Vindicated and victorious – Inxeba sweeps the SAFTAS!

In another blow to the homophobic campaign to ban Inxeba (The Wound), the acclaimed gay love story scooped six South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) on Saturday night.

Inxeba was the big winner in the Feature Film category, taking home the Golden Horn Award for Best Feature Film. Its star, Nakhane Touré, won the award for Best Actor, and John Trengove was recognised for Best Achievement in Directing.

Trengove, along with Malusi Bengu and Thando Mgqolozana, also scored the award for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting, while Inxeba co-star Bongile Mantsai was honoured with the Best Supporting Actor gong. The film earlier won for Best Achievement in Editing (Matthew Swanepoel).

The wins, adding to around 20 international awards, further rubbished the ridiculous claim by the Film & Publication Board Appeals Tribunal that it could not find “any… artistic value throughout the film”

Touré, who is in Europe promoting his new album You Will Not Die, was not able to attend the star-studded ceremony at Sun City, but expressed his delight at the SAFTA successes on social media.

“I’m on the Eurotunnel from Switzerland. And I’m finding out through Twitter that I just won a @SAFTAS1 I didn’t think I was going to be this emotional. ???????????????? F**k!! Thank yooouuu,” he exclaimed.

He went on to add: “#Inxeba winning is such a triumph for all the marginalised and others people who have been silenced. Guys!!! We are here! And we are not going to stop winning!!!”

Last month, the Film & Publication Board Appeals Tribunal (FPBAT) changed the film’s original rating of 16LS to X18, effectively banning it as an adults-only film that could not be screened in cinemas, and outraging the LGBTQ community.

In addition to the film supposedly not having artistic merit, the ruling was also based on the homophobic premise that same-sex intimacy on screen is more offensive than heterosexual intimacy.

The controversial FPBAT decision was then partially reversed for the interim by the Pretoria High Court, which allowed the film to return to cinemas. The suit by the producers challenging the X18 rating is still to be decided by the court in the coming days.

Inxeba is the story of Xolani (Touré), a lonely closeted Xhosa factory worker who joins the men of his community in the mountains of the Eastern Cape to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood.

The release of the film in cinemas led to protests and threats of violence by traditional leaders and cultural activists who claimed that it exploits Xhosa culture. They also criticised Inxeba for including a same-sex relationship in the context of the sacred initiation rituals.

I’m on the Eurotunnel from Switzerland. And I’m finding out through Twitter that I just won a @SAFTAS1 . I didn’t think I was going to be this emotional. ???????????????? Fuck!! Thank yooouuu pic.twitter.com/TtIHo5jWXu

— YOU WILL NOT DIE (@nakhaneofficial) March 24, 2018

#Inxeba winning is such a triumph for all the marginalized and others people who have been silenced. Guys!!! We are here! And we are not going to stop winning!!!

— YOU WILL NOT DIE (@nakhaneofficial) March 24, 2018

Congratulations to Inxeba (The Wound), Urucu Media for winning the Golden Horn Award for Best Feature Film @TheWound_SAfilm #SAFTAs12 #OurStoriesAreGold pic.twitter.com/Z91CzarNtX

— SAFTAS (@SAFTAS1) March 24, 2018