Congratulating the Women in Film Award winner, Terry Tselane, CE of the GFC, said: “We are proud to once again be associated with this prestigious initiative and to be involved in recognising key women players in the film industry. One has only to look at the inspiration that people such as Kgomotso, and the two other finalists Joyce Sikhakhane-Rankin of Xoxa Productions, and Desiree Markgraaff of Bomb Shelter Production, provide to our youth, to women and to our industry in general to realise the value of their contribution to all facets of our lives.”
The award forms part of the Passing the Torch Awards, run by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (DED) to demonstrate the province's commitment to the empowerment of women. The initiative is aimed at identifying business women in the province, and honouring them for their extraordinary efforts in making Gauteng a better place to work and live in.
This year's winner, Kgomotso Matsunyane, is a co-founder of T.O.M. Pictures, established in 2003. Matsunyane has had a rewarding and diverse history working in international and South African media. An international relations graduate from Carleton College in Minnesota (US), she is an accomplished television director and documentary producer, and was a writer on the award-winning Yizo Yizo II series.
She subsequently worked as a commissioning editor for local drama at the largest TV channel in the country, SABC1, where she was responsible for projects like Gaz 'Lam, Tsha Tsha and Generations. She recently completed a successful stint as the editor of O, The Oprah Magazine in South Africa (one of two in the world).
Matsunyane currently runs her own film and TV Company, T.O.M. Pictures, writes a popular column every Thursday for News24.com, and her new talk show, Late night with Kgomotso, will debut on SABC2 in October.
Last year's winner was Isabelle Rorke, co-founder of Anamazing Workshop and a major force in animation production, training and development in Gauteng.
