All the best reactions from Silwerskerm Award nominees in 2024

The Afrikaans film industry gathers at The Cape Town International Convention Centre this Saturday, 31 August 2024, to celebrate the 12th annual kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV. The ceremony will be broadcast the following evening, Sunday, 1 September 2024, at 20:00, on kykNET (DStv channel 144).

As we end off Women’s Month, here’s what your favourite actresses are saying about their nominations:

Cindy Swanepoel

Nomination: Best Actress in a Drama
Role: Christelle in the Showmax Original Koek

“Being nominated for a Silwerskerm Award means everything to me. I walked quite a journey with the Silwerskermfees. I did my first short film for them more than 10 years ago and got my first nomination and won my first award at the Silwerskermfees when I did Fluit Fluit, which was a short film. It meant the world to me; I remember that day as if it was yesterday. So to still be nominated now years later is incredible. It just shows me that they do look at your work and they do see how you’ve grown. I ended my journey with Binnelanders after eight years exactly a year ago and obviously you’re a bit afraid. ‘Am I doing the right thing? Can I still play other characters? Can I understand other genres?’ There’s a little bit of that fear that comes along with it, so to get this nomination, to me it means, ‘Okay, you are still on the right path. You can play other characters and genres and you can carry a story.’ So, ja, compared to all the other milestones, this means a lot, more than I can describe.

“The first person I told, of course, was my fiancé, Craig Urbani. He’s been incredibly supportive throughout the Koek journey and I couldn’t think of anyone else who needed to hear it first. He’s really supportive in my career and always shares so much in my joy.”

Melissa Myburgh

Nomination: Best Actress in a Drama
Role: Luna in the Showmax Original Trompoppie

“I was in my room writing when I received a message on a Wyfie writers group that three of the Wyfie actresses got nominated. I called Mienke Ehlers, being my closest friend, to congratulate her, knowing that it was something she has been working towards. We spoke and after I hung up, I went back to work. She called me back a minute later, saying: ‘You didn’t even tell me you got nominated; I just saw the full list!’ It was quite funny. I didn’t tell anybody at first, I’m quite shy about these types of things. But I guess indirectly, I told Mienke. Or she told me.

“I’m excited that Trompoppie is getting the recognition it deserves. BeatTrompoppie is the brainchild of one of the most talented people I have ever met, Etienne Fourie. Reading it the first time, I was flabbergasted by how well it was written and thought out.I think the team – Etienne, all the actors, crew, Sunel [Haasbroek] our DOP, and everyone who was involved – gave it their all, and I’m not shy to say that it paid off. We made something pretty cool and the fact that people are enjoying it makes me extremely happy, because I really enjoyed helping make it. I’m so proud of this project, and the work I did on it. Trompoppie is something I would watch, and that says something, because I hate seeing myself on screen. Marion Holm also got a nomination, and no one deserves it more.”

Mienke Ehlers

Nomination: Best Newcomer in a Telenovela or Soap
Role: Mia in the Showmax Original Wyfie

“When I got the email, I was actually on set, busy doing the thing that got me the nomination. And it was on my birthday, which made it extra special. So yeah, it was just a beautiful full-circle moment, and I felt so incredibly blessed. It was a really cool birthday gift.

“This nomination feels incredible as a career milestone. We never expect these things but, when they come around, it’s so appreciated. It really hit deep this one, because I think I’m the oldest person in the category for best upcoming actors. For me, that’s a beautiful thing. I’m not shying away from being older in this category, because I really feel like I want to just motivate people that it’s never too late. I waited five or six years for a part like this to come and find me, and I finally got it. So I’m very grateful.

“Wyfie has done very well in the acting categories and I think it’s because of the incredible scripts. I think we can’t look past that. I think it’s because of the very relevant and relatable stories we get to deal with and the incredible directors that work with us to help us navigate our craft and create these characters that are so believable and so truthful and so honest.

“I phoned my dad first. I always phone him when there’s good news or bad news. He’s always my first phone call. He’s just someone that’s been walking this road in the industry with me from the start, supporting me and backing me, and just standing by my side.”

Beáta Bena Green

Nomination: Best Actress in a Telenovela or Soap
Role: Shay in the Showmax Original Wyfie

“I was on the set of Wyfie when I first heard about my nomination. I was actually busy on my second-last day of shooting Wyfie, and the first two people I shared it with were the head director, Johan Cronje, and then the director of the day, a very good friend of mine, Emilie Badenhorst. We then shared it with the entire crew, so it was the perfect moment to receive the information.

“Sometimes I still need to pinch myself. I was surprised that I had been nominated, purely because the other nominees are so strong. I also come from a production where there are a lot of wonderful actors, and I personally feel everybody deserved a nomination, but I was genuinely grateful for the opportunity to represent Wyfie, and that the hard work we’ve put in is being recognised. I had a little conversation with myself and God. I said, ‘I’m finding it hard to sit in this moment, because I believe everyone should have gotten a nomination.’ And the message that came through to me was just that every single person has their moment under the sun, and when your time comes, you better enjoy it and soak up that vitamin D, because it’s not always going to be the case. So right now, I’m just soaking up the vitamin D and grateful to be a part of the process.”

Marion Holm

Nomination: Best Female Supporting Actor in a Drama
Role: Jill in the Showmax Original Trompoppie

“I cannot for the life of me remember where I was or how I heard it. I am five months short of 60 and it is most definitely showing! I do not believe in awards as I do not believe one can compare performances of completely different roles – but I do believe in nominations. The nomination – for me – says, ‘Hey, we see you.’ And for that I am overjoyed.”

Marguerite van Eeden

Nomination: Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela or Soap
Role: Wilmien in Showmax Original Wyfie

“It’s so lekker to be nominated. It’s the first time I played a character like Wilmien: she’s a lekker malletjie, so I’m very, very thankful and so excited to see all the other nominees and friends at the awards celebration.I think everyone on Wyfie deserves a nomination: crew and cast.

“I was actually in America when I found out, and Roy [her husband] and I were sitting, and then I just got an email, and I was like, ‘I’m nominated for an award! Whoo!’ The first person I told was Roy, because he was next to me, and then my parents and then my friends.”

Llandi Beeslaar

Nomination: Best Female Supporting Actor in a Drama
Role: Stefanie in the Showmax Original Koek

“I wish I could pretend that I was doing something badass but I was actually just in bed, reading emails and drinking my morning coffee when I got news of the nomination. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this nomination. Especially when I look at the group of kickass women I’ve been nominated with. Getting acknowledged for the work you do is always a good feeling and I know how very fortunate I am to be mentioned in the same category as these amazing industry trailblazers.”