KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority Refuses to Explain What Exactly Led to Its Botched Livestream No-show Nominees Announcement for 2026's 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards + Unformatted Full Nominees List

by Thinus Ferreira

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority refuses to give any explanation for its botched nominees announcement of the upcoming, postponed 2026 13th Simon Mahbunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards, with the nominees announcement that it said would be made this past Friday as a livestream event that became a no-show.

Instead of the livestream nominees announcement, followed by a press release, there was no communication, no advisory, update, explanation or notification after Friday's unprofessional disappearing act.

FBI Communications, as the PR company of the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, suddenly sent out just a press release with the nominees' names on Tuesday evening, 20 October - offering absolutely no explanation for Friday's non-event.

This is after they asked the media repeatedly before Friday, to please watch and follow it.

Quite shockingly, FBI Communications' press release issued on Tuesday evening at 17:58 - when media already went home for the day and subs at newspapers already locked what stories would be on what pages for the next day -included this sentence in the press release to make it seem as if there were a livestream announcement on the Friday - which never happened:

"The much-anticipated online announcement by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority revealed a formidable line-up of established screen personalities, emerging filmmakers and technical professionals competing across 29 categories," FBI Communications states in the Tuesday press release.

The postponed 2026 13th Simon Mahbunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards, which was originally set for October, was suddenly pushed out to November, and will now take place on Saturday 21 November at The Playhouse in Durban.

In Tuesday evening's press release, Sibusiso Gumbi, acting CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, is quoted, noting that "We want young filmmakers to see these awards and recognise that there is a place for them in this industry".

"Whether they are producing a student film, working on a micro-budget project or contributing to a major television production, their talent deserves an opportunity to develop and compete. These awards must continue to inspire the next generation of South African storytellers."

Anil Polton, a member of the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards advisory committee, is also quoted in Tuesday's belated press release.

"It is particularly encouraging to see space for emerging talent, student filmmakers, independent productions and indigenous-language storytelling alongside established productions. These categories are important because they recognise filmmakers at different stages of their careers and across different levels of production."

"The Sabela Awards must remain a platform where achievement is celebrated, talent is encouraged and the industry can reflect on how far it has progressed and what still needs to be done to create greater opportunities."

In another prepared quote in the nominees press release, Jack Esterhuizen, head of adjudication for the 2026 awards, says "What makes these awards important is that we recognise those different disciplines individually".

"A compelling performance deserves recognition, but so does the editor who shapes the narrative, the cinematographer who creates its visual language and the production designer who builds the world in which the story unfolds."

"The inclusion of student films, short films and micro-budget productions is equally significant. It provides an opportunity to recognise creative work across different production environments, where originality, resourcefulness and storytelling remain essential."

After the nominees list and press release was sent on Tuesday evening, I once again reached out and asked what went wrong, why the livestream announcement didn't happen on Friday that media were asked to attend, and why there was no communication afterwards to explain what is going on, or when the nominees will now be announced.

According to publicist Farhana Ismail at FBI Communications, "The delay was due to the need to finalise and verify information relating to the nominees to ensure the accuracy of the official announcement".

Below is the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority's very badly done, but full nominees list for the 2026 Simon Mahbunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards - published in exactly the horribly formatted way it was sent out by the film agency and its PR company.

This is exactly what the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority sends out to media and journalists, and then expects them to use their time to fix the errors and mistakes, remove and redo the formatting, spacing, dots, dots in different colours and all the other amateurish inconsistencies:

01.  BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNER

●      Nokuthula Sishi For Lucky Fish

●      Nokuthula Sishi For Meet the Khumalo's

●      Lungisani Gwadiso For A Shepherd's Joy

02.  BEST SOUND DESIGNER

●      Michael Medhurst for The Cane Cutter

●      Vaughan Phillips for Shaka iLembe

●      N3 Media for Solum

03. BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST

●      Strarshey Jones for Lucky Fish

●      Strarshey Jones for Meet the Khumalos

●      Stella Johnson for Uzalo

4. BEST WARDROBE AND COSTUME DESIGNER

●      Theshen Naicker for My Cousin's Big Fat Durban Wedding

●      Nokubonga Ngobeni for Meet the Khumalos

●      Nokubonga Ngobeni for Lucky Fish

5.   BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

·       Meekaaeel Adam for The Trek

·       Jared Hinde for God`s Work

·       Vuyani Nondabula for The Request Documentary

 

6. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN TELEVISION

·       Akhona Ndlovu for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

·       Zamani Mbatha for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

·       Nkanyiso Mzimela for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

