Best in Craft awarded to Ernest Nkosi from Mogul Pictures and Hayden Brown from 7 Films

This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by Jeanine Vermaak, Integrated Creative Director at Joe Public United and Imraan Christian, Director at Egg Films. Thank you for lending us your time and expertise you legends! A big round of applause, fistbumps and some extra woohooing for Hayden Brown from 7 Films and Ernest Nkosi from Mogul Pictures who are taking away top honours this month!

‘What are the IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards?’ Every month we team up with ad industry leaders to award the finest in South African film and production craft across these different categories: Direction, Editing, Cinematography, Animation and VFX, Online, Original Sound, Sound Design and Final Mix. It’s just another way that we make it ridiculously easy to stay up-to-date with who’s doing the best work in the country.

BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
‘Die Bergbruidjie’
7 Films | Hayden Brown

Awarded by Jeanine Vermaak

‘Sometimes the biggest story you can tell is the smallest one. In Die Bergbruidjie, Hayden Brown proves that as an industry our real power lies in people and their stories. This moving short film is a reminder that we don’t need big budgets or bells and whistles to make an impact. Just the sheer beauty of a simple story, well told. More of this, please.’

– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Jeanine Vermaak, Integrated CD at Joe Public United

BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
KFC AddHope ‘#AddHope X Kolisi Foundation Indlala Campaign’
Mogul Pictures | Ernest Nkosi

Awarded by Imraan Christian

‘Beautifully crafted piece that reads easily as a strongly rooted cinematic universe. The concept is powerful, and simple, which shows a deep understanding of the message from director Ernest. There’s a sincerity in the way he approached the dreams of the kids in the spot, and that’s what stood out to me most. Great lighting, textures and camera work, championed by Siya, all add to the experience of this exceptional piece of work.’

– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Imraan Christian, Director at Egg Films

Castle Double Malt ‘A beer brewed to be #ExtraSmooth’

CRAFT MENTION (EDITING)
Left Post Production | Evy Katz

CRAFT MENTION (SOUND DESIGN)
Pressure Cooker Studios | Alex Smillie

Awarded by Jeanine Vermaak

‘A double Craft Mention for a Double Malt felt appropriate. In this case, for Editing from Evy Katz and for Sound Design by Alex Smillie. The editing is at the perfect pace for this storytelling spot, and keeps that story going in a natural, humorous rhythm. The sound design is subtle and on point, and builds beautifully towards the end. Both disciplines add a lot to this well-brewed piece.’

– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Jeanine Vermaak, Integrated CD at Joe Public United

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)

Yoco ‘Bravery Has A Home’
Giant Films | Imran Hamdulay

Awarded by Imraan Christian

‘Really beautiful storytelling, filmic textures and heartfelt voice over culminate to celebrate our everyday heroes in a way that feels timeless and honest. Great work to all involved.’

– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Imraan Christian, Director at Egg Films

IDIDTHAT GUEST JUDGES:

Craft Awards_Jeanine Vermaak_Integrated CD_Joe Public_July2024

Jeanine Vermaak, Integrated CD at Joe Public United
Jeanine Vermaak has been passionate about advertising since the age of two when she saw her first Cadbury Chomp commercial. (Yes, the one with the sad baby hippo.) A Creative Director at Joe Public, Jeanine is in love with creativity, words and ideas and has 14 years’ experience on the rollercoaster that is above-the-line advertising, winning awards and pitches along the way. She counts herself lucky to work on local and international brands including Nedbank, Chicken Licken and South African Breweries (AB InBev). She loves doing work that is meaningful and tells a story, whatever the platform. Forever chasing that Cadbury Chomp TV ad high.

Craft Awards_Imraan Christian_Director_Egg_Films_July2024

Imraan Christian, Director at Egg Films
Imraan Christian is a South African painter, photographer and filmmaker. He is an artist and activist, and describes himself as a ‘son of the soil’. In recent years, in addition to his own series of works, he has worked on projects with UNICEF, CNN, BBC world services, Nike and Vogue Italia. Christian achieved international fame with his documentation of the student unrests in South Africa in 2015/16. As much a healer as he is a photographer, Christian is on a mission to create a new mythology for the youth of South Africa’s indigenous communities, who, as a result of centuries of colonialism, have been deprived of their own history. ‘Where we find historical loss,’ he says, ‘the only thing we can do is draw from our culture to reimagine and recreate.’