Best of Reel awarded to MTN ‘The Steve Tshwete Story’ by Zee Ntuli from Darling Films for Direction

Every month iDidTht teams up with an industry leader to award South Africa’s best in Film Craft. Huge thanks to this month’s guest judge, Consulting ECD at WICK, Bridget Johnson. She has over 20 years’ experience at SA’s best advertising agencies and all the awards and accolades to back up a truly powerful career. Judging our Craft Awards will no doubt be a new highlight… Glad to be of assistance Bridget 😉 and honoured to have you!

BEST OF REEL

BEST OF REEL: MTN ‘The Steve Tshwete Story’
Darling Films | Zee Ntuli
(Direction Craft)

SPECIAL MENTIONS

SPECIAL MENTION: Nedbank ‘Affinities Children’
7 Films | Lourens Van Rensburg & Siphiwe Myeza
(Direction Craft)

SPECIAL MENTION: Loeries ‘Uber’
Spitfire | Waldo Pretorius
(Direction Craft)

SPECIAL MENTION: Loeries ‘Dictator’
Spitfire | Waldo Pretorius
(Direction Craft)

SPECIAL MENTION: Sanlam ‘Conversations with Yourself – Pushups’
Giant Films | Karien Cherry
(Direction Craft)

SPECIAL MENTION: Sanlam ‘Conversations with Yourself – Neighbours’
Giant Films | Karien Cherry
(Direction Craft)

SPECIAL MENTION: Sanlam ‘Conversations with Yourself – Forklift’
Giant Films | Karien Cherry
(Direction Craft)

Judges comments by Bridget Johnson, Consulting Executive Creative Director at WICK

BEST OF REEL: MTN ‘The Steve Tshwete Story’ by Zee Ntuli from Darling Films – Direction Craft
Congrats to Zee Ntuli from Darling Films for MTN ‘The Steve Tshwete Story’. This is a really compelling piece of film. It draws you in with those beautiful, evocative early morning shots on the way to Robben Island and then holds your attention with a combination of interesting framing, considered sound design, edit and a restrained script. Really, really nicely done.

SPECIAL MENTION: Nedbank ‘Affinities Children’ by Lourens Van Rensburg & Siphiwe Myeza from 7 Films – Direction Craft
Props to Lourens Van Rensburg & Siphiwe Myeza from 7 Films for Nedbank ‘Affinities Children’, for a classy piece, beautifully shot and some great casting.

SPECIAL MENTION: Loeries ‘Uber’ & ‘Dictator’ by Waldo Pretorius from Spitfire – Direction Craft
Thanks to Waldo Pretorius from Spitfire for bringing a nostaglic smile to my face on the Loeries spots, ‘Uber’ & ‘Dictator’, and for making work that looks nothing like anything else at the moment.

SPECIAL MENTION: Sanlam ‘Conversations with Myself’ by Karien Cherry from Giant Films – Direction Craft
A shoutout to Karien Cherry from Giant Films for Sanlam ‘Conversations with Myself’ for nailing the technical challenge of these spots so seamlessly. Well done.

About Our Judge

iDidTht Craft Awards Guest Judge: Bridget Johnson, Consulting Executive Creative Director at WICK
I didn’t want to be a copywriter, I wanted to be a lawyer. But when I became upset by cases won on charm, not evidence, I decided that advertising was more my speed. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Except that this particular inferno dealt with ideas, not lives – and charm, seduction and emotional power are what set great ideas apart from clever strategies. Besides, advertising is heaps more fun. Fun is the best recipe for ideas and creativity is the best form of persuasion. Fortunately, I have had both in heaps over the years at agencies like Net#work BBDO, TBWA Gavin Reddy, Ogilvy Johannesburg and Ireland/Davenport (ID Collective), where I made work of which I’m proud and won awards by being inspired to greatness by people better than me. I’ve won awards of many colours at Cannes, the One Show, Clios, D&AD, Loeries, Andy’s, Amasa and Apex. I’ve been lucky enough to sit on juries alongside some of the world’s best at The Dubai Lynx, Cannes, the Loeries and Apex Awards. I also sat on a pineapple once and got a nasty… oops, wrong chat. These days I’m more committed than ever to making great ideas happen, whether it’s assisting in agencies or developing projects of my own. It’s never been tougher or more interesting. I guess that’s the thing about chasing firestorms– it’s the flame-eaters that steal the show.