Awards Wrap: Primedia Studios celebrates Anele Mdoda’s Oscar nomination, Flow wins at Indie Awards, entries open for Digital Media Awards Africa

The Media Online’s weekly column delivering news of award wins, entries, competitions, dates to note and winners in the media.

Primedia Studios applauds Anele Mdoda’s Last Ranger for Oscar Nomination

In a remarkable achievement for South African cinema, Last Ranger, a short film co-produced by Anele Mdoda under her production company Rose & Oaks Media, has received a nomination for Best Live-Action Short Film at this year’s Academy Awards. This prestigious nod not only highlights the film’s artistic merit but also emphasizes the growing influence of South African storytellers on the global stage.

Mdoda, the host of 947’s Anele and the Club, expressed her exhilaration on social media, stating, “South Africa!!!! We have been nominated for an Oscar!!!!!!!!!!! The Last Ranger is going to win it and bring it home.”

She went on to commend the film’s director, Cindy Lee, and writer, David Lee, for their exceptional work, as well as the standout performances by Avumile Qongqo and Liyabona Mroqoza.

This nomination is a significant milestone for Mdoda and her co-producer, Frankie Du Toit, as they continue to pave the way for diverse narratives in the film industry. The film, which tells a compelling story that resonates deeply with audiences, showcases the rich tapestry of South African culture and talent.

Jonathan Procter, Group CEO at Primedia, congratulated Anele and the entire Last Ranger team on this outstanding achievement: “We are immensely proud of Anele and her collaborators for their exceptional work on Last Ranger. This Oscar nomination reflects their creativity, dedication, and passion for storytelling, which aligns perfectly with our mission at Primedia Studios to elevate South African narratives. It not only highlights the talent within our industry but also encourages future generations of filmmakers to share their unique voices and experiences. We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone and the positive impact it will have on our industry.”

With the eyes of the world now on Last Ranger, the anticipation for the Oscars is palpable. The film community and audiences alike are rallying behind Anele and her team, eager to see if this talented group will bring home the coveted Oscar.

Two big wins for Flow Communications at The Global Indie Awards 2025

Flow Communications is over the moon to have won two of The Global Indie Awards 2025’s most prestigious accolades: Africa Agency of the Year 2025 and the Indie Legend 2025 – jointly awarded to the company’s founders, sisters Tara Turkington and Tiffany Turkington-Palmer.

The Indie Awards are awarded annually by thenetworkone, a global independent marketing and communications agency network comprising 1 600 independent agencies.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be recognised on this prestigious global platform! It’s a thrill for Tara and I to have won these awards in the year that we celebrate 20 years in business,” said Tiffany, Flow’s managing director.

Founded in 2005 by Tara Turkington, who is the company’s CEO, Flow is a proudly South African company that is increasingly an international player. Over 30% of its more than 100 clients are international, and the agency has completed projects in more than 30 countries. Tiffany joined Flow a year later and the two have led the company ever since.

Flow’s entry for Africa Agency of the Year 2025 was “very, very impressive across the board”, said Katy Moushino, chair of the Indy Legend award. She congratulated Flow on its high level of commitment to doing work that it loves and to service to its clients and employees – visible in the loyalty of both.

Flow’s business strategy is founded upon a deep commitment to purpose-driven communications, and a vision to extend its global reach. The company’s motto is: “Do work you love, with people you like, to make the world a better place.”

Calling innovators in Cape Town: applications open for the Orange Corners Designs programme 2025

Young entrepreneurs in Cape Town have a fresh opportunity to elevate their businesses with the launch of the Orange Corners Designs (OCD) programme 2025. The programme, which focuses on empowering entrepreneurs with innovative solutions is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort of 20 participants.

Managed by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Orange Corners Designs programme helps visionary entrepreneurs scale and make a lasting positive impact. Since its launch in 2024, the programme has been supporting 40 businesses to date in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

This 12-month intensive programme will provide 20 selected entrepreneurs with impactful workshops, masterclasses, and one-on-one mentoring to help refine their products, strengthen business systems, and address critical market needs.

The application deadline is 20 February 2025. To apply visit www.thecdi.org.za/ocd and submit your application.

CCPB’s consistent focus on values and leadership secures 15^th Top Employer accolade

Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) has been recognised for the 15^th year in a row as a Top Employer. The accolade acknowledges companies who have demonstrated their approach to people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, well-being, diversity and inclusion.

