JOHANNESBURG, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Millions of South Africans, including President Thabo Mbeki, hailed Monday the country's first Oscar award winning film Tsotsi, raising hopes a revival in local film-making would get a further spark.

    Cast members and supporters erupted into cheers at a local hotel in the early hours before dawn, watching on live TV as Tsotsi scooped the Oscar for best foreign language film.

    "I think it's fantastic, it's an amazing experience for South Africa and I am so proud to be part of this country, part of this nomination," said one woman at the party.

    The award for Tsotsi, set in Soweto, was especially sweet after hopes were crushed last year when South Africa lost out on its first nomination in the category, Yesterday. Yesterday was a poignant story of a woman's battle with AIDS and the first feature film made in Zulu.

    Mbeki said in a statement: "On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I would like to congratulate Gavin Wood, the cast and the entire team for a remarkable achievement. They have made our nation immensely proud," he said.

    The president said: "A story of poverty, hopelessness and struggle transformed into faith and a profound moral re-awakening leading to better future, 'Tsotsi' is another appropriate representation of the 'Age of Hope'.

    It bears testimony to the abundance of South African talent and symbolizes what South Africans can achieve when we work together towards a common objective. "Tsotsi" brings sharply to the fore, the important role that the arts can play in nation building, he added.

    He said that the award, which follows the winning of the Best Actress by South African-born Charlize Theron in 2004 as well as the nomination of South African film "Yesterday" had given a boost to the film industry while simultaneously propelling the country forward on the global stage.

    South African film industry is clustered around Cape Town and Johannesburg. There are over 1,000 registered producers in the country.

    South Africa also boasts outstanding production and post-production facilities, as well as a strong skills base. The cost of film production in South Africa is 30 percent to 40 percent cheaper than in the United States, and 20 percent less than in Australia.

    The total value of the South African entertainment industry is estimated 7.7 billion rand (1.25 billion U.S. dollars), comprising film and television production, broadcast, cinema and interactive industries. Enditem