On Wednesday, 1 March, RapidLion, also known as the South African International Film Festival celebrated magnificence in filmmaking at the RapidLion Awards Ceremony 2017 held at The Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg.
All RapidLion nominated and winning films were screened at the RapidLion Film Festival which ran until 12 March 2017 at The Market Theatre.
India’s Bajirao Mastani, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali was the star of the evening, winning Best of BRICS and Best Film Overall. Bajirao Mastani also garnered awards for Directing, Film Editing (Rajesh Pandey) and cinematography (Sudeep Chatterjee), while Deepika Padukone won Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the film.
Director Daryne Joshua’s Noem My Skollie, produced by David Max Brown and Moshidi Motshegwa won Best of South Africa and Best Original Screenplay (John W. Fredericks). A United Kingdom produced by Brunson Green, Charlie Mason, David Oyelowo, Justin Moore-Levy, Peter Heslop, Rick McCallum took the award for Best of Africa and the African Diaspora, with David Oyelowo winning Best Actor in a Leading Role for his part in the film.
Casting director Moonyeenn Lee was honoured with The Lionel Ngakane Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in bringing South Africa’s top actors, actresses and fresh young faces to the big screen both in South Africa and internationally.
The following films and filmmakers took RapidLions in their respective categories:
Best Student Film
Never A Next Train – Director: Devon Delmar
Best International Short
The Call (South Africa) – Director: Zamo Mkhawanazi
Sound Editing
Konstantin Kupriyanov – Through the Mist (Russia)
Music (Original Song)
Barry Gibb for Angels – Shepherds and Butchers (South Africa)
Film Editing
Rajesh Pandey – Bajirao Mastani (India)
Cinematography
Sudeep Chatterjee – Bajirao Mastani (India)
Best Actor in a Leading Role
David Oyelowo – A United Kingdom (United Kingdom)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Deepika Padukone – Bajirao Mastani (India)
Best Original Screenplay
John W. Fredericks – Noem My Skollie (South Africa)
Directing
Sanjay Leela Bhansali – Bajirao Mastani (India)
Best Humanitarian film
I Am Congo (Gabon/Ecuador) – Directors: David Mboussou, Juan Ignacio
Best Documentary Feature
In the Shadow of the Hill (Brazil/Australia) – Director: Dan Jackson
Best of South Africa
Noem My Skollie – Producers: David Max Brown, Moshidi Motshegwa
Best of BRICS
Bajirao Mastani (India) – Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Best of Africa and the Africa Diaspora
A United Kingdom (UK) – Producers: Brunson Green, Charlie Mason, David Oyelowo, Justin Moore-Levy, Peter Heslop, Rick McCallum
Best Film Overall:
Bajirao Mastani (India) – Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
RapidLion has partnered with the Department of Arts & Culture, S.A. Tourism, Brand SA, the Gauteng Film Commission, the Johannesburg Film Office, Trace Play, Callsheet, TicketPro, The Market Theatre Foundation, The Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Wits School of the Arts Film And Television, Eagles Academy and The Ngakane Family to bring RapidLion – The South African International Film Festival to Johannesburg.
Source: RapidLion
