The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is pleased to announce its
film awards, including the Encounters Programmers Choice Awards, Adiaha Award and
Free Film School Award, following the resounding success of the first in-person festival since
the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
“We screened 26 feature-length documentary films at five venues in Cape Town and
Johannesburg – with excellent overall attendance, and many sold out houses,” enthuses
Festival Director, Mandisa Zitha. “We had numerous robust on-topic panel discussions, the
much-welcomed internship programme, and generally an enthusiastic and adventurous
audience, chomping at the bit to see quality films.”
“In honouring excellence in documentary film-making, the Festival affords a number of awards,”
she continues. “We are proud to showcase all these films that focus on and draw attention to a
variety of important issues and topics, and we congratulate the filmmakers on their exceptional
work.”
FULL LIST OF AWARDS:
1) PROGRAMMERS CHOICE AWARDS
BEST SOUTH AFRICAN/AFRICAN DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: NO SIMPLE WAY HOME (Akuol De Mabior)
RUNNER-UP: TRANSACTIONS (Rumbi Katedza)
SPECIAL MENTION: ONE TAKE GRACE (Lindiwe Matshikiza)
BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: NAVALNY (Daniel Roher)
RUNNER-UP: SUMMER OF SOUL (Questlove)
SPECIAL MENTION: YOUNG PLATO (Neasa Ni Chianáin, Declan McGrath)
2) ADIAHA AWARDS
WINNER: NO SIMPLE WAY HOME (Akuol De Mabior)
RUNNER-UP: LOBOLA, A BRIDE’S TRUE PRICE? (Sihle Hlope)
SPECIAL MENTION: ONE TAKE GRACE (Lindiwe Matshikiza)
3) FREE FILM SCHOOL AWARD
WINNER: AN NISAA (WOMEN) (Thaakirah Behardien)
The Festival’s annual Encounters Programmers Choice Award recognises Outstanding
Talent and New Perspectives in Documentary Storytelling for feature films in both the South
African/African and International categories.
The panel was made up of Programmers, Curators and Film Writers of the 24 edition of the
Encounters: Joy Sapieka, Lukhanyiso Tsita, Mandisa Zitha, Peter Machen, Taryn Joffe and
Wilfred Okiche. Bringing together diverse expertise, the team programmed 16 South
African/African features and 10 international features. The selection highlights the best
international films on circuit, alongside original African storytelling, in line with the Festival’s
vision to present films that educate, entertain and leave a lasting impact.
The Winners of Best South African/African Film and Best International Film will receive a
cash prize of R5000 and the runners-up will receive a cash prize of R3000.
The Encounters Programmers Team had the following to say:
BEST SOUTH AFRICAN/AFRICAN DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: NO SIMPLE WAY HOME (Akuol De Mabior)
“We were moved and inspired by the exquisite interrogation of personhood, family,
responsibility, and national identity. Akuol de Mabior’s clarity of vision is striking, and her film
deftly synthesizes a wide range of themes that speak to what it means to come from a place
and yet be outside of that place. An assured and confident debut, No Simple Way Home blends
the personal and the political in profound ways that rise above cliché and announces the arrival
of a major filmmaking talent”: – Encounters Programmers
RUNNER-UP: TRANSACTIONS (Rumbi Katedza)
“This brilliant gem grabbed the attention of the programming team with its oh-so-timely account
of the complex and urgent ways that remittances from all over the world (re)shape familial
dynamics and sustain the economies of countless communities. The family at the center of the
story is joyously relatable and director Rumbi Katedza brings a penetrating and observational
gaze into her interactions with her subjects. The result is a film that opens yet another window
into the migration industrial complex and speaks with a specificity that is at once universal.” –
Encounters Programmers
SPECIAL MENTION: ONE TAKE GRACE (Lindiwe Matshikiza)
“For its unique but considered approach to documentary film-making, as well as its deep
engagement and collaboration with its subject, One Takes Grace was most deserving of a
special mention and Lindiwe Matshikiza is a talent to watch.” – Encounters Programmers
BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: NAVALNY (Daniel Roher)
“The winner of the award for Best International Documentary goes to a deeply engaging film
with a globally relevant narrative. Made with remarkable access to its supremely charismatic
subject, Navalny is an extraordinary film that uses the full arsenal of documentary filmmaking to
powerful effect.” – Encounters Programmers
RUNNER-UP: SUMMER OF SOUL (Questlove)
“The runner-up for Best International Documentary is a lovingly rendered account of a key
cultural event that would otherwise have been lost to history. Beautifully edited and powerfully
paced, Summer of Soul is both a vital historic document and also one of the finest concert films
ever made.” – Encounters Programmers
SPECIAL MENTION: YOUNG PLATO (Neasa Ni Chianáin, Declan McGrath)
“The film Young Plato deserves a special mention because of its powerful and emotive universal
message about how community violence affects children, and furthermore, the narrative shows
how philosophy has been used to actively educate children about conflict resolution. The
filmmakers have succeeded in portraying children's response to conflict in a school as a
reflection of society, against the backdrop of a neighbourhood in the north Belfast district of
Ardoyne where there is a long history of sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants.