7.  BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN TELEVISION

●      Amanda Seome for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

●      Thuli Zulu for Homecoming Season1

●      Baby Cele for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

8. BEST MADE FOR TV FILM

·       Uceliwe by Lwazi Duma

·       Breaking Free by Nandipha Sefoloko

·       Izenzo Zami by Zigizendoda Yeni

9. BEST TV PRODUCTION - REALITY SHOW, SERIES OR MINISERIES

·       Isigodlo Samatshitshi by Sah Zungu

·       Shaka Ilembe Season 2 by Angus Gibson

·       Inkosinathi Production by Enhle Selesho

10. BEST DIRECTOR IN TELEVISION

●      Angus Gibson for Shaka iLembe Season 2

●      Mthunzi Dubazana, for Uzalo

 11.   BEST ACTOR IN TELEVISION

·       Masoja Msiza for Uzalo

·       Wiseman Mncube for Shaka iLembe Season 2

·       Lemogang Tsipa for Shaka iLembe Season 2

12.   BEST ACTRESS IN TELEVISION

·       Nomzamo Mbatha For Shaka Ilembe Season 2

·       Dawn Thandeka King for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

·       Six Nyamane for Homecoming Season 1

13. BEST STUDENT FILM

●      Umtsha Wendoda by Hannah Veronica

●      Unlucky by Thembinkosi Ntshangase

●      Do Not Enter - Sithembile Akhona Mthembu

14.  BEST MICRO-BUDGET FILM

●      Emanzini by Mthobisi Khanyile

●      Isilingo Esgqoke Umqhele by Mli Dube

●      My Cousin's Big Fat Durban Wedding by Theshen Naicker

15. BEST SCREENPLAY FEATURE FILM

●      God's Work by Michael James

●      Quantum by Nqanawe Shangase

●      Kayise by Xolani Mbhele

16.  BEST ISIZULU FILM

●      Isilingo Esgqoke Umqhele by Mli Dube

●      Amathambo by Sabelo Ndlovu

●      Izenzo Zami by Lwazi Duma

17.  BEST NEWCOMER ACTOR IN FILM AND TELEVISION

●      Cebo Radebe for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

●      Kwanele Mkhize for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

●      Anele Nene for Shaka Ilembe Season 2

18.  BEST NEWCOMER ACTRESS IN FILM AND TELEVISION

●      Nqobile Mdladla for Ithonga

●      Luyanda Zuma for Shaka iLembe Season 2

●      Nandipha Khubone for Meet the Khumalos

19.  BEST PAN AFRICAN FILM

●      Meet The Khumalos by Jayan Moodley

●      Lucky Fish by Luke Rous

●      A Shepherd’s Joy by Lungisani Lucas Gwadiso

20. BEST SHORT FILM

●      Your Neighbourhood by Ngcebo Mazibuko

●      Quantum by Nqanawe Shangase

●      Until You Return by Lindani Msibi

21.  BEST USE OF KZN AS A FILMING LOCATION

●      Shaka Ilembe Season 2 by Angus Gibson

●      Lucky Fish by Luke Rous

●      Meet The Khumalos by Jayan Moodley

22.  BEST FEATURE FILM

●      Lucky Fish by Luke Rous

●      Meet The Khumalos by Jayan Moodley

●      The Trek by James C. Williamson,

 

23. BEST ACTOR IN FILM

●      Sfundo Maphumulo for Umalusi Season 2

●      Thobani Nzuza for God's Work

●      Siphesihle Cele for Amathambo

24.   BEST ACTRESS IN FILM

●      Mpume Mthombeni for Amathambo

●      Noxolo Mathula for Kayise

●      Mayuri Naidu for Lucky Fish

25.  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN FILM

·       Siyabonga Mlungisi Shibe For Meet The Khumalos

·       Mbulelo Radebe For God's Work

·       Magic Hlatshwayo For Izenzo Zami

26.  BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN FILM

●      Lihle Hloba For Amathambo

●      Jailoshini Naidoo For Lucky Fish

●      Samukelisiwe Nzimande For Izenzo Zami

27.  BEST DIRECTOR IN FILM

Meekaaeel Adam for The Trek

Michael James for God's Work

Jayan Moodley for Meet The Khumalos

28. BEST EDITING IN FILM

●      Vuyani Nondabula For The Request Documentary

●      Lwazi Duma For Izenzo Zami

●      Brett Macdonald For Lucky Fish

●      Stephan Wiggill For Solitary

29.  BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

●      Apex Alley by Julie Laurez

●      The Request Documentary by Vuyani Nondabula

●      Spoiled by Nicola Gerrard

ALSO READ: Where Are Nominees of Postponed 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards That KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority Said Would be Announced 16 October?

ALSO READ: 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards Postponed to 21 November as Awards Show Needs More Time to Judge 420 Entries