Lifetime Achievement Awards for three legends at the Silwerskerm Festival
Two made their names in front of the camera; the other one behind the scenes and the camera. This year, all three of these film and TV legends are being honoured for their lifetime contributions at the Silwerskerm Festival.
Hans Strydom, who has appeared as At Koster in Binnelanders since 2005, and Denise Newman, who has played Bridgette Jacobs in Suidooster since 2015, will be celebrated on Saturday evening 31 August during the kykNET Silwerskerm Awards. Director and producer Roberta Durrant, the mastermind behind series such as Diepe Waters, Arendsvlei and Projek Dina, will receive her award on Saturday morning 31 August, during the technical awards ceremony.
Hans Strydom was born on 14 May 1947 in Durban. He enjoyed performing on stage in school, but after matriculating and spending a year in the navy, he studied law. He first became a state prosecutor and later a magistrate, but in his spare time, he was a member of Volksteater, an amateur drama group. Filmmaker Elmo de Witt noticed him in 1973 and gave him the lead role in the feature film Môre-môre. The screenplay was written by Jan Scholtz, and Hans would go on to star in several of Elmo and Jan’s films, including Ter wille van Christine and Vergeet my nie. This marked the beginning of his highly successful career, which included TV series like Slampampersirkus, Die Mannheim-sage and Jasper le Feuvre. However, his legal background was not lost. He is an advocate for actors and their rights and a founding member of the South African Guild of Actors.
“The award came out of the blue,” says Hans. “It is a great honour. Thank you to kykNET and all the fans who have supported me over the years. Without them, such an award would not have been possible.”
Hans’ commendatio at the awards will be delivered by filmmaker Koos Roets.
Denise Newman’s roots lie in Athlone, a suburb of Cape Town. After school, she went to America on an exchange programme, where she took a drama course. Back in South Africa, she studied social work and later worked at the housing office of the Cape Town Municipality. But the call of the theatre was always there, and she discovered The Space Theatre, where she later became the stage manager.
Her first professional role on stage was in the early 1980s—Peepshow at the Baxter Theatre, directed by Dawie Malan. Although South Africa had already started TV broadcasts in 1976, roles for coloured actresses were extremely scarce. Denise, however, appeared in a few films and became involved in Theatre in Education.
In the 1990s, more opportunities arose. With the drama series Onder Engele (1995) and Tussen Duiwels (1996), in which Denise played the role of Bokkietjie September, she became recognised across the country. She also excelled in films and on stage – from Oliver Hermanus’ award-winning Shirley Adams (2009) and Endless River (2015) to works by Shakespeare, Athol Fugard and Pieter-Dirk Uys.
With her iconic role as Bridgette in Suidooster, she became a beloved face on television screens in living rooms across South Africa.
In the industry, Denise is a mentor and someone admired by everyone who has had the privilege of working with her.
“I was really surprised when I heard I was being honoured,” says Denise, who celebrated her 70th birthday earlier this year. “I didn’t expect it at all. What an honour. Thank you very much!”
Denise’s commendatio at the awards will be delivered by her longtime friend and colleague Vinette Ebrahim.
Roberta Durrant studied drama at Stellenbosch University and spent the first ten years of her career on stage and in local TV and film productions. She moved to London after meeting her husband, cinematographer Uwe Jansch, but they returned to South Africa and started Penguin Films together, which primarily produced documentary programmes.
‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi [It’s Good, It’s Nice] and later the evergreen Going Up, with Rex Garner and Joe Mafela, were the first series she both produced and directed. Other comedy series she was responsible for, include Fishy Fêshuns, Madam & Eve and Stokvel. She also has the drama series Home Affairs and Saints and Sinners on her impressive slate.
Her series for kykNET and kykNET&kie include Arendsvlei, Diepe waters, Sara se Geheim, GIL and the new telenovela Skemergrond. Among the films she produced are Krotoa and Felix.
Roberta, whose commendatio will be delivered by Jody Abrahams, is not only a producer and creative director – she is a trailblazer, and her significant legacy will be built upon in decades to come.
The kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV will take place on 31 August 2024 at the CTICC in Cape Town. This glamorous event will be broadcast on kykNET on 1 September at 20:00. Tickets for the awards ceremony in Cape Town are also available to the public at Quicket.