The prestigious annual Royalty Soapie Awards are making a triumphant comeback this year after a hiatus and ZAlebs recently caught up the founder of the awards, Winnie Ntshaba to learn all about this year's awards.
The awards aim to honour and celebrate the finest in the film and television industry and this year's edition will be virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic and were founded by Winnie after she was infamously sacked, along with her fellow castmates, from Generations in 2014.
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"Mpho Popps and Lerato 'LKG' Kganyago will be hosting the 4th Royalty Soapie Awards. Our new format allowed for creativity and being an artist myself I thought it would be fun to present the nominees announcement this year," says Winnie.
The awards were postponed on numerous occasions in the past due to financial constraints, and Winnie says inadequate funding has had a huge knock-on effect on the awards.
"We have always emphasized that in order to produce a good show you must have a good budget. Like every awards ceremony, we were also faced with inadequate funding. We have learnt that the Royalty Soapie Awards are necessary and needed in South Africa," she adds.
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This year they added two extra categories to the awards: The social cohesion award, which will be awarded to a soapie production that has demonstrated or addressed the most current social affairs and social ills affecting our communities.
While the second recognition award will be awarded to background actor in a soapie production that has been essential in creating the tone, mood and atmosphere of the soapie scene.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced them to host the awards virtually and Winnie promises to raise the bar.
"This tragic pandemic has affected the whole World. We had to explore new and innovative ways to host the Awards this year. We've had to be agile and creative. We decided to continue to honor creative in the industry. The show must go on."
"Because of the limitations and challenge presented by the current pandemic, we pushed the envelope and raise the bar with the 4th Royalty Soapie Awards. The awards will be recorded in the studio but we want to keep the glamour and glitz of the awards with the red carpet being part of the show and keep the entertainment to keep the viewers glued to the screen. For the first time on the Royalty Soapie Awards, we will be paying tribute to those who passed away." she explains.
Mzansi's most loved show The River is the leader of the pack with 13 nods and Gomora bagged 12 nods. Winnie says it is important to recognize new shows and new faces.
"They are part of the package and people get excited when there's a new show and new faces or new characters that are good in what they do. So it's important that they are also acknowledged. Awards motivate productions to continue improving the quality."
Most South African awards are constantly dragged for snubbing deserving artists, to ensure this does not happen Winnie says they went through an intense selection process to ensure that those who deserve a nod are being acknowledged.
"With the assistance of industry experts entries go through an intense judging process and deliberation to ensure that deserving talent is recognized and acknowledged for their contribution to the performing arts. We honour the hard-work actors and crew put in, through the Royalty Soapie Awards."
The Awards will be pre- recorded and broadcast on SABC 1, on Saturday 26 September at 20:00 with live streaming from our YouTube channel and Facebook platforms.
