M-Net's Carte Blanche entry in Best Documentary Short category for 13th Saftas disqualified and removed; NFVF will now choose a winner from the remaining two nominees.

The entry of an insert submitted by M-Net's Carte Blanche current affairs show in the Best Documentary Short category for the 13th South African Film and Television Awards (13th Saftas) has been disqualified and now removed after a fight over ownership of the content started, with one of the remaining two nominees who will be chosen as the winner.

One of many controversies once again erupted and marred the National Film and Video Foundation's 13th Saftas that took place in March,one of which was the quiet dumping of awarding a winner in the Best Documentary Short category that was just suddenly missing.

The NFVF, Saftas organisers and PR company Instinctif didn't bother to alert or notify the media either before or after the 13th Saftas on SABC2 that the Best Documentary Short category and a winner for it, has been removed from the line-up.

In February the NFVF announced the three nominees in the Best Documentary short category as "Follow the Guns" from Combined Artistic Productions producing Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101) and that broadcast it on Carte Blanche, Someone to Blame - the Ahmed Timol Inquest from EMS Productions CC that was seen on SABC3, and Scenes from a Dry City from SaltPeter Productions CC.

After multiple media enquiries, the NFVF said that "We are aware of the current dispute regarding ownership of some of the content submitted for consideration in our Best Documentary Short award category."

"Until the matter is resolved between the two parties, we have decided to withdraw the awarding of any prizes in that category, as we believe the outcome may have a material impact on the overall determination of the successful nominee."

Now it turns out that it was the Carte Blanche nominee with the NFVF telling TVwithThinus that "Carte Blanche's entry has been disqualified".

"The NFVF received legal documentation pertaining to the dispute on the Intellectual Property Rights of one of the documentary films submitted under the Best Documentary Short category. A decision was taken to withdraw the category from the awards ceremony to allow the legal process to be concluded," says the NFVF.

"Following the decision to withhold the announcement of the winner in the category, the NFVF referred the matter to the relevant Saftas adjudications panel for a final decision in accordance with a legal opinion received from its attorneys."

"The award for this category will now be presented to a winner selected from the remaining nominees which shall be presented at a special award ceremony to be hosted by the NFVF, details of which will be communicated."

"The NFVF on behalf of the adjudications panel and the overall chairpersons of the Saftas, wishes to thank the industry at large and the nominees for their patience and support during this process," says the NFVF.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) says it dumped writers from the televised 13th South African Film and Television Awards since their creative art is ‘technical expertise’.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) that abruptly dumped writers and all writers' categories to the non-televised, so-called "technical awards" for the 13th Saftas now says writing isn't creative but "technical expertise" and was therefore removed.

The NFVF with acting CEO Shadrack Bokaba that organises the South African Film and Television Awards finally responded, just short of two weeks after the 13th Saftas took place at Sun City on 2 March and where writers and nominees in the various writers' categories discovered - to their shock - that they've been dumped.

Writers' categories were shunted from the main awards ceremony broadcast on SABC2 and bumped to the afternoon awards.

Writers, the Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA), and even nominees in writing categories were not told that their creative categories have been removed after numerous telenovela categories were added for the first time this year to the main awards.

Nominees who showed up on the Saturday had to hear that Golden Horn awards for their categories already got handed out during the afternoon.

While scrapping the writers' categories and dismissing it as "technical expertise" the NFVF and producers Clive Morris Productions responsible for the bloated Saturday night awards show broadcast, kept best directing categories that were not considered "technical".

The long-winded and yet-again badly produced televised ceremony included a speech by the minister of arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa, a youth achiever award, sponsored McDonaldsSA backstage bits, as well as a parade of telenovela and soap stars taking to the Saftas stage in-between wrong envelopes that got opened.

The NFVF, funded by the department of arts and culture, finally responded on Thursday evening - almost two weeks after Safta organisers were asked in multiple media enquiries made since 2 March - why the writers' categories were scuppered from the main awards ceremony.

The NFVF, in a statement from Instinctif, the PR company now used by the film funding body, on Thursday evening told TVwithThinus that scriptwriting - although a creative art - is now seen as "technical expertise".

"The quality of our scriptwriters is the backbone of our industry and should be recognised for the technical expertise these key categories represent," the NFVF said.

"In acknowledgement of this, the Saftas sub-committee, which is made up of members from the various industry bodies - and also sit as judges - made the decision to move the writing categories to the technical section of the award ceremony."

"We are currently working on a 4-month workshop where we are relooking the Saftas categories and criteria required, with the Saftas sub-committee. Once we have commenced with this process we will first send through the categories and criteria to all industry organisation chairs and their boards for their preparation."

The NFVF was asked multiple times when the decision was taken but the NFVF and Instinctif didn't answer this question. The NFVF was also asked for its comment and explanation about writers and nominees who say they were not informed about the move but declined to answer this.

The NFVF was asked if it has a message for South Africa's TV industry about writers' categories and what its response is to the Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) saying it will boycott the Saftas moving forward unless the writers' categories are restored to the main awards ceremony, but the NFVF chose not to answer these questions either.


Meetings abruptly cancelled
According to insiders, an initial meeting between the WGSA and the NFVF CEO was abruptly cancelled by the NFVF.

A possible new meeting between the WGSA and NFVF will likely be with Makhosazana Khanyile, known as Khosi Khanyile in the industry, who is taking over as new NFVF CEO from 1 April.

On Tuesday, according to insiders, the NFVF also cancelled a Saftas debriefing and new programmes session that was scheduled for 29 March, without any reasons given, and no new date set.

According to insiders, there was no meeting where either the move of writing categories or the short documentary category - also mired in a scandal of its own - was approved to be moved to the technical awards.

The WGSA told TVwithThinus it is "shocked and taken aback" by the removal of writers' categories from the Saftas main awards and demands the reinstatement of the writers' awards in the main broadcast of the Saftas.

