people will recognise it. These nominations are a pat on the back and it recognises the great work we do.”
National Film and Video Foundation CEO Makhosazana Khanyile said: “With the release of this year’s nominees, we are looking forward to a remarkable show that will showcase the creative innovation that our local industry has continued to display despite the circumstances that have been faced.”
