TV News South Africa

SABC Education honoured at international festival

The US International Film and Video Festival recently honoured It's for Life and Tsha Tsha with five awards this year. The festival, founded in 1967, is one of the world's leading international events devoted exclusively to the recognition of outstanding business, television, documentary, educational, entertainment, industrial and informational productions.

The official gala ceremony announcing the 40th U.S. International Film and Video Festival awards was held 1 – 2 June 2007, Hollywood, California.

“This year the competition had over 1200 entries from 24 countries. We thank our producers and dedicated teams working behind the scenes of It's for Life and Tsha Tsha. Together, we continue to educate viewers about their world,” said Pontsho Makhetha, acting GM at SABC Education.

Tsha Tsha episode 55 was awarded in three categories; first place Gold Camera award in the general education category, seconnd place Silver Screen award in the community development category and third place Certificate of Excellence in the social issues category. Tsha Tsha deals with serious issues faced by young people living in a world affected by HIV and Aids. Although high drama, the series is charming and funny as it explores the lives of young people making their way through the passage to adulthood and developing self-worth.

Tsha Tsha is produced for SABC Education by Curious Pictures and Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation. Support is provided by Johns Hopkins Health & Education in South Africa, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Centre for Communications and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the United States Agency for International Development.

It's for Life has been awarded two third place Certificates of Excellence for episodes six and nine in the best educational reality programme category. It's for Life produced by LCAT for SABC Education brings three participants from diverse underprivileged backgrounds together, all they have in common is that they have not realised their full potential. The series challenges the young adults to define their essence and identity within the diverse, opportunity-filled land of South Africa.

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