"We will also demand input in and full oversight of the judging and categories of writers awards. And we are seriously looking at lobbying for an Independent Motion Picture and Television Academy to take over the running of the Saftas."

On Friday the WGSA told TVwithThinus that "writers are creatives and writing is not a technical skill but a creative one. The only thing technical about what we do is using a computer".

"Secondly, WGSA was not invited to be part of the Safta sub-committees, nor did we provide judges for the screenwriting categories. If writers were part of either, they were chosen by NFVF and were not representatives of the mandated industry organisation."

"We only heard about the move of the writing categories to the 'technical awards' at the networking session on the morning of the Safta awards. There was no consultation and WGSA was not officially informed of the change. If our vice chairperson Eubulus Timothy had not been at Sun City, we would have found out about this during the actual awards show, said Harriet Meier, WGSA chairperson.

"Further as to the cancellation of the debrief of the Saftas, we have still not been advised of any reasons, nor have we been informed of a new date. We have also not heard anything further from the acting CEO since his acknowledgement of receipt of our letter and promise to revert."

"And finally, we are not part of the 'sub-committee' which is allegedly relooking the Safta categories and criteria - and I have no idea what they mean by sending categories and criteria to industry organisation chairs for their 'preparation'," said Harriet Meier.

Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) shocked over NFVF's decision to unilaterally dump writers' categories from the Saftas main awards ceremony, demands full reinstatement: 'Without the writers, there would be no Saftas'.

More than a week after the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) abruptly dropped all writers' categories from its 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) main ceremony the organisation has not responded to multiple media enquiries about the shocking move, nor met with the Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) that says it is shocked and is demanding the reinstatement of writers' awards in the main Saftas broadcast.

For more than a week since 2 March TVwithThinus asked the NFVF, funded by the department of arts and culture, for comment and an explanation as to why the writers' categories were abruptly removed from the main ceremony broadcast on SABC2 that was once again a badly-produced show.

The NFVF didn't tell the WGSA, nor nominees that their categories had been moved to the non-televised, so-called "technical awards" on the Saturday afternoon.

Neither Shadrack Bokaba, NFVF acting CEO; Neo Moretlwe, NFVF communications coordinator; nor Instinctif, the PR company paid by the NFVF to liaise and communicate with the press have responded with any answers to questions put to them in multiple media enquiries made over several days since then about dumping the writing categories from the main ceremony and why it happened.

Immediately after the 13th Saftas, the WGSA said it plans to boycott the NFVF's Saftas if the writers' categories are not reinstated to the main awards ceremony.

According to insiders, it seems as if the NFVF that added separate telenovela categories for the first time this year to lure more soap stars to appear during prime time in the awards show, unilaterally decided to sacrifice more of the proper TV and film production categories, in order to try and insert more superficial "glitz".

With the telenovela addition and because of duration, more legitimate industry categories were banished from the show.

Through pandering to a view-from-home audience in an attempt to lift ratings, the NFVF decided to turn the Safta award ceremony that is supposed to be more a "South African Oscars" and recognise the entirety of the local TV and film industry's serious work, into a more fluffier "Daytime Emmys" spectacle more heavily focused on the visibility of soap stars, insiders say.

The Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) on Tuesday told TVwithThinus that the "WGSA was shocked and taken aback when we were told during a networking meeting on the morning of the Safta awards that writing categories would be moved from the main show to the technical awards, without any advance notification or consultation".

"As a result, many writing nominees were not present when their categories were awarded in the afternoon, and were left confused and angry when their categories did not feature during the main show," says Harriet Meier, WGSA chairperson.

"We placed our dissatisfaction on record with NFVF and SASFED on 3 March, and were advised that a debrief on the Saftas had been set for 29 March 2019."

"This is not the first time that NFVF has unilaterally removed the writers' categories from the main Safta show, which is really incredulous considering that the writers create the scripts and screenplays without which there would be no actor, series, film or soap awards," says Harriet Meier.

"In fact, without the writers, there would be no Saftas," she says.

"For this to happen so soon after the department of arts and culture's Film Summit - where support for and development of the South African writer was flagged as extremely important - makes this a slap in the face for the whole South African writing fraternity."

Harriet Meier says "there is no question that WGSA will demand the reinstatement of the writers' awards in the main broadcast of the Saftas".

"We will also demand input in and full oversight of the judging and categories of writers awards. And we are seriously looking at lobbying for an Independent Motion Picture and Television Academy to take over the running of the Saftas. A lot will depend on the meeting on 29 March."

"In the meantime, the highly prestigious WGSA Muse Awards have opened for entries. This time, there is even a category for writers from the rest of Africa. With internationally acclaimed judges making the final choice, the WGSA Muse Awards really stand out as the awards for African writers," says Harriet Meier.

Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) plans to join boycott of the South African Film and Television Awards after the NFVF's shocking move to shift all writing categories to the non-televised 'technical' awards division.

Following apparently disgraceful treatment, South Africa's Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) is planning to join the growing number of producers and production companies already boycotting the badly-organised South African Film and Television Awards after the shocking decision from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) to suddenly move all writing categories to the so-called "technical" awards division.

Funded by the department of arts and culture, the NFVF with acting CEO Shadrack Bokaba, responsible for organising the South African Film and Television Awards abruptly decided to dump all writing categories from the so-called "main" awards ceremony that is broadcast on television, to the "secondary" technical awards ceremony.

In the past the technical awards took place 2-days earlier, is never televised nor streamed and can't be watched by the public or the industry. This year the NFVF decided to suddenly move it to the Saturday morning at 10:00 on the same day of the main televised Saftas awards that was broadcast on SABC2 on Saturday night.

Besides the writing categories being moved to the technical awards on Saturday moring, numerous upset and angry South African producers said that they were not told nor informed by the NFVF or Safta organisers that their category was suddenly moved from the main awards ceremony at Sun City to the "technical" awards, and also saying that their category has nothing to do with being "technical".

