The Media Online’s weekly column delivering news of award wins, entries, competitions, dates to note and winners in the media.
Samsung Galaxy Content Creator Awards unveil final nominees
With just a few days to go until the country’s leading digital tastemakers gather under one roof, the Samsung Galaxy Content Creator Awards have officially announced the final category nominees ahead of the main ceremony taking place on Saturday.
“We’re incredibly excited to reveal this year’s finalists and celebrate the talent, creativity and originality coming out of South Africa’s creator community,” says Manuela Dias de Deus, founder of the Content Creator Awards and Founder of One-eyed Jack. “The calibre of the work this year has been exceptional, and we can’t wait to bring everyone together for what promises to be a very special night.”
Excellence in Branded Content Award:
- Ace Labs for Capitec Life Cover x Sihle Dembuza ‘Bread Winners’
- Oliver Agency for Cleanipedia presents Bakhombise
- WPP Media South Africa for Head & Shoulders #DramaFreeMzansi
- WPP Media South Africa for Gillette Venus The Last Bit of Summer
- You People for swiitchbeauty Seeing Double
#CapturedWithGalaxy Award:
- Baxbara
- Bella Monsoon
- Kaytee Shots
- Sibo Mchunuu
- Yombusoo Cthandiweii
As the creator economy continues to evolve, the Samsung Galaxy Content Creator Awards provide a platform to recognise the individuals and teams turning creativity into influence, entertainment and business, while celebrating the growing impact of digital content on South African culture.
For fans who want to experience the action live, there are limited tickets available for purchase via Quicket.
2026 Warrior Woman Awards finalists announced on Good Hope FM
Good Hope FM has announced the 29 finalists for the 2026 Warrior Woman Awards on The Morning Show with Leigh-Anne Williams following an overwhelming response from listeners across Cape Town, the broader Western Cape and further afield. Listeners are now encouraged to vote for their favourite.
Now in its third year, the Warrior Woman Awards honour women who fight hunger, support vulnerable communities, build businesses, champion education, improve health and wellness, strengthen neighbourhoods, break barriers in challenging industries, inspire through sport, uplift culture through creativity and empower the next generation of rising stars
THE HUNGER FIGHTER AWARD: Joan Adonis – Grassy Park. Nokuzola Mabinza – Gugulethu / Khayelitsha: CEO and Founder of Mbizana Soup Kitchen in Khayelitsha. Carmen Stevens – Somerset West: Award-winning winemaker whose school feeding initiative, the Carmen Stevens Foundation, has delivered more than 56.7 million meals to children across 701 schools.
THE COMMUNITY CARE AWARD: Sandy Schuter – Strandfontein: A passionate community safety advocate and chairperson of the Strandfontein Community Police Forum. Sadieka Paulsen – Mitchells Plain: After successfully rehabilitating herself from a 16-year drug struggle, she opened a cleaning company to employ and empower individuals facing similar battles, while also uplifting youth in Mitchells Plain. Michelle Prinsloo – Strand: Known as “die vonkel vrou,” she has devoted 35 years to her community by running a daily soup kitchen for 150 children.
THE JOB CREATOR AWARD: Raisa Fisher – Rondebosch: Founder of I AM – A Creative Agency, she bridges the gap between corporate needs and creativity, providing mentorship and career development planning for local creatives, non-profits, and the busking community. Isabel Byers – Devils Peak Estate: Founder of the Isabel Byers School of Speech and Drama. Melissa Carelse – Ottery: An Educare principal who started her own school during COVID-19.
THE EDUCATION CHAMPION AWARD: Belinka Forbes – Athlone: Founder of Matai Youth Camp. Zaironesa Karriem (Auntie Niesa) – Bonteheuwel: A Youth Coordinator for Sea the Bigger Picture. Anthea Trout & Divine Folding – Mitchell’s Plain & Bonteheuwel: Co-founders of BonteKids and Shaylex Community Projects
THE WELLNESS WARRIOR AWARD: Mymoena Scholtz – Grassy Park: A qualified social auxiliary worker and founder of Where Rainbows Meet Training and Development Foundation. Ellie Martheze – Brackenfell: Mental health advocate and founder of You Have Purpose. Faye Eshragi – Heideveld: Managing director of the Knowledge Translation Foundation.
