Latest news with #Sent
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local learner wins big in glitzy film, TV awards
YOUNG Dineo Nxumalo of Port Natal School strutted the red carpet like a superstar at the 2025 Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards at the ICC on Saturday. The Grade Six learner at Port Natal School in Umbilo bagged the award for Best Newcomer Actress. The recognition was for her performance in Sent, marking a powerful moment for fresh talent in the industry. The 12-year-old uMlazi-born starlet attributes her success to the support of her parents, her school and an undying fire within herself. She mesmerised audiences as Mbali Biyela in the hit series Outlaws (2023). The 2025 Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards featured A-listers from the celebrity world, household names, and fresh talent alike from the film and TV industry. A stalwart of the industry, Angus Gibson, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long contribution to the growth and depth of South African storytelling. Known for his ground-breaking work on productions such as Yizo Yizo, Shaka iLembe, and numerous documentary features, Gibson has spent decades shaping the visual narrative of South Africa through an authentic and uncompromising lens. Accepting the honour, Gibson reflected: 'As Bomb Productions, whenever we tell a story, we want the characters that we depict to recognise themselves. For the last 12 years, we have been immersed in a Zulu world, so it is from the KZN audience that we most want approval. This award is an affirmation that makes me very happy.' Topping the winners' list was Disaster Holiday, produced by Rethabile Ramaphakela, which scooped four major awards, ie Best Pan African Film, Best Feature Film, Best Production Design, and Best Use of KZN as a filming location. Jackie Motsepe, chief operations officer at the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, shared, 'It was a night that affirmed the power of African storytelling. From newcomers to legends, our creatives are shaping culture and inspiring futures. We're proud to see KZN emerging as a strong player on the African and global film map. The Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards continue to honour excellence while driving the industry forward.' On the TV front, Kwenzokuhle Ngcobo took home the Best Actor prize for his role in Scandal, while Nqobile Magwaza bagged Best Actress for her performance in Smoke and Mirrors. In film, Ntando Mncube (Themba) and Sibongiseni Shezi (Umjolo: The Gone Girl) scooped the top acting awards. The awards were bestowed upon 25 deserving winners, ie actors, producers, directors, etc. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sent Raises $3.55 million in Series Seed Funding to Transform A2P Business Messaging
Sent's unified messaging API enables businesses to reach customers on their preferred channel. New York, United States, May 27, 2025 -- Sent, the infrastructure layer powering cost-optimized, intelligent delivery for business messaging across SMS, WhatsApp, iMessage, RCS, and more, announced the closing of a $3.55 million Seed round led by Companyon Ventures, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Urban Innovation Fund, and CP Overture, among others. Zachary W. Heath and Daniel P. DeConinck of Polsinelli PC represented Sent during the transaction, helping bring Sent's total capital raised over $4.22 million since its launch in 2024. Sent is redefining how businesses connect with their customers through a unified messaging API backbone. Legacy vendors force companies to stitch together multiple channel integrations — a costly and error-prone approach. Sent replaces that complexity with a single, reliable solution for everything from login codes and user authentication to appointment reminders and order confirmations. At the core of Sent's platform is a smart routing engine that evaluates deliverability, cost, and user behavior in real time. Whether a customer prefers WhatsApp in the evening or iMessage in the morning, Sent automatically selects the best channel, applies intelligent fallbacks, and ensures the message is delivered on the first try. Developers are freed from the complexity of managing channel-specific logic, so they can focus on building great experiences, not managing the complexity of channel specific logic and backend plumbing 'Developers need a unified API that optimizes delivery, compliance and cost across all channels,' said Andrew Berg, Investor at Companyon Ventures. 