"Our company had 3 nominations but was not informed that our categories would be on at 10:00 even though nominations were not for technical awards but for non-scripted. A shambles," said one.

By Monday evening Shadrack Bokaba, NFVF communications coordinator Neo Moretlwe and the Instinctif PR agency paid to communicate with the media about the Saftas, failed to respond to questions in a media enquiry, made multiple times since Saturday afternoon to the NFVF, seeking comment, answers and an explanation for what is going on and why the decision was made to move writing categories to the Saftas technical awards.

On Monday afternoon at 12:00 Tshene Wedi, senior consultant at Instinctif, told TVwithThinus in an emailed response that "we are just getting confirmation from the NFVF and will revert with feedback shortly".

On Saturday Dr Eubulus Timothy, vice chairperson of the Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA), was in Sun City where the NFVF told him at a networking meeting - despite his strongest objections - that all writing awards are being moved to the non-broadcasting technical awards part of the Saftas.

"Writing is a creative genre and not a technical one. We don't operate cameras, build and dress sets or do hair and make-up. We create story, which becomes the basis of the work for all our esteemed colleagues," says Harriet Meier, chairperson of the WGSA council.

"We've had this fight before with NFVF, and to now see how writers are once again denigrated and belittled is the straw that breaks the camel's back."

"Without the writer - the story - there would be no film and TV industry and no need for a NFVF."

"There would be nothing for actors to act in, producers to produce or audience to watch. So we are not important enough to warrant some recognition and respect?"

Several production companies are part of a growing list of professionals working in South Africa's TV and film industry who are fed-up with the NFVF and the allegedly non-transparent, amateurish and hopscotch way the Saftas are organised and run, and are actively boycotting it.

Meanwhile Safta organisers admit that they've done nothing the past year to specifically reach out to upset producers and have meetings, listening or mediation sessions.

Generations on SABC1 produced by Mfundi Vundla's Morula Pictures, Muvhango on SABC2 produced by Duma Ndlovu's Word of Mouth Productions, and 7de Laan on SABC2 produced by Danie Odendaal Productions all deliberately snubbed the NFVF and the 13th Saftas again and refused to enter.

Also joining them is Ferguson Films producing shows like The Queen and The Throne on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).

Luring millions of viewers daily, combined, on SABC1, SABC2 and Mzansi Magic on MultiChoice, it means that a very large and growing part of what viewers actually watch on South African television are excluded and not seen at the NFVF's Saftas.

That makes the awards show increasingly unrepresentative of what South Africa's TV industry actually is and Safta award wins hollow victories.

The NFVF and Safta organisers quietly dumped awarding a winner in the Best Documentary Short category at the 13th Saftas due to a content ownership fight of one of the nominees.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and organisers of the 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) decided to quietly dump awarding a winner in the Best Documentary short category after a fight over ownership of the content started.

The NFVF, Saftas organisers and PR company Instinctif didn't bother to alert or notify the media either before or after Saturday night's live broadcast of the 13th Saftas on SABC2 that the best Documentary short category and a winner for it, has been removed from the line-up.

Media like TVwithThinus scrutinising the confusing winners list and comparing it with the issued nominees list, were left wondering whether it was left out by mistake or what is going on, with no clarity whatsoever from the NFVF and no note accompanying the winners list.

After Best Documentary short nominees were announced and part of the official 13th Saftas nominees list in February, the NFVF and Safta organisers at some point in time decided to remove the category due to the dispute, without telling the public.

In February the NFVF announced the three nominees in the Best Documentary short category as "Follow the Guns" from Combined Artistic Productions producing Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101) and that broadcast it on Carte Blanche, Someone to Blame - the Ahmed Timol Inquest from EMS Productions CC that was seen on SABC3, and Scenes from a Dry City from SaltPeter Productions CC.

It's not clear around which one of three nominees there is a fight regarding ownership of the content submitted.

Neither Shadrack Bokaba, NFVF acting CEO and Neo Moretlwe, NFVF communications coordinator, nor the Instinctif PR agency handling media enquiries regarding the 13th Saftas has so far responded to media enquiries TVwithThinus made since Sunday morning and on Monday as to what is going on with the Best Documentary short category.

It's not known whether a winner will be announced for the 13th Saftas for Best Documentary short, or whether the winner is the actual nominee that there is a content ownership problem with.

Also unclear is how the issue will be resolved, if the NFVF is involved, and if - should it be resolved - when and how the winner in the Best Documentary short will get their trophy.


UPDATE Tuesday 5 March 2019 - 10:12:

The Instinctif PR agency issues a "holding statement" from the NFVF saying "The NFVF is an organisation committed to governance, due process and the highest standards of ethical conduct".

"We are aware of the current dispute regarding ownership of some of the content submitted for consideration in our Best Documentary Short award category."

"Until the matter is resolved between the two parties, we have decided to withdraw the awarding of any prizes in that category, as we believe the outcome may have a material impact on the overall determination of the successful nominee."

"While the dispute in no way relates to NFVF business or processes, as the agency mandated to ensure equitable growth of South Africa's film and video industry, we undertake to facilitate a dispute resolution process within the ambit of our mandate during the course of next week."

"We are committed to working with all stakeholders to prioritise a speedy resolution in the interests of both parties."

TV REVIEW. The 13th Saftas of 2019 was an embarrassment. Again.

Yet again the mediocre and mistake-riddled broadcast production of the 13th South African Film and Television Awards on Saturday night on SABC2 was an embarrassment - a shameful slap in the face of the very industry it's supposed to represent and showcase.

The flat and terrible 2019 Saftas looked like a shoddy, unrehearsed school drama club presentation, prepped with little time, with people who came dressed up for it.

Besides continuous sound problems, sound level and sound mistakes like mics muted when they shouldn't be and live when they shouldn't ("Who are we going to bring in?"), bad editing, bad lighting, and a plain, boring and uninspiring steps-stage set design by Michael Gill Designs, the 13th Saftas was also plagued by some badly done and energy-less musical acts.

