By Cale Nuttall
Bizo Maxegwana was awarded the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Danny Botha in the student film Beneath the Surface, a psychological thriller produced by CPUT’s Team 2. The win highlights the team's collaborative success in this year’s 48-Hour Film Project. The 7-minute film was also one of 14 nominees for Best Short Film 2024. The awards ceremony took place on Saturday, September 28th, at the Homecoming Centre in District Six.
The 48-Hour Film Project pushes teams to their creative and physical limits, tasking them with producing a short film in just two days. Filmmakers from across Cape Town are challenged to write, shoot, and edit a complete short film—between 4 and 7 minutes long—with genres selected at random from a pool of 30. The annual event is a showcase for emerging filmmakers, testing their ability to craft compelling stories under immense pressure.
Collaboration Behind the Scenes: How a Student Film Team Brought a Psychological Thriller to Life
The team behind Beneath the Surface included director Matthew Mbi and lead actors Bizo Maxegwana and Sinalo Ncisana, supported by a dedicated crew of film students. Together, they produced a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complex dynamics of a dysfunctional relationship. The film follows Danny Botha (played by Bizo) and Amandla Botha (Sinalo), an unhappily married couple whose heated argument during a tense chess game takes a dangerous turn when a gun is introduced. The film concludes with a single gunshot, leaving the audience guessing who pulled the trigger—a chilling finale to a film that keeps viewers on edge as the layers of their troubled relationship are peeled back.
Crafting an Award-Winning Performance: Bizo Maxegwana in Beneath the Surface
All the short films produced for the 48-Hour Film Project were screened at Ster-Kinekor in the V&A Waterfront the week following the competition. Reflecting on the experience, Mbi was thrilled with the audience’s reaction to the premiere. “It was crazy how [the audience] reacted, and then the nomination came through—it was unbelievable,” he shared.
Crafting a film in just 48 hours presents enormous challenges for the entire team, particularly the actors, who have minimal time to rehearse. They must rely on raw talent and instinct rather than preparation. Mbi worked closely with Bizo to develop the character of Danny and refine the script to ensure the story aligned with his vision.
Bizo’s portrayal of Danny stood out for its nuanced expression of emotion, particularly his ability to convey anger and tension without overacting. Mbi recognized Bizo’s potential from his self-tape audition, where he saw the restraint and intensity he was seeking for the character. “When I saw [Bizo’s] self-tape, he was playing this really angry guy, but with a lot of restraint. That’s exactly what I was looking for,” Mbi said. The actor’s award-winning performance was marked by his ability to express anger and inner turmoil through subtle facial expressions and controlled behaviour, rather than relying heavily on dialogue.
Director Matthew Mbi and his team navigated the intense time pressure of the 48-Hour Film Project with a strong focus on teamwork and adaptability. Bizo Maxegwana, who won Best Actor for his role, reflected on the challenge, noting how the urgency sharpened his focus. Maxegwana stated, "Time was a challenge because you only have 48 hours, and you have no time for rehearsals and in the moments that we were under pressure making sure I was producing the best performance. I always say diamonds are made under pressure, so it was important to acknowledge the pressure and keep focus." The synergy between the team and the cast’s commitment helped shape the film's success, with Bizo’s standout performance emerging as a key highlight.
Assistant Director Aimee Steyn played a crucial role in the writing process. Mbi credited her with helping keep the narrative on track and ensuring the film flowed smoothly. "Aimee ended up being an integral part of the writing process," Mbi said. "She helped with staying on track with the story and ensuring the transitions between the core elements flowed naturally."
Teamwork, Recognition, and First-Time Success: Maxegwana Reflects on Best Actor Award Win
Maxegwana shared the importance of winning the Award and how it highlights not only his talent but the efforts of the entire film crew,” Firstly appreciating the talent, the purpose of the award is to appreciate the hard work that has been put into the film. For the actor to acknowledge our work, which is what we struggle with as creatives and also to appreciate the people who have helped us through this journey, that’s why awards like this are important. As my mother says, it takes a village and, in this case, it takes a crew.”
Bizo further shared his excitement about winning the award, especially as a first-time participant in the competition. "It was my first time competing and acting in the 48HFP, so it was a learning curve. I am grateful I won an award on my first time—it was also the first award I won for my acting." His standout performance and the collaborative spirit of the entire team made Beneath the Surface a success, earning them well-deserved recognition.
Mbi stated that the Award garnered additional attention to the film, fostering potential opportunities in the future for all the crew members involved in Beneath the Surface. “The weight of us winning the award allowed for each crew member to be able to maximise their opportunity to get out there and connect with other artists in their field.”
What's next for Award-winning actor, Bizo Maxegwana?
Bizo Maxegwana is expected to screen his next film at the AFDA Graduation Film Festival. The third-year film student will showcase his horror film Smile for Me at the festival at the end of November. Updates will be posted on his social media account. Maxegwana will also be performing in a play titled Diary of a Madman written by Nickolai Gogol. The play will take place next year and will be directed by David Muller.
The success of Beneath the Surface in the 48-Hour Film Project not only showcased the team's ability to deliver under pressure but also highlighted the emerging talent of Bizo Maxegwana, whose first-time win as Best Actor marks the beginning of a promising career.
With his upcoming films and acting roles, Maxegwana’s future in the industry is bright, as he continues to build on his award-winning performances. The team's win has also opened doors for the entire crew, paving the way for future collaborations and opportunities in the film industry.
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