by Thinus Ferreira
Variations on a Theme, in Afrikaans also titled Variasies op 'n Tema has been selected by the struggling National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) as South Africa's official entry for the 99th Annual Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category
Variations on a Theme is a 100% Afrikaans drama written and directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, with cinematography by Gray Kotzé and stars Hettie Farmer - Jacobs' real-life grandmother - from Kharkams.
Variations on a Theme was produced by the filmmakers' Kraal Stories, Meria Productions and Interakt of the Netherlands.
Variations on a Theme, filmed over just 5 days with narration from Jacobs, is the second feature film from co-writers and co-directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar.
Their debut film Carissa premiered in the Orizzonti competition of the 2024 Venice International Film Festival.
Variations on a Theme follows an elderly goat herder, Ouma Hettie, in the mountains of Namaqualand, South Africa, who falls victim to a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father's service during the Second World War.
Waiting for money that will never come, she faces her family's decision to move her to the city and strip away the last of her independence. Structured as a series of recurring visual "variations", the film transforms repetition into revelation, presenting a portrait of waiting, endurance and loss.
Presented as a documentary but actually a fictional story based on real-life experiences, Variations on a Theme is inspired by Jacobs' great-grandfather, Petrus Jakobus Beukes, who enlisted in the Allied forces during the Second World War when he was 19.
Annemarie du Plessis, the film's producer, says "Being selected to represent South Africa as the country's Oscar submission is an incredible honour".
"The fact that we get to share the beautiful community of Kharkams, who are truly the heartbeat of this film, with the world makes it even more special."
"We are so grateful to everyone who believed in this film and helped us get here. We hope that this moment can serve as an inspiration to other filmmakers and storytellers to keep going, to be bold, and to trust in the stories they want to tell.
Variations on a Theme had its world premiere in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2026 in the Netherlands, where it won the Tiger Award.
It went on to win Best African Film at the Joburg Film Festival and the Wild Dreamer Award for Best Film at Zagreb Subversive and received jury special mentions at the Tarifa-Tangier African Film Festival and Transilvania International Film Festival.
In October Variations on a Theme will have two sold-out screenings at the BFI London Film Festival, following screenings earlier in the year at prestigious festivals and programmes including New Directors/New Films at MoMA and Film at Lincoln Center, the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Lerato Mokopanele, the NFVF's acting head of operations, in a statement, says "The NFVF is pleased with the selection of Variations on a Theme, an Afrikaans film that is a product of a co-production between South Africa and the Netherlands, as it serves as a brilliant showcase of South African filmmakers' world-class skills".
"The cinematography, the historical storyline and the way in which it is told make for an interesting watch. We look forward to the film bringing home the esteemed Oscar trophy."
"The NFVF thanks the selection committee for its work during the selection process. This film is yet another footprint of the South African film sector internationally. The NFVF reaffirms its commitment to nurturing and promoting South African talent on the international stage."
According to the NFVF, the selection of Variations on a Theme followed "a rigorous adjudication process conducted by the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee, comprising 13 professionals drawn from across the filmmaking value chain, including directing, producing, distribution and technical expertise".
According to the NFVF, the 13-member committee was also approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The committee convened for film screenings held at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 1 to 4 September 2026, with the final deliberations taking place on 9 September 2026.
The NFVF says it appointed an independent auditing firm, SNG Grant Thornton that oversaw and
audited the selection process, ensuring that it was conducted in accordance with the required standards of integrity and fairness.