The 13th Saftas yet again botched the In Memoriam segment and left out names.

Of pacing there was little sign with the 3-hour live broadcast Saftas show that ran 20 minutes over its scheduled and allotted time, with an embarrassing no envelope fiasco, a wrong envelope mess, with dull co-hosts looking more interest in soliciting audience purrs for their outfit changes.

The noticeable absence of many shows missing from the 13th Saftas due to an active boycott wasn't mentioned or explained to viewers, allowing MultiChoice's pay-TV channels like M-Net, 1Magic, Mzansi Magic and kykNET on DStv, and the video streaming service Showmax, to rise in winning awards.

Produced by Clive Morris Productions there was shamefully and noticeably no tribute video package from the NFVF at the 13th Saftas for veteran showrunner, director and writer Thandi Brewer who got a special industry achievement award. Why not?

The 13th Saftas had at least one category presenter admitting that she didn't show up for rehearsals; a few great speeches interrupted by play-off music when they needed just a few discretionary seconds more from producers; categories that belong in the main awards that got inexplicably dumped to the "technical" awards; as well as bumpy and shaky camerawork unbefitting an awards show.

Names like Ilse Klink were pronounced "Elize Klink".

The unprofessional mix-up with envelopes during the feature film categories in the 13th Saftas and the way that viewers saw that nobody apparently knew what to do, was cringe-worthy to watch.

Sponsored, superficial backstage interview fluff between Somizi and some winners, courtesy of McDonalds SA was wholly out-of-place, badly done and made the unnecessary awards show mess longer.

An unending stream of people in the Sun City audience were constantly seen on screen getting up during the broadcast and not waiting for ad breaks, walking around, leaving seats and returning to seats.

The NFVF and producers still don't employ seat fillers for the few front rows, once again leaving ugly empty seats visible at the 13th Saftas that was done for a third time from Sun City.

What sounded like weird and unsuitable news jingle and adventure film can music were used as filler during people's walk to and from the stage.

Editing, directing and vision mix wise, selecting what came in from the cameramen, fatigued Saftas viewers got predominantly three angles over and over again, each basically just constantly zooming in and out: front middle, jimmy jib stage left, and a steadicam cameraman scurrying around in front of the stage steps doing "shoot from below looking up at Everest" shots.

Some category winners saw hangers-on from their various productions also storm to the stage with them, like uncontrollable moths to a fame flame.

The minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa, looked like he was reading his long-winded speech on the autocue screen for the first time, often-times haltingly and jarringly stumbling over his words.

The shoddy production values marred an awards show ceremony that is supposed to show how good South Africa's film and TV production is but once again made it look amateurish.

A bland and boring red carpet show - looking like a shopping mall brand promotion activation and done from a shaky side-platform - lasted for just 30 minutes from 19:00 on SABC2 after which the channel hilariously broke away to an episode of Abo Mzala for a half hour before starting the awards ceremony broadcast at 20:00.

The 13th Saftas broadcast ceremony was executive produced by Lala Tuku, with Khayelihle Gumede as stage director, Manchester Mahapa as creative director and Philip Hlophe as floor manager.


ALSO READ: 2019's 13th Saftas again botches the In Memoriam segment.
ALSO READ: NFVF's 13th Saftas marred by winner envelope mistakes as actress Crystal Donna Roberts and McDonalds SA boss Greg Solomon are awkwardly left struggling on stage with no and wrong envelopes.
ALSO READ: How far away keeps the press at bay and media coverage muted: How shows - from the Saftas to Survivor SA - will likely get less coverage this year.
ALSO READ: The NFVF reveals that it has started discussions with other African countries around the possible formation of an African film fund to help make TV and film coproductions possible.
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK. A KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission 'Beach Party' at Sun City, a Gauteng Film Commission brunch: The bizarre sideshows at the NFVF's 13th Saftas that look like money-wasting.
ALSO READ: Why the NFVF's South African Film and Television Awards risks becoming even more out-of-touch and irrelevant with viewers.
ALSO READ: 'This is for all the voiceless': How 3 women made the most moving acceptance speeches at 2019's 13th Saftas - giving hope and speaking directly to the country's disenfranchised and forgotten masses.
ALSO READ: The NFVF and Safta organisers quietly dumped awarding a winner in the Best Documentary Short category at the 13th Saftas due to a content ownership fight.
ALSO READ: Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) plans to join boycott of the South African Film and Television Awards after the NFVF's shocking move to shift all writing categories to the non-televised 'technical' awards division.
ALSO READ: MultiChoice grabs over half of all the awards at 2019's 13th Saftas as pay-TV productions become the big winners.
ALSO READ: Showmax makes South African TV history as it wins 5 awards at the NFVF's 13th Saftas and the first for a video streaming service.
ALSO READ: e.tv wins 4 Golden Horn trophies at the 13th Saftas, including Best actress and Best actor in the TV soap category for Kgomotso Christopher and Jamie Bartlett.
ALSO READ: Winners list of the NFVF's 2019 13th South African Film and Television Awards.
ALSO READ: South Africa's TV and film biz laughs over up to R5566 to stay over for the 13th Saftas, as organisers fail to talk to producers over their growing award show boycott.
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK. A dream that remains a nightmare: Here's why the NFVF's 13th South African Film and Television Awards of 2019 once again looks like it's going to be a mess.
ALSO READ: Growing number of shows snub the Saftas as producers' unhappiness with the industry's South African TV and film awards grows.
ALSO READ: Nominees (full list) for the 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) for 2019 announced.

2019's 13th Saftas again botches the In Memoriam segment by forgetting or simply not knowing, and then blatantly leaving out names because it's too difficult to keep track of who dies in its industry.

The National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) once again very disrespectfully forgot, didn't know, and left out several names from the always-botched In Memoriam segment of people who have died and who have worked in and contributed to the South African film and TV industry.

