Shirley Adams premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in 2009 where the film received awards for Best South African Film, Best First Film, and Best Actress for Denise Newman.[1] The film was shown in competition at the Locarno Film Festival[2] and was also shown at the Toronto International Film Festival.[4] The film also won awards for Best Film and Best Director at the 2009 South African Film and Television Awards.[7]