Mmabatho Montsho’s short film The Award Ceremony came out on top at the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival 2020, winning Best Short Film. The film also had an official selection for the Pan African Film Festival taking place in Los Angeles! This means that Montsho had two films showcasing in two International Festivals, a testament to the fact that she is one of the most incredible storytellers we have in our country.
The Award Ceremony is a powerful film that is centered around the lack of shoes for schooling in poor South Africa one almost wants the government to give kids free shoes & uniform! Starring Sindi Montsho, Mmabatho’s mom and Kgalalelo Mfokazane.
“Small budget. Big heart. Thank you for all your well wishes.”, says Montsho after she received praise for this milestone. The Worldwide Women’s Film Festival 2020 took place between 7-9 February and aims to empower women in the collaborative endeavor of filmmaking while shining a light on women’s stories, stories by women, and other diverse experiences across all genders.
‘Joko Ya Hao’, another film by this sensational storyteller is a film set in a small town called Gracetown during the 1955 forced evictions. It tells the story of Nozizwe (played by Simphiwe Dana) an aspirant preacher, who after failing to be ordained as a pastor because she was a woman, becomes a symbol of resistance and an anchor for the oppressed. A love letter to Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela. This film just got nominated for SAFTAs 2020 as Best Short Film. This film stars Simphiwe Dana, Sibulele Gcilitshana, and Jet Novuka.
Born in Soweto, Montsho started as an actress and now showcasing other aspects of her craft which is writing and directing. We’ve seen her giving stellar performances on popular shows like Generations, playing the character of Lumka Dlomo and on shows like Jacobs Cross, Rhythm City, and one of the most successful films to ever come out of South Africa, Happiness is a Four Letter Word.
Her humble beginnings as a director date back to when she shot a web series titled ‘Women and Sex’ to taking a director’s chair on the youth show MTV Shuga Down South, a drama series that follows the sexual lives of young people on the African continent, based on real life stories. Set against the clubs, bars, and student hangouts of South Africa, a tale of love, betrayal, relationships, and heartache among young people as they find themselves in this world.
Transitioning from actor to writer or director is not a walk in the park but we are proud that Mmabatho has managed to shine in everything she touches and turns it into gold. Next time you watch your favorite show, pause a moment and take a closer look when the closing credits roll, you’ll notice that she has made contributions to TV Shows like Thulas Vine, SAFTA-winning Emoyeni, Multi-Award winning Lockdown, and more.
We’ve seen this multi-talented star turning her attention from in front of the screen to behind-the-scenes work by writing the local hit series Lockdown, with an all-female star cast, notorious for its cliffhangers, plot twists and emotional rollercoasters, taking viewers into the daily battle for survival in the cells and offices of Thabazimbi Women’s Correctional Facility. Here she wore an actor and writer cap as she was starring and also the head writer for this season.
It is no doubt that Mmabatho Montsho is one of the most beautiful voices in our country and her passion for embracing other fellow filmmakers sets her apart. This year is off to a great start for her and we cannot wait to see her shine bright in the most prestigious circuits across the world.