'Sent sets a new standard for reliable, efficient messaging at scale.' At roughly $72B, the global A2P messaging market has become mission-critical, yet constrained by fragmented infrastructure, rising AI-driven message volumes, and increasingly stringent privacy regulations. Companies are already spending heavily on transactional messaging, but too often on outdated tools that fail to optimize delivery, control costs, or ensure compliance. Sent's intelligent layer addresses these gaps, offering a modern, scalable alternative built for the next era of automated customer engagement. Founded in New York City by CEO Daniel Vataj, Sent will use its newly secured funding to accelerate product development and expand routing intelligence, customer success and go-to-market functions. The company also plans to triple its headcount by the end of 2025 to meet growing demand. About Sent, Inc. Sent is a business messaging API that seamlessly integrates SMS, WhatsApp, iMessage, RCS, and more. For media inquiries, Sent can be reached at [email protected] or +1 (302) 203-9592. About the company: Sent is the infrastructure layer powering cost-optimized, intelligent delivery for business messaging across SMS, WhatsApp, iMessage, RCS, and more. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in New York City, Sent replaces the tangle of single-channel integrations with one unified API and a real-time smart-routing engine that maximizes deliverability, ensures compliance, and lowers costs. Companies of any size can use Sent to send everything from login codes and two-factor authentication prompts to appointment reminders and order confirmations—without worrying about channel-specific logic or backend plumbing. Backed by Companyon Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Urban Innovation Fund, CP Overture, and other leading investors, Sent has raised over $4.22 million to date and is scaling rapidly to meet global demand. To learn more, visit or email [email protected]. Contact Info: Name: Daniel Vataj Email: Send Email Organization: Sent, Inc. Address: 205 Hudson St, New York, NY, United States Phone: +19177799900 Website: Release ID: 89160911 If there are any deficiencies, problems, or concerns regarding the information presented in this press release that require attention or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we encourage you to notify us without delay at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our diligent team is committed to promptly addressing your concerns within 8 hours and taking necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or facilitate the removal process. Providing accurate and trustworthy information is of utmost importance.
TimesLIVE
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
South African filmmakers shine on the global stage
South Africa's storytelling power took the spotlight on Miami Beach as the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), in partnership with NICE CROWD, proudly announced the winners of the inaugural 'South African Stories' Short Film Showcase — a new program introduced for the 29th edition of the festival. This landmark initiative will place five emerging South African filmmakers on an international platform in June, showcasing the richness, authenticity and global relevance of Mzansi's creative voice. Audiences are taken on deeply personal and culturally resonant journeys — and the response has been electric. The winners truly reflect the extraordinary potential and voice of South African cinema. Jeff Friday, ABFF founder and CEO of NICE said: 'We were blown away by the quality, originality and emotional power of the submissions we received from South Africa this year.' Meet the Visionaries Behind the Screen: Ayanda Halimana, whose short film Sent is making waves, is a prolific writer, producer and commissioning editor with nearly two decades in South Africa's film and television industry. Her career has spanned SABC, Mzansi Magic, and NFVF training initiatives, now culminating in international recognition. Director Kopedi Aphane and writer Nthabiseng Letsoela stunned audiences with the short story Breaking Free, a gripping story of domestic survival and emotional rebirth. Aphane's bold directorial style is rooted in Soweto's culture, while Letsoela makes her screenwriting debut with this poignant narrative. Donna Sibande, creator of the short story Love Through The Lens, continues to push boundaries with award-winning stories that capture the soul of South Africa. Her previous work has earned accolades at both local and international film festivals. Chris Djuma, a published playwright and actor-turned-director, earned top honours for the short story Rearview. His unique vision, honed at the Market Theatre Laboratory and the NFVF Youth Filmmaker Program, is now being celebrated globally. Nondumiso Buthelezi-Masache, producer and director of the short story Umhlaba Wokhokho, is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented narratives. Her film, steeped in history and land justice, echoes the soul of rural South Africa. South African Stories is more than a film showcase — it's a cultural bridge, connecting African and African-American creatives while reaffirming that our stories matter everywhere. The ABFF continues its online screenings via ABFF PLAY from June 16-24, inviting global audiences to experience the bold, brave and beautiful visions of South Africa's rising stars. Founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, ABFF is the leading festival celebrating black film and television. Renowned for discovering and promoting black talent, ABFF has been a launch pad for many of today's most celebrated artists and storytellers.
