CONTROVERSIAL Eastern Cape movie Of Good Report walked away with four awards at the recent glittering African Movie Academy Awards in Nigeria.
The Eastern Cape film was nominated in 13 categories at the awards, which were held late last month. It received awards for best director (Jahmil Qubeka), screenplay (Jahmil Qubeka), best male lead actor (Mothusi Magano) and best promising actor ( Petronella Tshuma).
Of Good Report, which was shot in Somerset East in 2012, scooped seven awards at the South African Film and Television Awards in April.
The film has featured at film festivals and screenings around the world including London, Dubai, Glasgow, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Directed by Qubeka and produced by Luzuko Dilima of New Brighton Pictures and Michael Auret of Spier Films, the film became the first movie in post-apartheid South Africa to be banned, because it featured sexual scenes between an underage girl and an adult. The ban was later lifted.
The 87-minute film is about a small-town high school teacher with an obsession for young girls. The trouble for Parker Sithole (Magano) begins when he accepts an invitation to a drinking session at a tavern. Here, he meets the gorgeous Nolitha Ngubane (Tshuma) who is, however, only 16 and whom he later learns is a Grade 9 pupil at his new school.
Tshuma yesterday said it was a great honour being named best promising actor in the prestigious awards.
"I am 24 and being given this accolade by the veterans of the industry – my peers – is great. It is a humbling experience." - Thulani Gqirana