Chicken Licken ‘General Raj’

BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Romance | Greg Gray

Awarded by Martin Schlumpf

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:
“Hats off to Greg Gray on this one. General Raj doesn’t arrive quietly, and neither does Greg’s direction.

This is bold, assured filmmaking that understands exactly what it has in its hands. The direction leans into the theatre of the concept with complete confidence, never winking at the camera, never undercutting the world it has built. That commitment to the reality of the character is what makes everything work.

The performance direction is exceptional. General Raj is fully realized, commanding, layered and utterly believable. That kind of performance doesn’t happen by accident. It is drawn out by a director who understood the assignment completely and communicated it with conviction on set.

There is a cinematic quality to the storytelling. Wide shots establish authority and close-ups reveal character. The edit breathes with the performance, a sign of a director who trusted what was captured on the day.

What impresses most is the tonal control. The world of General Raj sits in a precise space between epic and absurd, and maintaining that balance consistently, with a fearless embrace of Bollywood grandeur, is a directorial achievement genuinely worth celebrating.

General Raj may command the screen, but it is Greg’s vision that put him there.”

– Martin Schlumpf, Executive Creative Director at Joe Public

Chicken Licken ‘General Raj’

BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Romance | Greg Gray

&

BEST IN CRAFT (EDITING)
Deliverance Post | Ricky Boyd

Awarded by Chloe Coetsee

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION & EDITING:
“This execution has all bells and whistles, pitch perfect characters, comedic beats perfectly timed to an ear wormy track. It’s fun and irreverent and leans into the absurdity of the genre with just the right amount of restraint. Lekker!”

– Chloe Coetsee, Director at Darling Films

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
PnP ‘Come Home to Pick n Pay’
0307 Films | Kim Geldenhuys

Awarded by Martin Schlumpf

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:
“Kim has done an outstanding job on this piece.

His direction demonstrates a clear and unwavering point of view. Every creative decision, from casting to blocking to pacing, feels guided by a singular emotional truth – that coming home is one of the most profound human experiences we all share. What makes this particularly clever is the dual layer of that idea. Not only do the characters want to go home with the shoppers, but the viewer themselves is coming home, to the brands they know, trust and love.

Performances feel entirely authentic. The restraint shown in allowing silence and stillness to carry weight speaks to a director who trusts his audience implicitly.

I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. To guide a cast, both human and animated, toward something that feels this warm and familiar requires a director who understands people as much as he understands picture.

Kim didn’t just direct a commercial. He created a moment of homecoming.”

– Martin Schlumpf, Executive Creative Director at Joe Public

CRAFT MENTION (VO/AUDIO CRAFT)
PnP ‘Come Home to Pick n Pay’

Sound Design Team:
Lorens Persson | Sterling Sound
Music Composition | Field Audio
Music Supervision | Marc Algranti

Entered on behalf of the Sound Design Team by 0307 Films

Awarded by Martin Schlumpf

Judge’s comment on VO/AUDIO CRAFT:
“The sound design is understated in the best possible way. Ambient sound is layered with genuine care and quiet moments are allowed to remain quiet. That restraint is what gives the emotional beats room to breathe, and ultimately, room to land.

The score grows organically alongside the narrative, never forcing emotion but walking you quietly toward it. Rooted in something distinctly local, it carries a warmth that feels inherited rather than composed. The final musical resolution arrives with a genuine sense of homecoming, mirroring the thematic heart of the film in a way that is both moving and completely earned.

The audio alone, takes you home.“

– Martin Schlumpf, Executive Creative Director at Joe Public

CRAFT MENTION (ART DIRECTION)
1 Voucher ‘Moonwalker’
Sam Dell, Brent Webb, Werner Synman, Leila Geldenhuys, Promise Ngwenya & Matt Barnes
(Entered on behalf of Art Directors by Bouch)

Awarded by Martin Schlumpf

Judge’s comment on ART DIRECTION:
“The Art Direction does its job quietly and effectively. The environment feels considered without drawing unnecessary attention to itself, which, in a performance-led commercial, is precisely what is required.

The colour palette is warm and inviting, complementing the tone of the piece without competing with it. Set dressing feels lived in and believable, providing an authentic backdrop that allows the performance the space it needs to breathe.

There is a understated competence here that deserves acknowledgement, a foundation that supports the storytelling without ever getting in the way of it.”

– Martin Schlumpf, Executive Creative Director at Joe Public

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
1 Voucher ‘Grootman’
Bouch  | Thina Zibi
(Production done in collaboration with Triple Story Content)

Awarded by Chloe Coetsee

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
1 Voucher ‘Moonwalker’
Bouch | Thina Zibi
(Production done in collaboration with Triple Story Content)

Awarded by Chloe Coetsee

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:
“These spots are so charming. There’s a noticeable attention to detail throughout. I love how they champion South African characters so fearlessly; big performances with wall-to-wall nuances punctuated by an endearing voice-over. Just lovely. I was smiling from beginning to end.“

– Chloe Coetsee, Director at Darling Films

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Operation Blessing ‘Grace Vision’
7 Films | Lourens van Rensburg / Jon Samuelson

Awarded by Chloe Coetsee

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:
“This is a hard category to get right. Good choices throughout with a fine tuned edit really made this piece stand out for me. The filmmaking held the story masterfully, pushing and pulling in all the right places. It deserves a little howzit.”

– Chloe Coetsee, Director at Darling Films