Operation Blessing 'Grace Vision'

AWARDED

I DID THAT CRAFT AWARDS
Judge’s Pick

AWARDED
12 May 2026

JUDGES COMMENT ON (CRAFT MENTION) 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

View I DID THAT Craft Awards April 2026 showcase

ABOUT THE WORK

This film follows five people from Zithulele in the Eastern Cape of South Africa as they prepare for and undergo life changing cataract surgery in both eyes. The surgeries are made possible through a programme funded by Operation Blessing. For years, poor eyesight or complete blindness affected how these individuals worked, moved through their homes and connected with the people around them.

We meet each beneficiary in their everyday life and walk alongside them as they travel for surgery, share their fears and hopes and place their trust in the medical team. The film captures the quiet moments before the operation and the powerful moments after, when bandages come off and sight is restored.

Seeing a loved one clearly, recognising faces, walking without assistance and returning to daily routines all become possible again. These are simple moments, but they carry life changing meaning.

The film also shows how local NGOs like CBN’s Operation Blessing are stepping up to meet urgent healthcare needs in communities where access to treatment is limited. In a focused surgical sprint, 67 cataract surgeries were carried out, and over the years more than 140+ surgeries have been performed through this Life Changing Surgery Program. These interventions offer more than medical care. They help people regain their independence, dignity and confidence.

At its heart, this is a story about people, compassion, and real impact. It shows how restoring sight does more than improve vision. It opens lives that were once closed off and reminds us what becomes possible when help reaches those who need it most.

CREDITS

Brand/Client: Non-Profit Organisation – Christian Broadcasting Network, NPC (CBN SA)

Film Production: 7 Films
Co Direction: Lourens van Rensburg, Jon Samuelson
Director/Executive Producer: Lourens Van Rensburg
Executive Producer: Nina Van Rensburg
Producer: Kirstin Filer
Director/DOP: Jon Samuelson
1st AC: Ri-El De Jager
Editing Offline, Grade, Online: James O’Sullivan

CBN Executive Producer: Meagan Taylor
CBN Production Team:
Leoni Claassen
Leonie Nortjie
Enih Sone
Wendy Magida
Nchimunya Nkholongo
Trevor Furusa
Marlene Gildenhuys

VO Artist (Female): Wendy Magida
VO Artist (Male): Khayalethu Culture Mwezinathi
Cinematography: Jayson Bayard
VO recording, Audio Editing, Mastering, Final Mix (Sound of the Nations Africa): Tim Feder

Special thanks to:
Christian Broadcasting Network, NPC: Board of Directors: Meagan Taylor, Kim Mitchell, Micheal Malpass
Grace Vision NPC
Dr. Clare Kennedy – Ophthalmologist
Dr. Christina Sophocleous – Ophthalmologist
Mega Voice

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