The incredible story of Kulu the pangolin is still winning all the hearts and also…all the trophies!
Johannesburg, South Africa (19 March 2026) – Just months after being named Best Documentary at the National Film & TV Awards, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey has done it again! This week, the local masterpiece scooped two major wins at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
The film walked away with the Golden Horns for ‘Best Achievement in Cinematography’ and ‘Best Achievement in Sound’ in the documentaries category.
It’s a well-deserved nod to the technical brilliance of the team, including Academy Award-winner Pippa Ehrlich, who previously brought us the Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher.
Beyond the glitz of the awards, these wins represent a victory for a species that desperately needs a voice.
Filmed at the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve within the UNESCO-designated Waterberg Biosphere, the documentary tells the moving story of Gareth Thomas and Kulu, a Temminck’s pangopup rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
“In Kulu’s Journey, we are introduced to Gareth Thomas, a rebellious young South African man, who leaves school early, lives on the proceeds of poker games, and rides motorbikes. He has started searching for meaning and a return to a closer relationship with nature, that he remembers from his youth, spent in Zimbabwe. By chance or destiny, he meets Ray Jansen, who is the founder of the African Pangolin Working Group” shares the group. “Gareth is with Ray, when a 3kg young pangolin is rescued from the illegal trade in a sting operation in Gauteng Province, South Africa. This is the beginning of his journey with Kulu, that is a privilege to
witness.”
Pangolins are currently the most poached mammals on Earth. Evolved from the time of dinosaurs 85 million years ago, all eight species are now under threat of extinction due to the illegal trade in their scales.
The APWG, who were instrumental in Kulu’s rehabilitation, shared their pride in the film’s continued success.
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“We are thrilled to share that Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey has won “Best Achievement in Cinematography – Documentary” as well as “Best Achievement in Sound – Documentary” at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) this week!
Through Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey, audiences have been invited into the secretive world of pangolins, gaining a deeper understanding of these remarkable animals and why their protection matters.
Congratulations to the filmmakers and everyone involved in bringing this story to life. Each recognition the film receives helps keep pangolins in the spotlight, growing awareness and the call to protect these remarkable animals becomes stronger.”
The impact of Kulu’s Journey has been beyond the screen, too. It helped establish the Pangolarium at Lapalala, a dedicated space for the veterinary treatment and rehabilitation of rescued pangolins.
With the film streaming on Netflix, the message of conservation is reaching millions, helping the APWG and the Sea Change Project in their mission to ensure these ‘bringers of rain’ don’t vanish within the next decade.
“The relationship between humans and animals is older than time itself… at the heart of things is a narrative of connection and interdependence.” says Pippa Ehrlich.
Well done to the entire team for another meaningful win for conservation and filmmaking in South Africa!
Sources: Linked above.
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