Skeem Saam actress and rising star Lethabo Mekoa is on cloud nine as the movie she acted in, Balaclava, continues to shine on the global stage. The film has not only scooped two awards but also earned four international festival selections, making it one of the most celebrated projects in her career so far.
Sharing her excitement on Instagram, Lethabo posted:
“Balaclava – 2x Award Winner, 4 Global Selections. Grateful for the recognition this story is receiving across the world. A big shoutout to @leburugraphy for the magic behind the lens — your craft made this possible. – To My God? You never cease to amaze me! Thank you so much for always being by my side!”
On her Instagram Stories, the 21-year-old actress gave fans a more emotional glimpse into how much this means to her. She wrote:
“2 awards in the bag, 4 global selections. God, thank you so much! Balaclava is a film I shot. A film I prayed about and God said ‘Say no more my baby.’ Why am I so emotional?”
This isn’t the first time the young actress has celebrated Balaclava’s success. Earlier in May, she announced that the film was officially selected to screen at the prestigious American Black Film Festival (ABFF) 2025, set to take place in Miami Beach, Florida, from June 11 to June 15, 2025. The news was first shared by Leburugraphy, the creative team behind the film, and quickly reposted by Lethabo.
The original post read:
“We’re over the moon and absolutely buzzing with excitement to announce that our masterpiece Balaclava has been officially selected for the @americanblackfilmfestival! Join us in Miami Beach from June 11-15, 2025 for the screening! A massive congratulations to our phenomenal cast @lethabo.mekoaa, Mannini Mokhothu, @modise_collen and tireless crew — this one’s for you!”
Lethabo also added to the excitement with her own message: “Surprise!!! Been waiting for this!!!”
Balaclava is made waves on the international stage with selections at four prestigious festivals — the American Black Film Festival, Independent Shorts Awards, HACC, and the Nolly Femme Shorts Programme. This global recognition highlights the film’s growing impact and appeal across diverse audiences.
Adding to its success, Balaclava has already won two significant awards at the Independent Shorts Awards: the Gold Award and the Award of Excellence Special Jury Mention. These accolades mark a proud achievement for the cast and crew, cementing the film’s reputation as a standout project worth celebrating.
With such remarkable recognition, Balaclava has placed Lethabo Mekoa firmly in the spotlight as one of South Africa’s brightest young talents.
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