In this innovative, hip new television series, a teenager getting into trouble in Johannesburg is sent to work for his uncle in the rural Eastern Cape. At first, he is bored out of his mind. But as he is drawn into a group of local kids who take ballroom dance classes in his uncle's bar, he learns that life in the sticks has as much intrigue, romance, and tragedy as anywhere else. The show shows how young people in the new South Africa deal with love, sex and relationships in an HIV positive world.

2004 - ongoing, South Africa, TV drama, In English and Xhosa with subtitles, 30 min segments

Dir: Tim Greene (1st series)
Dir & Scriptwriter: Donovan Marsh (second series)

Fridays at 20h30 on SABC 1

ACTORS
DJ > Siphiwe Mtshali
Viwe > Noxee Maqashalala
Andile > Sisanda Henna
Boniswa > Zolani Mahola
Mimi > Brenda Ngxoli
Unathi > Mpho Makoko
Nobuntu > Zukisa Matola
Vincent > Nkululeko Kaptein
Lazola > Pumzile Mlungwana
Mike > Allen Booi
Sis Wawi > Felicia Mahambehlala
Little Stout Woman > Unathi Daniel

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of South African freedom, SABC1, South Africa's most watched channel, recruited and trained promising new directors to tell the stories of their ten years of freedom on film.

The series originally aired in South Africa on SABC1 from 11 April 2003 to 27 October 2006. There are 78 half-hour episodes in four seasons. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.

Season 2 originally aired on SABC1 from 9 January to 2 April, 2004, on Fridays at 20h30. New episodes broadcast weekly.

The season repeated on SABC1 from 5 May to 28 July, 2008, on Mondays at 20h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the second season.

Tsha Tsha remains one of the top five programs on SA TV.
www.jhuccp.org/hcp/countries/south_africa_tshatsha.html

Tsha Tsha had numerous directors, including Tim Greene, Shaft Moropane, Rolie Nikiwe and Catherine Stewart. Director of Photography on Tsha Tsha was Mike Downie.

Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC1. Rebroadcast dates included.

Season 1 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 11 April 2003 | Finale: 4 July 2003 | Fridays, 20h30
Premiere: 2 September 2003 | Finale: 25 November 2003 | Tuesdays, 20h30

Season 2 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 9 January 2004 | Finale: 2 April 2004 | Fridays, 20h30
Premiere: 5 May 2008 | Finale: 28 July 2008 | Mondays, 20h30

Season 3 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 20 October 2004 | Finale: 13 April 2005 | Wednesdays, 20h30

Season 4 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 5 May 2006 | Finale: 27 October 2006 | Fridays, 20h30

Source: www.tvsa.co.za/showinfo.asp?showid=2291


Commissioned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation's Education division (SABC)

Produced by CADRE (Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation) and Curious Pictures.

Additional support is provided by Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa (JHHESA) and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg, School of Public Health, Centre for Communications Programs.

For more information on using Tsha Tsha as an educational resource contact Helen at (011) 339-2611 or via e-mail at helen@cadre.org.za


2004 - South African Film Festival, New York
* New York premiere
Screening: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 9:45pm
Screening: Thursday, April 29, 2004 6:00pm


Awards
* Best Art Direction in a television drama, Tsha Tsha Series 4, Golden Horn Award, 29 October 2007, 2nd South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
* First Place Gold Camera Award, Tsha Tsha Series 4, Episode 61 in the General Education Category, 2 June 2007, 40th US International Film and Video Festival.
* Silver Screen Award in the Community Development Category, Tsha Tsha Series 4, Episode 76, 2 June 2007, 40th US International Film and Video Festival.
* Certificate for Creative Excellence in the Social Issues Category, Tsha Tsha Series 4, Episode 55, 2 June 2007, 40th US International Film and Video Festival.
* Best HIV and AIDS Strategic communication initiative in Africa, Tsha Tsha Series 4, AfricomNet Mass Media Award of Excellence in HIV and AIDS Communication, 17 April 2007, AfricomNet`s Annual Awards (Kampala, Uganda).
* First Place Gold Camera Award, Tsha Tsha Series 3, Episode 45 in the Social Issues Category, 10 October 2006, 39th US International Film and Video Festival.
* Certificate for Creative Excellence, Tsha Tsha Series 3, Episode 33 in the Medicine, Health: Professional-Educational Category, 10 October 2006, 39th US International Film and Video Festival.
* Best Ensemble Cast in a TV Drama, Tsha Tsha Series 3, Golden Horn Award, 28 October 2006, South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
* Best Sound Designer in a TV Drama, Tsha Tsha Series 3, Golden Horn Award, 28 October 2006, South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
* Best Music in a TV Drama, Tsha Tsha Series 3, Golden Horn Award, 28 October 2006, South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
* Best Costume in a TV Drama, Tsha Tsha Series 3, Golden Horn Award, 28 October 2006, South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
* Silver Screen Award in the Health and Current Issues Category, Tsha Tsha Series 1, 2 June 2004, 37th US International Film and Video Festival.
* Best Soundtrack Recording Compiled for Stage Musical, Motion Picture or Television Production, 29 May 2004, Tsha Tsha Series 1, South African Music Awards 2004 (SAMA), Artist: Zynne Sibika.
* Best Actor in a Drama Series, 2003, Duku Duku Awards, Tsha Tsha Series 1, Sisanda Henna (Andile).
* Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series, 2003, Duku Duku Awards, Noxee Mqashalala (Viwe).