The Reel Renegades, a talented film crew from East London, proudly represented both their city and South Africa at the prestigious Filmapalooza Awards Ceremony in Seattle, Washington, USA, from 19–22 March 2025.
The team earned their spot at the awards ceremony with their short film, Rebirth, which was awarded as the Best Film 2024 in South Africa’s 48-Hour Film Challenge.
The Reel Renegades, comprised of Lusanda “Kranky” Payiya (director), Mlindi Kasa (cinematographer), Ken Bengeza (director of photography), Siya (sound), Olwethu (scriptwriter), and Lesedi Lester Sikwe (editor/colorist), competed against top filmmakers from around the world. Their journey began with the Eastern Cape’s first-ever 48-Hour Film Challenge, hosted in East London last November. The Eastern Cape is now the third province in South Africa to have participated in this globally celebrated filmmaking competition.
In the grueling 48-hour project, 14 teams of storytellers from across the province were tasked with planning, scripting, casting, scouting, shooting, editing, and submitting their short films within two days. The Reel Renegades stood out with their exceptional creativity and dedication, ultimately securing their win at the national level and earning the opportunity to compete internationally.
Although the team was unable to attend the awards in person, they watched in excitement as their film was recognized on the Seattle stage. This achievement underscores the wealth of hidden cinematic talent in the Eastern Cape.
Lungelo “TruSenz” Nzama congratulated the team, saying: “I want to celebrate Lesedi Lester Sikwe and his team, who represented South Africa at Filmapalooza thanks to their incredible work with the 48-Hour Film Project. This reflects the transformative power of dedication to one’s passion. Turning fears into opportunities is key to achieving greatness.”
Lunga Feni, Partnership Associate at the Eastern Cape Film Hub and City Producer for the 48-Hour Film Project in East London, emphasized the talent unearthed by the event:
“There is so much hidden talent in the Eastern Cape, and the 48-Hour Film Project is an excellent tool to showcase, support, and nurture this talent. All the participating teams displayed remarkable passion and dedication, and we are truly proud of the Reel Renegades’ achievement on the global stage.”
The 48-hour project was hosted by the Eastern Cape Film Hub and The Cortex Hub in collaboration with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), and Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Council.
