The late veteran actress Connie Chiume will be posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural DGSA Creative Awards, set to take place on 10-11 April 2026 in Cape Town. Chiume, who died in August 2024, was widely celebrated for a career spanning decades across film, television and theatre.
She was known for her roles in the Marvel films Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as well as popular South African television productions including Gomora and Rhythm City, where she became a household name. The recognition forms part of a broader industry initiative aimed at spotlighting South African directors and the creative voices shaping the country’s film and television landscape.
Spotlighting South African Directors
Through the new awards platform, the DGSA says it aims to acknowledge excellence, elevate industry standards and create greater visibility for local talent competing in an increasingly global market. The two-day event will bring together directors, international industry experts, policymakers and creative professionals.
Organisers describe the gathering as both a celebration of directing excellence and a strategic engagement for the sector. The Industry Day will focus on the role of film in shaping national identity and driving economic opportunity, while creating space for dialogue, collaboration and knowledge exchange between South African creatives and global counterparts.
Some of the key speakers include Sibusiso Tsanyane from the Department of Arts and Culture, New York-based film professor Jonathan Whittaker, Germany-based talent agent Zetha Asufu-Adjaye, South African director Mandla Dube, Brazilian film specialist Pedro Butcher and Karen Kelly of Directors UK. According to Andile Sinqoto, the DGSA has created this platform to recognise, connect, and elevate South African directors on a national stage.
Creating a Globally Competitive Creative Hub
The awards ceremony will mark the formal launch of what the DGSA hopes will become an annual industry fixture, celebrating directing excellence while reinforcing the importance of authorship, storytelling and representation in South Africa’s screen sector. Organisers say the initiative also reflects a broader ambition to position South Africa as a globally competitive creative hub, rooted in authentic storytelling while actively engaging with international markets and evolving technologies.
For more information on the film industry in South Africa, visit the Government Communication and Information System website. The DGSA Creative Awards will also feature an exhibition of local film and television productions, showcasing the best of South African storytelling.
- Black Panther
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Gomora
- Rhythm City
The event is expected to attract a large audience of industry professionals, policymakers and film enthusiasts. As the South African film industry continues to grow and evolve, initiatives like the DGSA Creative Awards are crucial in promoting local talent and creativity.