Once again, the shoddy and badly-produced 13th Saftas broadcast, done this year by Clive Morris Productions, couldn't get the In Memoriam segment correct and complete.

For a South African awards show that is supposedly for the South African film and TV industry, the NFVF, the Safta organising committee and organisers and Clive Morris Productions once again failed to adhere to basic standards and to do basic research of who died in the industry since the previous Saftas took place in 2018.

Those who've passed away, and those still living and working in the TV and film industry and who should get recognition, all deserve better than this, but in sheer incompetence the NFVF, Clive Morris Productions and the Saftas organisers are unable to keep a proper list from year to year of who died in order to pay basic, proper tribute to them.

Some notable people who died the past year and who were shockingly excluded from the In Memoriam tribute at the 13th Saftas include Rowena Baird (SABC TV and radio presenter), Carlos Carvalho (cinematographer), Sonwabo Eddie Funde (former SABC chairperson), Owethu Enhle Gambushe (actress), Thembinkosi Mangethe Zwane (TV and radio presenter), Pat Rogers (SA TV broadcasting pioneer and presenter), Siyabonga Ngodze (rigger), Lerina Erasmus (writer and actress) and the legendary Winston Ntshona, the playwright and actor who was bestowed the Safta Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting in 2011.

Let's maybe also remember Oscar, the beloved Dulux Old English Sheepdog of so many South African Dulux TV commercials that died in January.

How far away keeps the press at bay and media coverage muted: How shows - from the Saftas to Survivor SA - will likely get less coverage this year taking place so far away with expensive travel costs that makes productions drop the media.

The media coverage in and by the press of some shows broadcast on South African television in 2019 will be notably down and less this year than in the past and what it could, and would, normally be.

Blame far-flung on-location production shoots making it too expensive for media to travel there without the inclusion or assistance from broadcasters, and travel costs that are too prohibitively expensive for broadcasters and organisers and their limited marketing budgets who end up dropping the media contingent from their plans.

The result is less coverage - a blend of media simply not being there and being able to report on it, and media also snubbing something where it can't effectively compete to provide coverage against perceived competitors who did get access.

Once again the coverage from, and on, the South African Film and Television Awards, organised by the department of arts and culture's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), will be severely limited since the 13th Saftas took place at the luxury Sun City resort in the North West province, in the middle of nowhere, with very few media in attendance compared to years past.

The NFVF that did host press in the past said it isn't hosting any media this year, with the majority of editors from media outlets who are reluctant and simply don't have the travel and accommodation budget to dispatch journalists to cover the Saftas.

Media coverage of the latest upcoming season of Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets on M-Net (DStv 101) starting on 16 May and set on islands in Samoa will this time very likely be similarly dramatically down from previous seasons, with a number of media who in all likelihood won't be covering the show at all.

The number of journalists and media who got a chance to visit Survivor SA: Island of Secrets on-location during filming of the Afrokaans produced show set in the South Pacific was dramatically cut this year as well.

Similarly to the Saftas the editors of print and online publications as well as broadcast media can't pay to send their journalists halfway around the world to do first-hand reporting for M-Net's island reality TV show, and M-Net this year only flew less than half a hand of journalists to Samoa.

Neo Moretlwe, NFVF communications coordinator, in response to a media enquiry asking whether the 13th Saftas would be hosting media and press this year, told TVwithThinus it won't.

While the NFVF did so so in the past when the Saftas took place in Johannesburg, as well as a few times in Sun City since the inexplicable and out-of-the way move to the North West province, the NFVF and Saftas organisers are not doing so anymore.

SABC2 as the broadcaster of the Saftas has never even bothered to try and involve or invite press in any of the years it has broadcast the awards show.

It all means less pre-award show coverage, fewer print interviews, fewer profile pieces and articles, fewer broadcast interviews, fewer photos, and less real, credible, first-hand coverage - in short: less earned-media coverage overall for what is supposedly South Africa's most important TV and film awards.

"Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, the NFVF is unable to accommodate media this year," said Neo Moretlwe. "Some of the event sponsors have taken the liberty to invite media directly at their own cost. On our part, we will do our best to prioritise all media queries from journalists unable to attend the live event".

For M-Net's Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets, media coverage will likely be less than what it was for any other previous season as well, with the show's 7th season taking place the furthest away from South Africa it has ever been.

That has led to the smallest number of media visiting during any of the seasons of the show, with travel time taking up to 60 hours to get there from Johannesburg to Hong Kong and then to the South Pacific.

For media visits to the production of Survivor SA: Island of Secrets, due to travel and accommodation costs, M-Net put specific criteria in place as it made a shortlist for who could go, and that cut down on the number of journalists who were invited to go to the island this year.

M-Net emphasises that all media will have equal access to stories about Survivor SA: Island of Secrets this year, with the only difference being that there would be 2 or 3 journalists who got to experience the filming process.

South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation reveals that it has started discussions with other African countries around the possible formation of an African film fund to help make TV and film coproductions between African countries possible.

South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) on Saturday revealed that it has started discussions between South Africa and other African nations around the possible formation of an African film fund to help with making film and TV coproductions possible between producers in different African countries.

Shadrack Bokaba, the acting NFVF CEO, spoke in a pre-recorded message that was played on Sunday night during the broadcast of the 13th South African Film and Television Awards taking place at Sun City, revealing that talks have started around the creation of an African film fund.

"In the last two years, we have embarked on a new strategic venture, with the focus being on Africa. In doing so, a strategic partnership was formed with our neighbouring countries."

"We are pleased to have begun discussions around forming an African film fund that will encourage coproductions within the continent," Shadrack Bokaba said.

Shadrack Bokaba also said that the South African government "needs to invest more money in developing infrastructure as there are current challenges that impact the country's economic growth, such as failing to draw South African audiences to cinemas and attracting foreign production to invest in our country".

