China's Silent Winter and SA's Five Fingers for Marseilles lead 2019 RapidLion Awards nominationsThe RapidLion Awards are set to make a return at this year's instalment of the RapidLion South African International Film Festival, which runs at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg from 1 March-10 March 2019. Several standouts have emerged with films such as Five Fingers for Marseilles (SA), Sew The Winter to My Skin (SA), Silent Winter China), Catching Feelings (SA), Legalize It – Friendship Never Dies (Brazil) and Shocking KungFu of Huo’s (China) boasting nominations in several categories. Leading the charge with eight nominations each are Chinese production, Silent Winter, written and directed by Da Fei, and South African film, Five Fingers for Marseilles, directed by Michael Matthews and written by Sean Drummond. Not to be counted out, though, is the epic Sew the Winter to My Skin, written and directed by South African filmmaker Jahmil XT Qubeka, which has been nominated in seven categories. Although currently enjoying the creative and popular success of coming-of-age adventure Matwetwe, this edition of RapidLion sees filmmaker and comedian Kagiso Lediga nominated for Best Screenplay for Catching Feelings, his seminal romantic comedy that has been popularly received on Netflix, launching his international career as director and producer. The film, which he also directed, has been nominated in three categories, including Best of South Africa and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Andrew Buckland. Although Russia, as a Brics partner, does not feature prominently in the feature film categories, its filmmakers make a strong showing in the Best Documentary Feature category, with Russian-born filmmaker Xenia Sigalova’s My Russian Spring and Vadim Vitovsev’s Missing Girls both competing in the Best Documentary Feature category. Here’s a complete list of nominees in each category:Best International Short:Mohammad Bakhshi – Ales (Morocco) Best Documentary Feature:Xenia Sigalova – My Russian Spring (Germany) Best Actor in a Supporting Role:Danton Mello – Before I Forget (Brazil) Best Actress in a Supporting Role:Xiwen Xu – Silent Winter (China) Best Actor in a Leading Role:Jose de Abreu - Before I Forget (Brazil) Best Cinematography:Zhilei Zhang – Silent Winter Best Screenplay:Sean Drummond - Five Fingers for Marseilles (South Africa) Best Film Editing:David Tao – Shocking KungFu of Huo’s (China) Best Director:Michael Matthews – Five Fingers for Marseilles (South Africa) Best of South Africa:Five Fingers for Marseilles The Awards Ceremony will take place on the 9 March 2019. Tickets to the festival are available through www.webtickets.co.za. |