Starry Live Broadcast for the kykNET Fiëstas Awards from the Artscape

On 5 March 2015, kykNET will roll out the blue carpet for the fifth Fiëstas, a glamorous awards event where the role players and talent in the Afrikaans arts are honoured. This event will, for the second time, be broadcast live on kykNET, DStv Channel 144. This year, the Fiëstas will be presented in the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town.

The Fiëstas promises to be a highlight with performances by artists such as Joshua na die Reën, Corlea Botha, Brandon October, Hemelbesem, Magdalene Minaar, Roelof Temmingh and the Cape Town City Ballet. Special excerpts from the nominated productions TAAL VAN MY HART, DIE KLAAGLIEDERE VAN DS. TIENIE BENADE, DIE SEEMEEU and DOGMA will also form part of the programme. Additionally, viewers can look forward to a few surprises and well-known personalities that will be making appearances. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening is Frank Opperman and he will be assisted by guest presenters Jana Cilliers, Dawid Minaar, Cindy Swanepoel, June van Merch, De Klerk Oelofse and Quanita Adams.

Behind the scenes an experienced team of well-known artists will be responsible for the broadcast program. Acclaimed director and performer Ian von Memerty will, for the second consecutive year, take up the reins as director of the production. Janine Neethling-Opperman is the musical director and responsible for the arrangements and musical performances during the show. The set has been designed by Jaco Bouwer while costumes, overall look and dressing of the production will be managed by Juanita Kotze.

The Fiëstas is seen as the showcase of Afrikaans theatre talent where actors, directors, writers, musicians and visual artists are awarded for their excellence in the past year. An independent panel of adjudicators visit the national arts festivals annually to choose nominations from debut works.

kykNET is also the host for the first Fiëstas seminar that will take place on 4 and 5 March at the Protea Hotel - President. The seminar will include panel discussions with nominees and major role players will also use the opportunity to engage in industry related discussions.

The nominations for the 2015 Fiëstas are:

1. BEST ACTOR

Albert Pretorius for DIE SEEMEEU and PLAYLAND (Aardklop and Suidoosterfees)
Gerben Kamper for SAMSA-MASJIEN (KKNK)
Hennie Jacobs for BOEING BOEING (KKNK)
Richard September for RONDOMSKRIK (KKNK)

BEST ACTRESS

Antoinette Kellermann for SAMSA-MASJIEN (KKNK)
Rolanda Marais for DOGMA and DIE SEEMEEU (KKNK and Aardklop)
Tinarie van Wyk Loots for DOGMA (KKNK)
Sandra Prinsloo for DIE SEEMEEU (Aardklop)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Dann-Jacques Mouton for DIE ROLBALSPELER (Suisoosterfees)
Dawid Minnaar for BLOED EN ROSE (Aardklop)
Stian Bam for BLOED EN ROSE (Aardklop)
Dean-John Smith for BRAAI (KKNK)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Antoinette Kellermann for BLOED EN ROSE (Aardklop)
June van Merch for DIE ROLBALSPELER (Suisoosterfees)
Lee-Ann van Rooi RONDOMSKRIK (KKNK)
Marga van Rooy for BEAUTY QUEEN (Suidoosterfees)

BEST DIRECTOR

Christiaan Olwagen for DOGMA and DIE SEEMEEU (KKNK and Aardklop)
Marthinus Basson for BLOED EN ROSE (Aardklop)
Henry MylneBEAUTY QUEEN (Suidoosterfees)
Jaco Bouwer for POSKANTOOR and SAMSA-MASJIEN (Aardklop and KKNK)

THEATRE DESIGN

Birrie le Roux and Christiaan Olwagen for Costume Design for DIE SEEMEEU (Aardklop)
Marthinus Basson for Set and Costume Design for BLOED EN ROSE (Aardklop)
Jaco Bouwer for POSKANTOOR and SAMSA-MASJIEN (Aardklop and KKNK)
Nico Scheepers for Set Design for RONDOMSKRIK (KKNK)

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN A MUSICAL PRODUCTION

Laurika Rauch and Elvis Blue for HART EN SEE (KKNK)
Emo Adams for FINDING EMO
Magdalene Minnaar for TAAL VAN MY HART (Aardklop)
Janine Neethling TAAL VAN MY HART (Aardklop)

BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE

Marion Holm fpr HOL MARION! (KKNK)
Carel Nel for SLAAF (KKNK)
De Klerk Oelofse for NA-AAP (Aardklop)
Frank Opperman for DIE KLAAGLIEDERE VAN DS. TIENIE BENADE

BEST NEW AFRIKAANS PRODUCTION

Christiaan Olwagen for DOGMA (KKNK)
Hennie van Greunen and Rachelle Greeff for RONDOMSKRIK (KKNK)
Jaco Bouwer and Willem Anker for SAMSA-MASJIEN (KKNK)
Tertius Kapp, Braam du Toit and Jaco Bouwer for POSKANTOOR (Aardklop)

BEST NEWCOMER

Dean-John Smith for BRAAI (KKNK)
Francois Jacobs for FRATS and WATERPAS (Innibos and Woordfees)
Richard September for RONDOMSKRIK (KKNK)
Roelof Temmingh for ROELOF TEMMINGH (en Zorada)

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CLASSICAL MUSIC

Braam du Toit for Composing POSTANTOOR (Aardklop)
Elizabeth Frandsen for Singing in POSTANTOOR (Aardklop)
Magdalene Minnaar for Singing in POSTANTOOR (Aardklop)
Odeion Strykkwartet for HOMAGE - 'N HULDIGING CAN SUID-AFRIKAANSE KOMPONISTE (KKNK)

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL ARTS

Diek Grobler, as artistic director of FILMVERSE (Aardklop)
Gerhard Marx for THE GARDEN AT NIGHT (Aardklop)
Hannalie Taute for RUBBER EVER AFTER (KKNK)
Little Marionette Company for the curation of GELIEFDE TV STERRE (Woordfees)

BEST MUSIC PRODUCTION

FINDING EMO (KKNK)
HART EN SEE (KKNK)
NATANIEL - MENOPAUSE (Woordfees)
TAAL VAN MY HART (Aardklop)

BEST PRODUCTION

BEAUTY QUEN (Suidoosterfees)
BLOED EN ROSE (Aardklop)
DIE SEEMEEU (Aardklop)
DOGMA (KKNK)
POSKANTOOR (Aardklop)
RONDOMSKRIK (KKNK)
SAMSA-MASJIEN (KKNK)

To join the kykNET Fiëstas discussion, use the hashtag #Fiestas2015 and follow kykNET on Twitter and Facebook.