South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has issued a statement congratulating the home-grown 3D animation feature film, Adventures in Zambezia, for winning the best Feature Film for Children Award at the ANIMA MUNDI 2013, which took place from 2 to 11 August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The NFVF statement reads: The film’s achievement comes after its successful run at the 2012 Durban International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best South African Feature Film.
Other awards that the animated feature has won include Best Animation at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) and Best Animation at the African Movie Academy Awards.
Directed by Wayne Thornley and written by Andrew Cook, Raffaella Delle Donne, Anthony Silverston and Thornley, the film tells the story of a young falcon bird that leaves the desolate desert where he lives with his father to discover action and adventure in the big city of Zambezia.
Adventures in Zambezia was the first African 3D animated feature animation to be nominated at the Annie Awards last year. These Hollywood-based awards are the most prestigious awards in the animation industry and are coveted by all the major studios.
The film has been sold to over 40 territories and within 12 weeks of its release in five territories, the film had sold over one million tickets, notably reaching number two position at the box office in Russia and Germany.
Adventures in Zambezia will also be released in other markets by its French distributor from mid-August across 477 screens.
