Mpho Koaho wins Gemini for VisionTV’s SOUL


Toronto, October 21, 2009
Rising star Mpho Koaho wins Gemini for VisionTV’s SOUL TORONTO – Toronto-based actor Mpho Koaho has earned a Gemini Award for his work in the original VisionTV drama series *SOUL. Mr. Koaho received the prize for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series at last night’s Gemini Awards Industry Gala in Toronto. The Geminis honour the best in Canadian English-language television. SOUL, a six-part series that premiered on VisionTV in February 2009, stars Canadian R&B artist Keshia Chanté* as a young gospel singer torn between church and family and the temptations of fame. Mr. Koaho plays the shrewd and ambitious music producer Jamil Foster. A Toronto native, Mpho Koaho made his screen debut as a teenager in Down in the Delta, a Showtime movie directed by Maya Angelou. His credits include The Salton Sea, Blindness, Four Brothers and the 50 Cent biopic Get Rich or Die Tryin’. His recent guest turn on the drama series Flashpoint also earned him a Gemini nomination this year. SOUL was produced for VisionTV by Halifax Film. The Executive Producers were Floyd Kane (who picked up a Gemini nomination of his own for scripting), Peter Lauterman, Michael Donovan and Charles Bishop. Joan Jenkinson was the Executive Producer for VisionTV. Said Ms. Jenkinson, who is Director of Independent Production for VisionTV’s parent company S-VOX: “Mpho is one of the rising stars of the Canadian acting scene. It was a delight to work with him on SOUL, and it’s a real thrill to know that his talents have been recognized.” She added: “This award is a tribute to the tremendous efforts of our colleagues at Halifax Film, and to the hard work and dedication of the entire cast of SOUL. It is also a testament to the confidence of Mark Prasuhn, the Chief Content Officer and Chief Operating Officer of S-VOX, who unwaveringly supported this project from its very beginning.” The documentary series *Driven By Vision, produced for VisionTV by Toronto-based Markham Street Films Inc., received a Gemini Award earlier this week. Michael McNamara* claimed the prize for Best Direction in a Documentary Series. Said S-VOX President and CEO Bill Roberts: “Supporting independent production and independent creative voices is one of the most important aspects of our mission as a small, independent Canadian broadcaster. It is immensely gratifying to see the gifted creative artists with whom we have worked receive such richly deserved accolades from their peers.” For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca. To see full programs and exclusive clips, check out VisionTV on Demand at http://video.visiontv.ca VisionTV (www.visiontv.ca), an S-VOX company, is Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural broadcaster, dedicated to entertaining and insightful programming that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding and tolerance among people of different faiths and cultures.

Toronto, October 21, 2009

Rising star Mpho Koaho wins Gemini for VisionTV’s SOUL

TORONTO – Toronto-based actor Mpho Koaho has earned a Gemini Award for his work in the original VisionTV drama series SOUL.

Mr. Koaho received the prize for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series at last night’s Gemini Awards Industry Gala in Toronto. The Geminis honour the best in Canadian English-language television.

SOUL, a six-part series that premiered on VisionTV in February 2009, stars Canadian R&B artist Keshia Chanté as a young gospel singer torn between church and family and the temptations of fame. Mr. Koaho plays the shrewd and ambitious music producer Jamil Foster.

A Toronto native, Mpho Koaho made his screen debut as a teenager in Down in the Delta, a Showtime movie directed by Maya Angelou. His credits include The Salton Sea, Blindness, Four Brothers and the 50 Cent biopic Get Rich or Die Tryin’. His recent guest turn on the drama series Flashpoint also earned him a Gemini nomination this year.

SOUL was produced for VisionTV by Halifax Film. The Executive Producers were Floyd Kane (who picked up a Gemini nomination of his own for scripting), Peter Lauterman, Michael Donovan and Charles Bishop. Joan Jenkinson was the Executive Producer for VisionTV.

Said Ms. Jenkinson, who is Director of Independent Production for VisionTV’s parent company S-VOX: “Mpho is one of the rising stars of the Canadian acting scene. It was a delight to work with him on SOUL, and it’s a real thrill to know that his talents have been recognized.”

She added: “This award is a tribute to the tremendous efforts of our colleagues at Halifax Film, and to the hard work and dedication of the entire cast of SOUL. It is also a testament to the confidence of Mark Prasuhn, the Chief Content Officer and Chief Operating Officer of S-VOX, who unwaveringly supported this project from its very beginning.”

The documentary series Driven By Vision, produced for VisionTV by Toronto-based Markham Street Films Inc., received a Gemini Award earlier this week. Michael McNamara claimed the prize for Best Direction in a Documentary Series.

Said S-VOX President and CEO Bill Roberts: “Supporting independent production and independent creative voices is one of the most important aspects of our mission as a small, independent Canadian broadcaster. It is immensely gratifying to see the gifted creative artists with whom we have worked receive such richly deserved accolades from their peers.”

For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca.
To see full programs and exclusive clips, check out VisionTV on Demand at http://video.visiontv.ca

VisionTV (www.visiontv.ca), an S-VOX company, is Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural broadcaster, dedicated to entertaining and insightful programming that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding and tolerance among people of different faiths and cultures.