Saturday's 13th Saftas marked the first appearance of Shadrack Bokaba at the awards show since he replaced Zama Mkosi who abruptly quit under a cloud in May 2108.

Shadrack Bokaba in his recorded message mentioned nothing about the corruption that was uncovered the past year inside the NFVF since the last Saftas and the forensic investigation into the NFVF by the department of arts and culture that funds the NFVF.

The Comperio Report into the rot and corruption at the National Film and Video Foundation found that staffers took family members on luxury trips to Sun City for the South African Film and Television Awards.

TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK. A KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission 'Beach Party' at Sun City, a Gauteng Film Commission brunch: The bizarre sideshows at the NFVF's 13th Saftas that look like a waste, with money that could actually directly support film making in their provinces.

You won't think that there are a serious shortage of funds to support struggling and emerging South African filmmakers, or that producers are struggling to get paid by the SABC, if you witnessed the bizarre money-wasting sideshows at the NFVF's 13th South African Film and Television Awards that took place this weekend at Sun City.

It ranged from a "Beach Party" sponsored by the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission to a brunch courtesy of the Gauteng Film Commission.

Instead of actually directly investing in and helping filmmakers, actors, writers and other talent in their own provinces, some of South Africa's film commissions literally splurged on dubious-looking sideshow events at the National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 13 South African Film and Television Awards that was held on Saturday at Sun City in the North West province.

Why? What exactly is the positive return on investment for film commissions, constantly pleading poverty, yet spending and apparently wasting a lot of money on unnecessary things like a "beach party" in the middle of the North West?

Does it generate reams of positive articles in the press, glossy pictorial pages, and fawning coverage from the media?

Do the guests who attend the NFVF's awards show shindig at the shiny Sun City feel better, or better about themselves, afterwards? Does McDonalds SA end up selling more McCafe brew?

First up, there was the "by invitation only" so-called 13th Saftas "Beach Party" at Sun City's Valley of the Waves on Friday evening - courtesy of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and McDonalds South Africa where DJs and artists performed and guests indulged in a feeding frenzy of food and drink.

How exactly does this advance the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission's mission to support "film", and presumably in KwaZulu-Natal?

Does a "beach party" in the North West buy goodwill from the film fraternity elsewhere and help with nice exposure, or what does it actually accomplish?

(Co-incidentally Jacqueline Motsepe, COO of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission got an award on Saturday night at the 13th Saftas, the Outstanding provincial contributor award, whatever that means.)

Where are the press releases and information about the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission in the press pack and Google drive for media that could have been issued, added and sent out by the NFVF? It doesn't exist.

Where was a panel discussion or roundtable with media if the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission actual had a presence at Sun City? It just looks like a colossal waste.

Cue Saturday morning at Sun City for the 13th Saftas and the Gauteng Film Commission doing a "networking session" breakfast in the North West province where those who bothered to show up were "addressed".

Of course sponsor McDonalds South Africa was here as well.

It looked far from jam-packed.

Again, where are the transcripts of the speech or speeches of whoever from the Gauteng Film Commission spoke? A basic press release?

Where is whatever was issued to the media, if even anything?

Here too, the NFVF communication people couldn't be bothered to issue something to the media and neither did the Gauteng Film Commission.

And again the questions: What exactly is the return on the investment from this empty-looking breakfast session and how is the value from that investment measured?

Where is the media coverage? Were there even media there?

And a bonus point if anyone can answer what happens to all of the wasted food.

South Africa and the South African economy entered into a technical recession in 2018. People and the South African film and TV industry are struggling. There's been a huge number of job losses in the industry in 2018 and more were planned in 2019 at the SABC until it was halted last month.

In this critic's opinion, it's unseemingly, crass and totally out-of-touch for the National Video and Film Foundation and places like the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission to splash the cash on trivial-trash like a "Beach Party", or something like a "networking session" at something like the problematic and constantly badly produced Saftas when money and available resources are scarce.

The optics of these things - call them marketing "activations" if you really like - are terrible.

It comes across as if the National Film and Video Foundation and places like the KwaZulu Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission are having a luxury, cheese-platter and McFlurry-filled weekend away living it up at Sun City with time for the "beach" while South Africa's TV and film industry suffers.

The NFVF's Saftas is already at risk of becoming even more out-of-touch and irrelevant with viewers. Yet its "elitist" and detached image is being helped along with things like a "Beach Party" and Sun City visitors nibbling on cheese for breakfast.

As I've said before, the NFVF under acting CEO Shadrack Bokaba, needs to do a radical overhaul of the troubled, struggling and badly done South African Film and Television Awards.

The Saftas at Sun City - replete with beach party -  looks like the elitist Capitol in The Hunger Games films while South Africa's struggling TV and film industry who it is actually meant for, are standing on the outside, looking in at the champagne crowd.

Do film commission "districts" gleefully dispatching their reps and money there have any idea of how they're perceived?

What next? A Showmax sponsored binge-lunch all-you-cat eat buffet? A MultiChoice sponsored content discovery game set in the as-difficult Sun City maze?

A Netflix South Africa Shadow puppet show (oh wait, Netflix reached its targets with anything to do with shadows)? Or a SABC activation at the top of the water slides with people flicking coins down and watching money being thrown into the water?

It's high-time to re-envision the Safta awards at Sun City and what exactly happens there - and not.

MultiChoice grabs over half of all the awards at 2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards as pay-TV productions become the big winners.

MultiChoice won over half of all of the Golden Horn trophies handed out at the 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), meaning a massive win for pay-TV in the country but also raising warning lights about the future inclusivity of free-to-air television production at the awards.

MultiChoice scored big at the 13th Saftas that took place on Saturday at Sun City at the National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) awards ceremony raking in wins for its streaming service Showmax as well as its M-Net, Mzansi Magic, 1Magic and kykNET channels.

