Mdantsane-born actor Likhona Mgali has been nominated for best young actor at the upcoming 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for his role as Fezile Gigaba in the Netflix film, The Queenstown Kings.
The popular film received a total of 14 nominations, including Best Director, Best Film, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Production Design, and Best Film in an African Language.
AMAA was established in 2005 and aims to provide a recognition platform for filmmakers on the continent, showcasing and rewarding great talents in the African film industry.
Mgali said the announcement of his nomination was unexpected and was proof that the hard work he had put into his craft had been recognised.
“It feels absolutely incredible to be nominated for best young actor. Considering that I’ve never had any professional acting training or experience, getting this recognition on a global scale is beyond anything I could have imagined.
“I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it at first. I remember asking the director, Jahmil XT Qubeka if the message he sent that read: ‘I’m nominated’ was for me since I never expected that to happen so early in my acting career. Seeing the fruits of my labour pay off is incredible, and I’m thrilled to be a part of something this big,” Mgali said. As a newcomer in the industry, Mgali believes his raw talent and dedication made up for his lack of experience and made him stand out among his peers.
“I think what made my performance in The Queenstown Kings stand out is that I came into it knowing nothing about acting.
“I wasn’t trained or taught how to act, so every reaction and emotion was real and pure.
“There was an authenticity to my performance because I wasn’t following any set techniques or methods.
“I was just being myself and responding naturally to the situations in the film,” Mgali said.
Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture spokesperson Andile Nduna said The Queenstown Kings’ nominations were a perfect representation of the talent that the Eastern Cape province held.
“Once more, the Mdantsane-born and lauded film director, Qubeka, gave us a riveting and well-received film in The Queenstown Kings. This movie delves into the transformative power of sports, resonating deeply with its audience.
“The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture congratulates Mr Qubeka, his multi-talented team, Yellowbone Entertainment, and the cast on their nominations.
“This is a testament to the goldmine that is the stories yet to be told from our province,” Nduna said.
