Skoonheid triumphs at Durban film fest

Cape Town - Afrikaans Cannes contender Skoonheid walked away with the Best South African Feature and a Special Jury Mention prize at the 32nd Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on Sunday.

The film, directed by Oliver Hermanus, was awarded R25 000 prize money and was praised by the jury for its "subtlety, control and knowledge of film history" which "tells a complex South African story with universal appeal".

Skoonheid opens in South African cinemas on August 5.

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Iranian film Nader and Simin, a Separation won the main prize, Best Feature Film, as well as Best screenplay for writer-director Asghar Farhadi. This comes hot on the heels of Farhadi's triumph at the Berlin film festival in July where Nader and Simin, a Separation won the Golden Bear prize.

American film The Dynamiter was also a big winner on the night, named best first feature film and winning R20 000 for director Matthew Gordon, as well as Best Actor for teenager William Patrick Ruffin.

The full list of DIFF winners:

Best Film: Nader and Simin, A Separation (Iran), directed by Asghar Farhadi

Best South African Feature: Skoonheid (France/South Africa), directed by Oliver Hermanus

Best First Feature: The Dynamiter (USA), directed by Matthew Gordon

Best Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev for Elena (Russia)

Best Actress: Nadezhda Markina in Elena

Best Actor: William Patrick Ruffin in The Dynamiter

Best Cinematography: Mikhail Krichman for Elena

Best Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi for Nader and Simin, A Separation

Special Mention Feature Film: Skoonheid, directed by Oliver Hermanus

Special Mention South African Feature Film: Eldorado, directed by Shaldon Ferris and Lorreal Ferris

Best Documentary: Position Among the Stars (Stand van de Sterren) (The Netherlands), directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich

Best South African Documentary: Dear Mandela (South Africa/USA), directed by Dara Kell and Christopher Nizza

Best Short Film: Dirty Laundry (South Africa), directed by Stephen Abbott

Best South African Short Film: Dirty Laundry, directed by Stephen Abbott

Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award: Sobukwe, A Great Soul (South Africa), directed by Mickey Madoda Dube

DIFF Wavescape Surf Film Festival Audience Award: A Deeper Shade Of Blue (Australia)

DIFF Documentary Audience Award: Fire in Babylon (United Kingdom), directed by Stevan Riley