South African documentary Girl Fight has received a special recognition at the Silicone Valley Film Festival with an Achievement in the Documentary Film award. The boxing documentary commissioned by e.tv aired earlier this year on the channel.
The documentary, produced by Catherine Muller and directed by Phumlani Veto follows the story of Noni ”the Be Stinging’ Tenge, a world champion South African woman boxer from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape.
“The film ‘Girl Fight’ was a great experience, after film school, this was my first 24minute production, the first commissioned broadcast documentary and I gave it my all,” says director Phumlani Veto, who also hails from the Eastern Cape. “Winning this award is my biggest and greatest achievement in my entire five year film career. I don’t know how I feel, I can’t explain it. I know that this is going to change my life for the better. These are the results of good training from the Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking, because I don’t think I could have done this alone.”
Despite the fact that Noni secured a world victory title against Daniela Smith at Carnival City in June this year, there was no TV coverage locally even though she was honoured by the Department of Sports. “Girl Fight” is a story about Noni gearing up for her November fight in East London, interwoven with commentary from Mbali Nxonxo Zantsi, a woman from the Eastern Cape who promotes female boxing.
This international award further entrenches e.tvs vision to build and nurture local content on the channel, and offering local film makers the platform to showcase their talent.
“The channel continues to invest in local content, we are ambitious and committed to bring viewers local content that resonates, programming that promotes diversity with ability to inform and educate our audience” says Monde Twala, e.tv Channel Head.
