SA's Jacob's Cross awarded at PAFF 2011

1 Mar 2011

LOS ANGELES: The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) held it's annual Night of Tribute and awarded South African Hlomla Dandala the Creative Achievement Award on behalf of Jacob's Cross, an M-Net production produced by BOMB.

Dandala, an acclaimed actor, presenter and director, best known for his starring role of Jacob in the hit South African drama series Jacob's Cross, was honoured by USA-based The Africa Channel. The Africa Channel's Creative Achievement Award is given annually to continental Africans for exceptional accomplishments in film and TV.

Accepting the award, Dandala referenced a Nigerian saying, "Until the lions learn to write, hunters will tell the story of the hunt". He then went on to thank the show's creators, directors, technical team and his fellow actors, identifying them as "the lions" and acknowledging The Africa Channel and PAFF as "the paper upon which we write".

Shared stae with fellow honourees

At PAFF's Night of Tribute, he shared the stage with fellow honourees Kenyan literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong'o (A Grain of Wheat) who received a Literary Achievement Award and pre-eminent actress/director Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show) who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to receiving the award, Dandala participated on a prestigious panel at the Director's Guild of America where he rubbed elbows and shared experiences of directing with icons, Sidney Poitier and Carl Weathers. Dandala's other notable onscreen credits include a co-starring role in the South African-Canadian series Jozi-H and the films Lord of War, Coup, The Triangle and the TV series Gazlam. His most recent film success is portraying Oliver Tambo in the soon to be released biopic Winnie.