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD Lindsay Adams – Mitchell’s Plain: Founder of #AgainstPeriodPoverty. Mutheera Rademeyer – Ocean View: Takes a holistic approach to community upliftment by running a soup kitchen, an environmental club, and an afterschool tutoring programme. Latiefa Jacobs – Kuils River: Founder of Aurorah CAN.
THE CHANGE-MAKER AWARD. Jadine Knecht – Beaufort West: A rapper and youth arts advocate who facilitates music, drama, and creative development for young people through TNGRECORDS’ After School Arts Programme. Sally Sivewright – Fish Hoek: A marine B=biologist who founded Guardians of the Deep NPC and the Cape Kelp Forest Trail. Indira Melela Lubambo – Gugulethu: Founder of Melela4Children.
THE RISING WARRIOR AWARD: Mekylin Engelbrecht – Cape Town: A 21-year-old law student, published author, and founder of ME FASHION. Danielle Isaacs – Pelican Park: Having overcome extreme childhood hardship, she discovered her potential as a top sales earner before successfully building multiple businesses, including Solo D Cleaning Services and Woodpecker Educare.
THE SPORTING CHAMPION AWARD. Carina Bruwer – Stellenbosch: An internationally recognised open-water marathon swimmer whose pioneering swims have raised over R2 million for charity, and the CEO of Gigster, a tech marketplace for the events industry. Nicky Carpenter – Tokai: Head of Facilities and a hands-on community leader who coaches and serves as a medic for Meadowridge Association Football Club, while also feeding vulnerable families in informal settlements. Nuraan Osman – Lansdowne: Chairperson for Liverpool Portlands FC, she uses football as an escape from poverty and gangs for local youth.
THE CREATIVE IMPACT AWARD. Shana Fife – Pelican Heights: An author and creative whose memoir Ougat explores Coloured identity in South Africa. Nikita Hendricks – Lansdowne: Founder of Pins and Needles Sewing. Janet Pillai – Airport City: Founder of Jetsetting with Janet, she tells authentic African stories through travel and wellness.
Voting is officially open from 7 October until 26 October 2026. To cast your vote for your favourite finalist, simply SMS “WWA26”, followed by the name of the nominee, your name, surname, and ID number to 37766. By participating, you also stand a chance to win a Good Hope FM hamper. (SMSes are charged at R1.50, and free SMSes do not apply.)
Durban FilmMart presents 2026 DFM Awards
The premier film industry event in Africa, the Durban FilmMart (DFM) 2026, took place from 9 to 12 October in Durban, under the theme Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves successfully bringing together 1131 film professionals and filmmakers from 56 countries across the world.
The event ended on a high with the presentation of 39 awards from 30 partners, valuing over R2 million (over $120 938,00).
The Best Pitch by a Women Filmmaker award went to ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine).. Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid.
