Won Gold at the Student Academy Awards in the Narrative Domestic category.
Shortlisted for a Student BAFTA.
"In just 20 minutes I was completely blow away by Talia Smith's short film Umama. Through her heart wrenching exploration of the race and class divide she reveals a segregated reality that still pervades the whole of society. Whilst set in South Africa this film quite easily resonates in the United States and many parts of London in the U.K. and other European cities like Madrid in Spain. This film serves as a powerful tribute to countless hardworking and dedicated single black mothers all over the world who have needlessly lost their sons to violence in a system that is rigged against them. I do hope this film will wake everybody up so that we can all take responsibility for pushing our societies forward to equality."
- Kojo Annan, Director of Vector Global, son of the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
"A interesting look at both the privilege and social dynamics that exist in South Africa that still affect people on so many levels. Talia is a fresh new voice of filmmakers daring to tell human stories in an honest, authentic and entertains way. It's refreshing and needed."
- Kweku Mandela, co-owner of Out of Africa Entertainment and co-founder of non-profit Africa Rising.