Springbok documentary ‘Chasing the Sun’ scoops more major awards

‘Chasing the Sun’, the five-part DSTV documentary showcasing the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup victory in Japan in 2019, has received another major gong when it walked away with Grand Prix and Gold awards for Branded Content Film at the 2021 Loeries Creative Week, hosted in Cape Town.

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The Loeries supports the brand communications industry across Africa and the Middle East and is the most prestigious creative festival on the continent. It has been running since 1978 and is one of the most sought after awards in the advertising industry, although in recent years they have branched out to reward and inspire both innovation and relevance across all spheres of Brand Communication. It is the creme de la creme as far as awards go in the creative industry in Africa.

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“Chasing the Sun” won Gold in the Branded Content category and was then given the highest honour – a Grand Prix, which are special awards given to the most exceptional work on display and only a handful are handed out each year at the discretion of the judges. 

The documentary tells the tale of the Springboks’ path to RWC glory in 2019, when Siya Kolisi lifted the Webb Ellis Cup when the team were written off by most neutral observers after struggling with form in the years leading up to the tournament.

Earlier this year, “Chasing the Sun” walked away with two SAFTA’s (South African Film and Television Awards) – Best Achievement in Cinematography for doccies, as well as Best Made-for-TV Documentary, while it was also nominated for a SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Achievement in Directing for a Documentary (by Greg Lomas and Gareth Whittaker).

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The SAFTAs – the most prestigious award in the television industry in SA – celebrate the very best of long form work in the country and are effectively South Africa’s version of the Emmys. 

“Chasing the Sun” has also been shortlisted in the Branded Content category of the Clios, a global awards ceremony that takes place in New York and celebrates and honours the best work in advertising, marketing and branded content in the world. It sees the likes of the NFL and the NBA in the mix, featuring work from some of the biggest brands and broadcasters in the sports world.