MultiChoice's win-tally however also raises a flickering warning sign about the dangerous dominance of pay-TV content crowding out freely available South African TV content at the awards show.

It's important to note that several production companies responsible for the biggest shows in terms of audience in South African television are actively boycotting the NFVF and the Saftas, with Generations, Muvhango, 7de Laan and Ferguson Films with its The Queen and The Throne that refused to enter the 13th Safta awards.

On Saturday MultiChoice won around 48 awards in total - more than half of the overall total.

MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax won 5 awards - the most out the TV comedy category for the first Showmax Original production Tali's Wedding Diary that got 7 nominations in the 13 comedy categories.

M-Net's 1Magic (Dstv 103) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform was the most awarded TV channel overall in the telenovela category, with 10 awards, all going to The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures, also making The River the most awarded show at the 13th Saftas.

The River won Best telenovela and Most popular TV soap/telenovela, Best actress (Moshidi Motshegwa), Best actor (Presley Chweneyagae), Best supporting actor (Lawrence Maleka), Best directing (Johnny Barbuzano, Catharine Cooke, Zolani Phakade and Ferry Jele), Best scriptwriting (Gwydion Beynon and Phathutshedzo Makwarela), Best cinematography (Gaopie Kabe and Trevor Brown), Best editing (Ula Oelsen, Bongi Malefo & Matodzi Nemungadi) and Best sound (Ben Oelsen, Lele Seate and Tladi Mabuya).

Lockdown on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) became the most awarded drama show winning 5 awards from 8 nominations, including for Best TV Drama; Dawn Thandeka King as Best Actress, Lorcia Cooper as Best Supporting Actress, Gisellah Mcleod for Best Wardrobe and Babalwa Carol Djieutcheu for Best Hair and Make-up.

Meanwhile Isithembiso on Mzansi Magic became the most awarded soap winning 4 Golden Horn trophies at the 13th Saftas, and Mzansi Magic itself becoming the most-awarded channel overall in the soap category.

Isithembiso won for Best script (Charleen Ntsane, Chris Blomkamp, Daniel Zimbler, Sayitsheni Mdakhi, Iain Paton, Catherine Muller, Libby Dougherty, Andrew Petersen, Mbasa Tsetsana, Sydney DireZoe Arthur, Thabo Boom & Matthew Jankes), Best cinematography (Sevetian Maslamoney and Zeno Petersen), Best editing (Kirsten de Magalhaes, Rian van der Walt, Jeremy Briers, Molatsi Molefe, Martin Mosala, Sphiwe Nhlumayo, Matodzi Nedmungadi, Tshepo Kgatsoetsoe and Brett Anoli), and Best sound (Charles Sijaji and Mark Phillips).

Isibaya won for Best supporting actress (Gcina Mkhize), Best supporting actor (Abdul Khoza), and Best directing (Phiwe Mkhanzi and Sthembiso Mathenjwa).

Vele Manenje won Best supporting actress for Ring of Lies on Mzansi Magic in the telenovela category.

Die Ellen Pakkies Storie on kykNET (DStv 144) became the most awarded feature film at the 13th Saftas, winning 4 awards for Best actress (Jill Levenberg), Best actor (Jarrid Geduld), Best director (Daryne Joshua) and Best music/score (Quinn Lubbe).

kykNET (DStv 144) also became the most-awarded channel overall in the category, winning 9 of the 14 categories.

In addition to Die Ellen Pakkies Storie’s wins, Stroomop won Best supporting actress (Ilse Klink), Kanarie won Best script (Christiaan Olwagen and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder); Meerkat Maantuig won Best cinematography (Willie Nel); Nommer 37 won Best editor (Simon Beesley), and Stroomop won Best make-up and hairstyling (Minuche Bridgette Snyman).

kykNET also won for Hannes Brummer as Best actor in the comedy category for Elke Skewe Pot and the Afrikaans legal drama series Fynskrif on kykNET won Best sound (Stef Albertyn) and Best music/score (Braam du Toit) in the drama category. 

The Afrikaans soap Getroud met Rugby on kykNET won Best art direction (Michelle Cronje) in the soap category.

Other MultiChoice winners included M-Net's (DStv 101) My Kitchen Rules South Africa that won Best international format; Mzansi Magic's Thembi’s Trial that won Best made-for-TV movie, and kykNET's The Rockets 50ste Herdenking Konsert that won Best music show.

"It's a big deal to have so many talented people and productions recognised at these awards - huge congratulations to all the winners," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, in a statement.

"There's a virtuous circle where quality local TV shows and movies attract more interest and more buyers, which in turn means more high-quality output, more jobs and an even stronger industry."

"By creating and funding so many original productions across the MultiChoice stable, I'd like to believe we're playing our part in driving that virtuous circle and in telling Africa’s stories. The fact that we're getting interest in our originals from around the world is a testament to the quality of our industry."

Why the NFVF's South African Film and Television Awards risks becoming even more out-of-touch and irrelevant with viewers.

The National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) yet-again disastrous 13th South African Film and Television Awards risk becoming even more out-of-touch with ordinary viewers, and irrelevant, with the vast majority of shows that won on Sunday that was not known to, recognised or seen by, or accessible to the majority of South Africa's viewers.

Saturday night's botched live broadcast of the 13th Saftas on SABC2 produced by Clive Morris Productions was awkward in that it took place on a TV channel of the South African public broadcaster - with the SABC forced to give the majority of coverage and exposure to shows and winners not seen by the vast majority of South African TV households and millions of households watching the SABC.

While pay-TV and video streaming stars and shows, completely unfamiliar to the bulk of the audience, were seen by SABC viewers as raking in the majority of the awards, viewers don't understand why they don't see Muvhango, 7de Laan, Generations or The Queen stars or winners.

The reality is that the production companies of several of the SABC's biggest shows are boycotting the NFVF and its Saftas, along with Ferguson Films making programmes for subscription broadcasting like M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel.

