LAST year’s Durban International Film Festival winner, Shirley ­Adams, was the big winner again, when it won the best feature film award at the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas).

The film, which beat Izulu Lami (My Secret Sky) and White Wedding for the honour, is directed by newcomer Oliver Hermanus, who also won the best director in a feature film award. Denise Newman who plays the ­title role in the film, which tells the story of a woman who loses her family to violence and poverty, but gains her own sense of self worth, received the best actress gong.

The best actor honours went to Kenneth Nkosi for White Wedding, while Tshepang Mohlomi won the best supporting actor award for his role in Izulu Lami. The best supporting actress category was won by Motshabi Tyelele for Nothing But The Truth. John Kani was named best writer in a feature film for the same film.

White Lion, the film penned by ­Pietermaritzburg scriptwriter Janet van Eeden, won three awards — best cinematography for Michael Swan, best music composition for Phillip Miller and best sound design for Ivan Millborrow, Nicky de Beer and Charlotte Buys.

In the television drama category the big winner was A Place Called Home, which won five awards — best director for Akin Omotoso and Rolie Nikiwe; best supporting actress for Nolwazi Shange; best editor for Leon Rietief; best art direction for Martha Sibanyoni; and best music composition for Neil Solomon.

Other winners in the drama category included: best actor — Fana Mokoena for The Lab; best supporting actor — Terence Bridgett for Erfsondes; best actress — Linda Sokhulu for Sokhulu & Partners; best mini-drama series — Death of a Queen; best full length drama — Sokhulu & Partners; and best ensemble cast — The Lab.

In the comedy category, it was Stokvel which won big, taking home the awards for best director, best ­actor(Tshamano Sebe), and best ­ensemble cast. The best actress award went to Lawrancia Mthembu for Family Bonds.

7de Laan won the award for best soapie following a public vote, but it was Isidingo that walked off with most of the other awards. It won for best direction, best writing, best ensemble cast, best supporting actor (Jack Devnarian) and best supporting actress (Kim Engelbrecht).

The best soapie actor was Seputla Sebogodi for Generations, while his co-star, Katlego Danke, won the best actress gong.

The Saftas also honoured three people with lifetime achievement awards — Katinka Heyns for direction and production, Joe Mafela for television performance and John ­Kani for stage and film.

And posthumus lifetime achievement awards were conferred on Thys Heyns for production, Percival ­Rubens for direction, Dirk de Villiers for production, writing and direction, and Zakes Mokae for performance.