Best in Craft awarded to Dean Blumberg, Zee Ntuli & Peter Pohorsky
What a month! Really great work was entered, and there was a lot of it, making it really tough for our judges, but they pulled through. September’s (we know, we know, we’re a bit late this month but we blame the glitz, the hangovers and the velvety seats of this year’s Loeries) IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by the insightful and wise Kirk Gainsford, Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe SA and Katlego Baaitse, Director at Spitfire Films. Congratulations to Dean Blumberg from Massïf, Zee Ntuli from Darling Films and Peter Pohorsky from Plank on taking home Best of Craft. Well done for doing well!
‘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.
Capital Legacy ‘Where There’s a Will, There’s a Final Say’
Massïf | Dean Blumberg
BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Awarded by Kirk Gainsford
‘This is a well-told story with nuanced performances, subtlety and interesting characters. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold. I think Dean has shown insight in performance and incredible restraint. The soundtrack is interesting, three tracks in one film and they work. I think if it wasn’t as well executed it could easily have been something nobody would enjoy watching. So for that, he is my first choice.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Kirk Gainsford, Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe SA
Bongeziwe Mabandla ‘Soze (The Child Inside)’
Darling Films | Zee Ntuli
BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Awarded by Katlego Baaitse
CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Awarded by Kirk Gainsford
‘One cannot help but think about their inner child when watching, ‘Soze (the child inside)’. The director’s storytelling prowess is nothing short of exquisite. We the audience are taken on a character’s journey that really asks you to look inward, or at the very least, makes you curious about your inner child. The film immerses you in its style and visually arresting aesthetic while being emotive at the same time. The director reveals themselves as not just a filmmaker but a true craftsman.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Katlego Baaitse, Director at Spitfire Films
‘You can’t not give this piece a mention. Very compelling. Well done Zee.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Kirk Gainsford, Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe SA
‘This spot is simple and funny, the characters are great and the music by Rob is, well Hee hee haa haa. A great little touch. It is well-written and beautifully performed. You can see the energy that went into the casting and the performances. Very well done all.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Kirk Gainsford, Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe SA
KFC ‘Time Bomb’ & ‘Hostage’
Carbon Films | Bruno Bossi
CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Awarded by Katlego Baaitse
‘A well-choreographed piece, with great comedic timing. Clearly a spot with many moving parts, sequenced very well by the director. The spot gives us a fun insight into the comedic sensibilities of East Asia.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Katlego Baaitse, Director at Spitfire Films
Front Runner ‘Fly On The Wall’
7 Films | Hayden Brown
CRAFT MENTION (CINEMATOGRAPHY)
Awarded by Kirk Gainsford
‘Hayden has done a beautiful job capturing this simple fly fishing story and most probably did so on a fly fishing budget. Well done. ‘
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Kirk Gainsford, Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe SA
Chicken Licken ‘Feel The Fire’
Romance | Greg Gray
CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Awarded by Katlego Baaitse
‘Rock My Soul’s outstanding art direction and the brilliant comedic performances elevate the narrative, taking it a step above. The ability to seamlessly coordinate a sequence of engaging set pieces while keeping the audience entertained is a true skill, and the director outstanding in this regard. Watching this film, you feel the fire.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Katlego Baaitse, Director at Spitfire Films
Uber One ‘Boxer’
they | Grant De Sousa
CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Awarded by Katlego Baaitse
‘Funny, simple and effective. Put together in a manner that makes the campaign look effortless but if one takes a closer look, it’s clear to see a real sense of film know-how and well crafted comedic timing was needed to create the Uber One world. It feels like the films are in a time period of their own but still in the current world as the story is about Uber. I love the misdirect in the spot, the casting, lighting. At the risk of being repetitive, it’s all so seamless, the director makes it look easy. But this is clearly someone who’s prolific at their craft.’
– IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Katlego Baaitse, Director at Spitfire Films
IDIDTHAT GUEST JUDGES:
Kirk Gainsford, Chief Creative Officer, MullenLowe SA
Kirk graduated from Stellenbosch University with a degree in Visual Arts and an Honours in Photography. His first job was in a design studio, but he wanted to be involved in an ideas agency. He moved to AWSG –JWT, where he worked on through-the-line work for clients including Shell, J&B, Smirnoff, Listerine, Halls and Clorets. Kirk left JWT as Deputy Creative Director and moved to Hunt Lascaris in Jhb, where he won numerous awards and worked on MTN, BMW and Standard Bank. In 2007 he moved back to Cape Town to join MullenLowe where he has been instrumental in all of the creative output. He has been the creative architect for some of South Africa’s best-loved campaigns such as the Hansa Vuyo and Kiss of the Saaz Hop series and has consistently featured as one of the top South African creative’s on the international stage when it comes to award season. His creative leadership within MullenLowe has ensured that all communications must deliver on client’s commercial objectives.
Katlego Baaitse, Director at Spitfire Films
Katlego is a director with a knack for performance and visual storytelling. With a remarkable track record in the industry, Katlego has garnered numerous accolades, boasting 5 finalists, 1 silver, and 1 gold award at the prestigious Loeries 45 this year. Born in ’83, Katlego’s Pharrell baby face might deceive you, but he’s a seasoned director with an unwavering appreciation for the art of his craft. See his work here spitfire.tv/katlego
All Craft Entries
7 Films | Hayden Brown
Front Runner ‘On the Fly’
(Direction Craft)
7 Films | Hayden Brown
Front Runner ‘Find Anywhere X Aaron Hadlow’
(Direction Craft)
Bioscope Films | Lazola Gola
Mr D ‘Dipuo’
(Direction Craft)
Bioscope Films | Hylton Tannenbaum
Mr D ‘Pap & Gravy’
(Direction Craft)
Bioscope Films | Lazola Gola
Mr D ‘Heart-Throb’
(Direction Craft)
Eyeforce | Raphadu Maphoto and Ralf Demesmaeker
EXTREME ‘Bula Sekele’
(Direction Craft)
Patriot | Anton Visser
Liberty ‘Frankie’
(Direction Craft)
Spitfire Films | Bongani Morgan
FNB ‘Will Power’
(Direction Craft)
7 Films | Hayden Brown
Front Runner ‘Find Anywhere X Aaron Hadlow’
(Cinematography Craft)
Deliverance Post | Kobus Loots
Chicken Licken ‘Rock My Soul’
(Direction Craft)
