by Thinus Ferreira
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has opened the entry process for the 16th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) that will take place in June 2022, with the SAFTAs that is also looking for qualified jury members.
People working in South Africa's film and television industry have until 27 January 2022 to enter online for the 16th SAFTAs, with judging that will be taking place between 16 February and April next year.
Films that were shown in a commercial cinema in South Africa for at least a week between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 can be entered, and because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, films that were placed on video-on-demand (VOD) streaming services like Netflix SA, MultiChoice's Showmax and DStv Box Office, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video can be entered for the 16th SAFTAs as well.
In the film category, only feature films are eligible and not made-for-TV movies.
TV content that was broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2021 on SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, e.tv, one of the M-Net channels on MultiChoice's DStv, or local content on any of the other third-party DStv channels, are eligible for the TV category.
First-run TV content, for instance, new series or new seasons of existing shows that was on streaming services like Netflix SA and Showmax during 2021 are eligible as well.
Content that was placed on YouTube, Vimeo or T-VOD (transactional video-on-demand) platforms are ineligible.
Jury members sought
The NFVF is also looking for jury members for the 16th SAFTAs and is asking the country's film and TV industry to nominate and submit experienced, passionate, measured and insightful industry practitioners to serve as jury members.
SAFTAs jury members have the task of ensuring and maintaining the integrity of the SAFTAs' judging process and that it's done following the prescribed standards. The nominated individuals will also need to be engaged in the judging process.
The NFVF plans to send invitations to previous SAFTAs winners and key industry specialists with a minimum of 8 years' experience and a specialised skill set to form part of the 2022 jury.
