TV News South Africa

Soul City Institute wins at SAFTAs

At the 5th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS), held on Sunday 27 February 2011, Soul City, the Soul City Institute productions garnered six nominations and won best actor - Vusi Kunene for his role as Tifo in Soul City series 10. The best actor award was a surprise announcement at the ceremony.

Lillian Dube, best known as Sister Bettina from the Soul City and Soul Buddyz TV drama series was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for her acting and social activism. Her role as a social activist in these drama series played a major role in influencing her real life role of partnering with CANSA to promote breast cancer awareness after her own health scare with the disease.

Described as a distinguished actresses, she's been in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years, appearing in television, films and theatre and honoured with numerous other awards. Her other television appearances include Generations and Mponeng.

Rory O' Grady won best cinematographer, for Umtshato (The Wedding), the South African production from Love - Stories in a time of HIV & AIDS. Umtshato formed part of OneLove, the largest cross border HIV prevention campaign in the region which is tackling the issue of multiple concurrent partners.

John Molefe, senior executive at the Soul City Institute says, "It is a significant achievement that both of our flagship series have been recognised and confirms our position as market leaders in social and behaviour change communication. These series, which were researched extensively, have had a tremendous impact both in South Africa and in the Southern African region. Both series focused on different Soul City Institute led campaigns - Phuza Wize - Drink Safe, Live Safe and OneLove."

The Soul City Institute is a significant training and development ground for television and production talent in South African and across Africa.

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