We feel that the filmmakers have done an outstanding job of reflecting this history through
editing that expresses the juxtaposition between the present and the past relations of the
community.” – Encounters Programmers
The Adiaha Award presented by the Ladima Foundation with Encounters to an African Woman Filmmaker for Best Documentary. The Ladima Foundation is a proudly Pan-African, woman- only focused film and content industry initiative, founded and led by African women. With programmes intentionally aimed at the full range of women in the industry, from emerging to professional, the Ladima Foundation is connected to its community, is committed to excellence,
and is flexibly dynamic and adaptive in its approach.
“As leaders in our industry, we aim to train, build capacity, recognise, promote, and develop women within Africa’s unique film, TV and content spaces.” – The Ladima Foundation
This year, the Jury included Nyasha Kadandara, Karin Slater and Zanele Mthembu.
The winner of the 2022 edition of the Adiaha Award receives $2000 towards her next production
and an invitation to attend the 2023 Dortmund Cologne International Women's Film Festival,
where her film will be screened.
The Jury offered the below reflections:
WINNER: NO SIMPLE WAY HOME (Akuol De Mabior)
“No Simple Way Home draws you into a world of humble politics in an intimate way through
beauty and music and strong female leads. The film asks difficult questions through profound
mother-daughter conversations in a country in its early years of formation. Akuol de Mabior
emulates her mother’s humility in the way she tells a personal story.” – Adiaha Jury
RUNNER-UP: LOBOLA, A BRIDE’S TRUE PRICE? (Sihle Hlope)
“This film is sure to spark debate. A brave and intimate portrait where filmmaker, Sihle Hlophe
shows her vulnerability and takes us on a journey with exclusive access to a widely practiced
tradition of bride price.” – Adiaha Jury
SPECIAL MENTION: ONE TAKE GRACE (Lindiwe Matshikiza)
“By combining animation, point-of-view filming and dramatic theatre, the visual language of the
filmmaker Lindiwe Matshikiza pushes the boundaries. A beautifully written film about the
compelling Grace Maphela and the many acts of her life.” – Adiaha Jury
As part of the inaugural partnership between Encounters and Free Film School, the winner of
the Best Emerging South African Filmmaker Award will receive four tailored mentorship
sessions, through Free Film School’s facilitator network, either remotely or in-person; and
advance access to Free Film School’s Cape Town classes and events from August to
December 2022.
The Jury and Jury Chairperson provided the following statement:
WINNER: AN NISAA (WOMEN) (THAAKIRAH BEHARDIEN)
“An Inspiring coming of age story involving female bodies becoming assertive and taking back
their power through unique mediums of expression. Well done on a seamless and creative edit,
as well as an emotionally impactful story.” – Free Film School Jury
Free Film School is a film and arts education cooperative that provides alternative, accessible
and Africa-centric skills-sharing between established and aspiring filmmakers, writers, artists
and activists in South Africa. Based in Cape Town, Free Film School hosts free, weekly classes
at Bertha House, which include workshops, screenings, field trips and networking opportunities.
We wish all the filmmakers success in their future endeavours!