Cash awards went to:
- The JustFilms Documentary Award (Ford Foundation) – Award of $10,000. THE THREAD AND THE WALL – LE FIL ET LE MUR (Algeria): Producer/Director: Mouni Bouallam
- Al Jazeera Co-production Award of $10,000 USD. ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine): Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid
- Climate Story Labs Award of 10,000 USD. The award is on behalf of Climate Story Labs Africa and Doc Society, in collaboration with UMI Fund. THE BIRTH OF DERNA (Libya). Director: Hussein Eddeb
- National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF) Best Fiction – Grant of R100,000. THE BOY WHO SPOKE STATIC (Nigeria): Agbajowo Collective: Temitope Ogungbamila, Samuel Okechukwu, Mat Cerf (Lead Producer) and Bisola Akinmuyiwa
- Best Non-fiction – Grant of R100,000. THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERED FLOWERS (Kenya). Producer: Ivy Kiru. Director: Neema Ngelime
- Best Animation – Grant of R100,000. SUNDAY MORNING (Ethiopia). Producer: Nahom Abiy. Director: Minasie Terefe
- Inkaba Award (Stained Glass TV) – Award of R30,000. DADDIES (South Africa). Producer: Catharina Weinek. Director: Sean Mongie
- NEWF Natural World Storytelling Grant of 5,000 USD. A TOUCH OF PARADISE (Tunisia). Producer: Sarra Ben Hassen. Director: Houcem Slouli
- Red Sea Film Fund Award – Fiction of 5,000 USD. HEIRS OF NO REGRET (Kenya). Producer: Mumo Liku. Director: Saitabao Kaiyare
- THE BOY WHO SPOKE STATIC (Nigeria): Agbajowo Collective: Temitope Ogungbamila, Samuel Okechukwu, Mat Cerf (Lead Producer) and Bisola Akinmuyiwa
- Docubox Award of 5,000 USD. WHERE DO I BELONG? (Sudan). Producer: Talal AfifI. Director: Ibrahim ‘Snoopy’ Ahmad
- TRT Award of 5,000 USD. ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine). Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid
- RRImpact Pitch Prize (DocA) of 5,000 USD. MY DJOMÉLÉ NIGHT (Burkina Faso). Producer: Cinema Salama. Director: Barkima Nafissatou Laguempedo
- Sundance Institute Documentary Fund New Voices Award of 5,000 USD grant. WHERE DO I BELONG? (Sudan). Producer: Talal Afifi. Director: Ibrahim ‘Snoopy’ Ahmad
- The Whickers Bursary Award of 3,000 GB POUNDS. GREEN ISLAND GIRLS (Egypt). Producer: Amrosh Badr. Director: Rogena Tarek
- Sunshine Cinema UCT Impact Development Award: The award comprises a bursary to the University of Cape Town Sunshine Cinema Film Impact Online Course of 2027 to the value of R18000 and a R7500 grant towards a first impact screening of the film. Includes optional inclusion in the Sunshine Cinema distribution catalogue. Winners are PÜLÖ: BLOODSTREAM OF THE KIRIKE (Nigeria). Producer/Director: Christina Ifubaraboye and ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine). Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid
2026 Effie Awards Gala Tickets Now Available
Effie South Africa has announced that tickets for the 2026 Effie Awards Gala are now available for purchase. Taking place on the evening of Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at The Venue, Melrose Arch, the Gala will honour and celebrate the year’s most effective marketing campaigns, recognising the work that has delivered measurable results and proven impact.
Following another record year for entries, the 2026 Gala promises to bring together South Africa’s marketing, advertising and communications industry for an evening of recognition, connection and celebration.
Tickets are available via the official online portal here: 2026 Effie Awards Gala Tickets
JDE South Africa’s coffee portfolio earns independent recognition for quality
Four accolades across multiple formats within two of JDE South Africa’s heritage coffee brands are providing independent recognition of quality across its portfolio, with Jacobs and Douwe Egberts products earning gold and silver honours at two respected taste and quality competitions.
Jacobs Krönung Pure Instant, Douwe Egberts Excellent Gold Nespresso Compatible Capsules (NCC) and Douwe Egberts Ready To Drink Iced Cappuccino each received Gold at both the Aurora International Taste Challenge and the South African Food & Beverage Awards, while Jacobs Vanilla Cappuccino received Silver at both competitions.
The recognition spans across both JDE South Africa’s established coffee brands and different formats, from Jacobs Krönung’s Pure Instant coffee experience to Douwe Egberts’ NCC and ready-to-drink iced coffee offering. Together the results highlight the breadth of the portfolio and JDE’s focus on delivering quality across different coffee occasions.
Kumba earns Beyond Awards recognition for sustainability and responsible mining
Kumba Iron Ore’s commitment to sustainability and responsible mining has been recognised at the 2026 Beyond Awards, where it was named a runner-up in the Beyond Champion Large Scale category. The company submitted entries covering its Sustainability Strategy and Responsible Mining.
“This recognition acknowledges the work our teams put into responsible mining every day,” says Mpumi Zikalala, chief executive officer at Kumba Iron Ore. “Their efforts help us earn the trust of neighbouring communities and the people who buy our iron ore. We are proud of the progress at Sishen and Kolomela and will keep working with our communities and partners to build on it.”
