SA producers nominated at Venice awards

South African animated series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire and South African telenovela Redemption were among the nominees for best animation and telenovela respectively at the recent Venice TV Awards.

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is produced by Triggerfish Animation Studios Blink Industries for Disney and executive produced by Tendayi Nyeke, Anthony Silverston, Peter Ramsey.

It explores Africa’s history and culture from a variety of perspectives, featuring stories from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Redemption is a coproduction by two production companies in Johannesburg: Gomora prodco Seriti Films of Rosebank and Randburg’s Burnt Onion Productions.

The show aired on BET Africa and follows the lives of a family running a church. After the pastor goes missing, his daughter does all she can to save her family while battling secrets and dark truths.

However, ultimately both titles lost out to the eventual winners. The best animation award went to Star Wars: Visions – I Am Your Mother from LucasFilm/Aardman for Disney+, while the best telenovela gong was picked up by Portuguese hit Para Sempre, from Plural Entertainment for TVI.