“Our people are the heart of what we do every day, and we simply cannot be a successful company if we don’t look after their wellbeing. Our ethos of ‘People are number one’ has guided us in protecting the best interests of our team and putting systems in place to help them grow and thrive,” says Bryn Morse, culture and people development director at CCPB.

All team members at CCPB, he adds, are seen as leaders and are treated as such.

“Our people are leaders of themselves or of others and we try to empower them with the skills they need to be the most impactful leaders they can be. We believe they have the power to lead their own personal development, and we show them how to take ownership of that journey by putting a focus on continuous improvement which is one of our core values.”

CCPB’s certification as Top Employer in the Food and Beverage category was announced recently by the Top Employers Institute, the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices.

HOT 102.7FM Recognised Once Again on the World Radio Stage

Johannesburg-based radio station HOT 102.7FM has once again been recognised on the global stage, with Managing Director Lloyd Madurai invited to the judging panel for the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards – widely regarded as the ‘Oscars of the radio industry’.

The New York Festivals Radio Awards honours radio content in all lengths and formats and across all platforms, from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the globe.

“This is an incredible honour, particularly if one looks at the calibre of judges from around the world,” says Madurai. “But, while it’s a huge thrill for me, personally, to participate as a judge, what’s even more important is that HOT 102.7FM has made a big enough impact on this global platform to be recognised as an internationally-credible radio entity, and that just speaks to the quality of our product and the progress we’ve made in a little over three years of being on air.”

The categories you could win in at the Digital Media Awards Africa

Are you still deciding which category is the best fit for showcasing your work at the Digital Media Awards Africa? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!

Whether you represent a small/medium company or belong to a larger conglomerate, you can submit the same project into multiple categories, giving you even more chances to win. This year, WAN-Ifra encourages smaller publishers to apply, as we are committed to celebrating and providing greater visibility for their exceptional contributions to the industry.

All the info is here.

Gqeberha Artist first in SA to win HONOR Talents, Global Design Award

Global Technology brand, HONOR Technology shares some exciting news to kick-off the year, with the announcement of their HONOR Talents: Global Design Awards winner.

Established in 2020, HONOR Talents is the brand’s window for youth groups, advocating for youth empowerment and discovering talents in different fields. HONOR Talents currently includes two competitions, namely; The Global Design Award and Voice Maker Original Music Awards. The Global Design Award’s call for entries rolled out between May and September 2024, with a total of over 9000+ global entrants. The Middle East Africa region had a total of 53 submissions, including Gqeberha raised, Zilungile Hanis’s artwork.

The call to entry for HONOR Talents in South Africa was in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), supporting HONOR through an information session addressing young people and a rigorous social media drive, calling for young artists to participate.

With each participant standing an equal chance at selection for the Judge’s Choice Award, Zilungile’s artwork stood out the most, giving her star an opportunity to shine as she won the Judges Choice Award. The first and only South African to receive this prestigious global recognition.

Flying the flag high not only for all young aspirant South Africans but youth in Gqeberha, Zilungile Hanise was pleasantly surprised to learn that she’d won, “I’m really happy to be recognised and working closely with HONOR this year, I’m hoping that a lot of growth will come from this,” she said.

De Beers announces 2024 Shining Light Awards Winners

De Beers Group has announced the winners of the 2024 Shining Light Awards, a jewellery design competition dedicated to empowering the next generation of designers from the countries where De Beers recovers diamonds, including Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa.

Originally launched in 1995, the Shining Light Awards are part of the De Beers Group Designers Initiative, a youth beneficiation skills development initiative aimed at cultivating world-class jewellery design and manufacturing skills within De Beers Group’s host countries.

This year’s design theme, Luxury Redefined” invited entrants to present innovative, authentic and inclusive visions of luxury, while celebrating diversity. Each entry included designs for a complete jewellery collection featuring a ring, necklace, earrings, bangles and bracelets. A total of 104 entries were submitted this year, from which 22 finalists representing each country were selected.

Moses Madondo, CEO of De Beers Group Managed Operations, said: “The Shining Light Awards are a testament to De Beers Group’s commitment to beneficiation in the countries where we recover diamonds. By creating accessible opportunities within the diamond sector, we are actively investing in local talent, with a particular focus on supporting youth in our host countries to benefit from the diamond industry. Through the Shining Light Awards, we provide a platform that not only nurtures and develops emerging designers but also highlights the value of skills transfer, entrepreneurship, and creativity along the diamond value chain. We are truly inspired by the level of talent and innovation showcased by this year’s finalists.”

The 2024 winners are:

First place