3 awards for short film Leemtes en Leegheid
The recent 10th kykNET Silwerskerm Film Festival in Cape Town saw Leemtes en Leegheid win director, Jordy Sank, and producers, Gabriella Blumberg and Samantha Pelteret, three awards: Best Short Film, Audience Choice and Best Script.
(L to R) Gabriella Blumberg, Esther Badenhorst (editor), Jordy Sank and Terence Makapan (co-writer), Leemtes en Leegheid
Other winners include the drag-artist thriller Stiekyt which also won three awards, Barakat which won six and Gaia five. The Festival also recognised the former kykNET boss, Karen Meiring, and director of M-Net channels, Jan du Plessis, for growing the local industry over the past decades.
A poignant film
Leemtes en Leegheid is a poignant film about Magdaleen, a recluse in her 80s, who numbs the pain of losing her husband by envisioning him beside her.
After being locked away with the memory of him in her apartment, she desperately attempts to venture into the outside world again and to the sea she so longs for.
Leemtes en Leegheid with Lida Botha and Johan Botha
"We have seen how this story of grief and isolation has resonated so widely, and we hope it brings comfort and closure to those who watch it.
“We are honoured that the film has received such high recognition at Silwerskermfees and we hope it travels to audiences around the world,” says producer, Blumberg.
Exploring living without those we love
"Within the past few years, we have all experienced tremendous loss and loneliness in many shapes and forms, which is why we believe the story of Leemtes en Leegheid truly resonates with audiences,” says Sank.
“It is an intimate film that explores what happens when we have to learn to live without those we love so dearly.
“Winning the Audience Choice, Best Short Film and Best Script Awards at Silwerskermfees show how deeply the themes and characters within the film are able to penetrate the hearts of those who watch it,” adds Sank.
Produced by Sanktuary Films, with a screenplay by Sank, and Terence Makapan, the film features veteran actors of stage and screen, Lida Botha, Johan Botha and Ivan Abrahams.
The short film will be coming to Showmax soon.
The complete list of winners
Feature films
- Best feature film: Gaia
- Best director – feature film: Gaia – Jaco Bouwer
- Best actor – feature film: Stiekyt – Paul du Toit
- Best actress – feature film: Barakat – Vinette Ebrahim
- Best script: Barakat
- Best supporting actor – feature film: Stiekyt – Albert Pretorius
- Best supporting actress – feature film: Barakat – June van Merch
- Best original music – feature film: Barakat – Kyle Shepherd
- Best costume design – feature film: Barakat – Ayesha Khatieb
- Best make-up and hairstyling – feature film: Gaia – Sulani Saayman
- Best production design – feature film: Barakat – Sumaya Wicomb
- Best sound design – feature film: Gaia – Tim Pringle
- Best cinematographer – feature film: Stiekyt – Eduan Kitching
- Best editing – feature film: Gaia – Leon Visser
Short films
- Best short film: Leemtes en leegheid
- Best directing – short film: My Beskermer – DW Smith (Diana Mills Smith)
- Best actress – short film: Aan/Af – Marlo Minnaar
- Best actress – short film: Skyn – Carla Smith
- Best ensemble – short films: Skyn
- Best original music – short film: Bennie Bingo – Ryno Posthumus
- Best production design – short film: Baber
- Best editing – short film: Die Horries – Regardt Visser
- Best cinematographer – short film: Baber – Justin Youens
- Best script – short film: Leemtes en leegheid – Jordy Sank, Terence Makapan
- Best existing work: Ekstasis
- Audience favourite: Leemtes en leegheid
- Special recognition: My beskermer
- “Draaiboeksoek” winners: Mariska Denysschen, Jan Lampen, AnnMaree Barry
Honorary awards
Entries for the 11th kykNET Silwerskerm Film Festival are now open. Enter here