by Thinus Ferreira
Entries have opened for the 15th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) that will be held in May 2021 and is introducing a new category in the Best Online Content award, with the organisers who are for the first time ever publicly calling on the country's TV and film industry to nominate and submit people to form part of the SAFTAs jury.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) under the new leadership of Makhosazana Khanyile as NFVF CEO earlier this year started to right many of the mistakes and problems plaguing the annually panned awards ceremony.
Shrouded in secrecy and with its mysterious judging process in the past often criticised as one of the big reasons by production companies and TV channels for not entering and boycotting the SAFTAs, the organisers are taking the first meaningful step to make the awards and judging process more transparent.
This includes a public call from the NFVF for people to become jury members - something the organisers are doing for the first time in the awards' history.
The SAFTAs judging process behind closed doors and its secret judges have been dogged by accusations of bias and claims of partisanship and conflicts of interest for years, which every year in recent years - including 2020 - have seen some of the biggest shows in the country and prominent production companies deliberately refuse to enter their shows, crew and on-screen talent for awards.
South Africa's TV and film industry now have until 10 January 2021 to nominate or submit individuals who will form part of the SAFTAs jury with judging that will be taking place during February and March 2021.
The SAFTAs jury will be tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the integrity of the judging process, will have to ensure that judging is strictly conducted according to the rules, and will need to be "fully engaged" in the judging process to ensure that it is a credible process.
The NFVF says that each SAFTAs jury panel will be balanced with respect to age, gender, experience, ethnicity, and industry skills. An invitation will also be sent out to previous SAFTA winners and key industry specialists with a minimum 8-years' experience and specialised skill set to form part of the 2021 SAFTAS jury.
Meanwhile, Anneke de Ridder has been appointed as the 2021 15th SAFTAs executive producer.
New category but no TikTok videos
Because of the devastating impact of the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic on South Africa's TV and film industry, the 2021 SAFTAs organisers are changing some of the rules pertaining to feature films to help "production houses and individuals that were affected by circumstances beyond their control".
"We have amended our criteria to reflect the changing nature of how audiences consumed visual content," says Khosi Khanyile.
"We believe that extending our submissions to incorporate digital platforms and events is not only fair, but it also recognises the pace at which our own sector was able to evolve during this time. We are thrilled at the 2021 edition of the SAFTAs will incorporate such future-forward categories within our established format."
Documentary feature films and short films that have only been screened online at virtual film festivals are eligible to enter for the 15th SAFTAs, and films that have only had a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) release, for instance on MultiChoice's DStv BoxOffice, Showmax or Netflix SA, are eligible to enter.
There is also a new category at the 15th SAFTAs in the Best Online Content award - but TikTok videos are specifically not eligible.
For this category, the video content of between 5 and 90 minutes, must have been released on the internet or be part of a web TV or digital medium like YouTube, Facebook or Instagram but not any commercial or traditional platforms like Netflix SA or Showmax.
The award will be made to the director or producers for outstanding achievement "in the realisation, production and overall success of an online series or stand-alone content" which can be scripted or non-scripted.
15th SAFTAs to celebrate TV and film biz's perseverance
"After a challenging 2020, coloured by Covid-19 and a national lockdown, South Africa's film industry is ready to take on 2021 with renewed purpose and perspective," says the NFVF.
"This past year has been a tough one, with filmmakers, designers, actors and technicians suffering significant losses from halts in production and the postponement of events."
"In the midst of this, the SAFTAs are an opportunity to mark a moment unprecedented in history. It provides a platform to acknowledge with gratitude how the local film and television industry has stood together to continue to create stories that inspire viewers, amid a global pandemic".
Anneke de Ridder says "It is a tremendous honour to be tasked with bringing the industry and its supporters together to celebrate the great talent our country has to offer. South Africa's filmmakers best define what it means to keep it rolling despite the challenging delays that resulted from Covid-19"."
"The 15th SAFTAs will celebrate South Africa's golden talent, their perseverance and the sense of purpose that carried them through 2020 with such grace. We are ready to roll and determined to put on a spectacular show."
The deadline for entries for 2021's 15th SAFTAs is Friday 15 January 2021.
