11th Annual Simon Mabhunu Sabela KwaZulu-Natal Film and Television Awards

Leleti Khumalo, Mpho Sebeng, Nirvana Nokwe-Mseluku, and Thembinkosi Mthembu - Netflix/Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/instagram

The 2024 Simon Mabhunu Sabela KwaZulu-Natal Film and Television Awards will take place on July 20. The ceremony is put on by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, a newly formed body following the merger of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and KZN Tourism. The goal of the organization is to promote the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa as a premier film destination for local filmmakers as well as under the international film industry.

Two new categories were added for this year’s ceremony: Best Use of Cinematography and Best Production Design. The public, specifically, will be able to vote for the winner in the reality TV category.

Shaka iLembe received the most television nominations with six, and Dear Future Wife got the most film nominations with six. Wiseman Mncube was double-nominated in the Best TV Actor category for Shaka iLembe and Uzalo; Sithabiso Ndlovu got two nominations in the Best Student Film category for Cipher and Hobo; Jimmy Reynolds earned two nominations in the Best Use of Cinematography for Dear Future Wife and Freedom Street; and Enver Samuel received a double nomination in the Best Documentary Short Film category for two episodes of Truth Be Told - “Bones of Memory” and “The Breastfeeding Warrior.”

The full list of nominees is below:

Best Actor - TV

• Thembinkosi Mthembu, Shaka iLembe

• Wiseman Mncube, Shaka iLembe

• Wiseman Mncube, Uzalo

Best Actress - TV

• Deli Malinga, Umkhokha the Curse

• Nirvana Nokwe-Mseluku, Outlaws

• Nomzamo Mbatha, SHaka iLembe

Best Supporting Actor - TV

• Ernest Ndlovu, uZulu no Mhlaba

• Khayelihle Dladla, House of Zwide

• Melusi Yeni, Sibongile and the Dlaminis

Best Supporting Actress - TV

• Dawn Thandeka King, Shaka iLembe

• Hope Mbhele, Shaka iLembe

• Slindile Nodangala, Outlaws

Best Newcomer - Actor

• Bonga Mhlongo, Father's Day

• Ntando Zondi, Shaka iLembe

• Ntokozo Mthembu, Uzalo

• Ntokozo Vilakazi, uZulu no Mhlaba

Best Newcomer - Actress

• Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku, Outlaws

• Zamuntu Khoza, Sibongile and the Dlaminis

• Ziya Zulu, Shaka iLembe

Best Actor - Film

• Kwenzo Ngcobo, Freedom Street

• Masoja Msiza, Dear Future Wife

• Mpho Sebeng, Ingoma

• Siyabonga Shibe, Blind Eye

Best Actress - Film

• Jo-Anne Reyneke, A Queen's Lobola

• Leleti Khumalo, Dear Future Wife

• Phumzile Puting, Why it Came

Best Supporting Actor - Film

• Mbongeni Ngema, A Queen's Lobola

• Nkosinathi Keswa, Inkabi

• Muzi Mthabela, Inkabi

Best Supporting Actress - Film

• Tumelo Nkwanca, London Recruits

• Nqobile Dhlomo, Amathambo

• Thembi Mtshali-Jones, Blind Eye

Best Director

• Mengameli Nhlabathi, Blind Eye

• Obett Motaung, Dear Future Wife

• Tumelo Lekena, Father's Day

• Vivek Mehta, A Queen's Lobola

Best Pan-African Film

• Norman Maake, Inkabi

• Jacintha De Nobrega, London Recruits

• Daudi Anguka, Mvera

Best IsiZulu Film

• Joe Spirit, Amathambo

• Caroline Doherty, Dear Future Wife

• Zamani Mthiyane, Ingodusoyami

Best Micro-Budget Film

• Zamani Mthiyane, Ingodusoyami

• Sanele Ndlovu, Intandokazi

• Lwazi Duma, Thulebona

Best Feature Film

• Ashish Gangapersad, A Queen's Lobola

• Joe Spirit, Amathambo

• Sans Moonsamy, Who's my Daddy?

Best Screenplay

• Obett Motaung & Caroline Doherty, Dear Future Wife

• Tumelo Lekena, Father's Day

• Mli Dube, Freedom Street

Best Student Film

• Sithabiso Ndlovu, Cipher

• Sithabiso Ndlovu, hobo

• Lindani Msibi, Isibazi

• Jarnell Kisten, The Captive

Best Use Of Cinematography

• Tiyane Nyembe, A Queen's Lobola

• Jimmy Reynolds, Dear Future Wife

• Jimmy Reynolds, Freedom Street

Best Production Design

• Boitumelo Nhlapo, A Queen's Lobola

• Dylan Lloyd, Shaka iLembe

• Shalen Haluman, Who's my Daddy?

Best Use Of KZN As Filming Location

• Caroline Doherty, Dear Future Wife

• Gabhisa Khuluse, Ithesho Lami - “My Hustle”

• Christy Denn, Sibongile and the Dlaminis

Best Documentary Short Film

• Sibusisiwe Buthelezi, Checkpoint

• Enver Samuel, Truth Be Told - Ntombi Kubheka - “Bones of Memory”

• Enver Samuel, Truth Be Told - Phila Portia Ndwandwe - “The Breastfeeding Warrior”

Best Documentary Feature Film

• Jacintha De Nobrega, London Recruits

• Carolyn Carew, Music Is My Life - “Joseph Shabalala And Ladysmith Black Mambazo”