Jointly, these shows lure millions of viewers, as the most-watched shows on SABC1, SABC2 and Mzansi Magic, with their continuing and growing absence causing lesser-known and much lesser-seen shows and talent from for instance MultiChoice, M-Net and Showmax to end up winning the available awards.

Generations - The Legacy, produced by Mfundi Vundla's Morula Pictures, for the second consecutive time was boycotting the Saftas as SABC1's and South Africa's second most-watched show and soap, pulling 7.9 million viewers.

Muvhango, SABC2's Venda soap produced by Duma Ndlovu's Word of Mouth productions for the fourth consecutive time and fifth time overall was boycotting the Saftas. Muvhango is SABC2's most-watched show and soap, pulling 6.1 million viewers.

7de Laan, SABC2's Afrikaans language soap with 2.2 million viewers produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, for the third time was boycotting the Saftas.

The telenovela The Queen is the most watched show on all of MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform with 1.5 million viewers, while The Throne lured 717 800 viewers in January 2019.

The NFVF and Saftas organisers when asked what specifically they did, told TVwithThinus they did nothing the past year to reach out to unhappy producers to try and sort out the litany of issues that production companies are unhappy with when it comes to the Safta awards.

The Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) is now also contemplating boycotting the NFVF's Saftas from the next awards.

With so many of the biggest shows on South African television just simply gone and Saftas organisers making as if they don't exist, this makes it firstly "strange" to viewers when they watch an awards show like the Saftas but don't know the people they see, haven't watched them, don't have access to the shows, and are not familiar with the stories.

It feels foreign, distant and detached seeing people walking on stage that you don't know, haven't seen and can't relate with.

Secondly, it becomes off-putting and actively audience-alienating for a viewing audience when they don't see their favourite show or shows, or talent appear and also sometimes win.

It actively drives viewers away, who abandon an awards show and tune out when they are made to feel as if their favourite show, actor or talent is being snubbed or deemed "not good enough".

Viewers don't know or understand that their show didn't enter or that stars and productions are actively boycotting an awards show.

All they know and see is that they don't see their shows and stars. Because viewers identify so strongly with a show, they feel that a part of them as a viewer is being rejected. In return, they reject the awards show.

The big danger is that the less inclusive the NFVF's South African Film and Television Awards becomes year after year, the more irrelevant and out-of-touch it becomes as it no longer fully represents and reflects the true taste, favourites and breadth of what's available, made and actually being shown and watched on South African television.

Showmax makes South African TV history as it wins 5 awards at the NFVF's 13th Saftas and the first for a video streaming service.

From left: Ari Kruger, Julia Anastasopoulos, Daniel Zimbler, Keren Setton, and Candice Fangueiro 

Showmax has made South African TV history winning 5 awards at 2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) that took place on Saturday, becoming the first video streaming service to win at the awards show for an original production that was also its first.

Tali's Wedding Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios and created by the husband and wife team of Ari Kruger and Julia Anastasopoulos and with her starring, saw big wins for both.

Tali's Wedding Diary won Golden Horn trophies on Saturday at Sun City for Best achievement in directing (Ari Kruger), Best achievement in cinematography (James Adey), Best achievement in editing (Richard Starkey), Best actress (Julia Anastasopoulos), and for Best TV comedy.

Tali's Wedding Diary was the show with the most wins out of the 13 comedy categories at the Saftas.

Julia Anastasopoulos in her acceptance speech thanked Showmax, Sketchbook Studios and her director husband for bringing Tali's Wedding Diary to life.

Candice Fangueiro, the head of content for MultiChoice Connected Video division, on Sunday told TVwithThinus that "When we were making Tali’s Wedding Diary we joked about winning a Safta - it seemed totally crazy given it was our first fully-fledged Showmax Original and all of us were learning as we went".

"Fast-forward and we're on stage not just winning one Safta award but taking home five. I'm still pinching myself."

"Julia and Ari have been amazing partners in bringing to life a character who South Africa has come to love."

"Tali's Wedding Diary has become bigger than we ever could have expected and this gives us the confidence and appetite to get out there and tell more stories. I’m really grateful to everyone involved - what an incredible outcome," said Candice Fangueiro.

NFVF's 13th Saftas marred by winner envelope mistakes as actress Crystal Donna Roberts and McDonalds SA boss Greg Solomon are awkwardly left struggling on stage with no and wrong envelopes.

The bad and shoddy production values at this year's 13th South African Film and Television Awards was once again in full display and caused embarrassment when film category presenters - actress Crystal Donna Roberts and McDonalds SA boss Greg Solomon - were left standing during ongoing envelope mistakes that marred the Best actor, Best actress and Best supporting actress announcements.

Actress Crystal Donna Roberts and McDonalds South Africa CEO Greg Solomon walked out on the stage for the film categories in Saturday night's live broadcast from Sun City for the National Film and Video Foundation's 13th Saftas that was a live broadcast on SABC2, when the embarrassing trouble began.

After the nominee video for Best Actor in a feature film rolled, Greg Solomon and Crystal Donna Roberts were awkwardly left standing with no envelope and with nothing on the Clive Morris Productions autocue screen for them to say.

"They're just building some suspense now," said Crystal Donna Roberts, still without envelope, starting to play for time. "As we wait. Everyone's nervous. Who's it gonna be? We don't know."

"I've run out of script now," said Crystal Donna Roberts awkwardly. "Sorry guys. Totally run out of script."

A runner finally appeared from backstage handing an envelope to Crystal Donna Roberts.

"Right. You've got it? You're ready?" asked Greg Solomon. "And the Golden Horn goes to ..."

"Jarrid Geduld; Ellen, die Ellen Pakkies Storie," said Crystal Donna Roberts.

But this wasn't end.

Next came the nominee video roll for Best Supporting Actress in a feature film with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, June van Merch and Ilse Klink as nominees.

"We' don't have to ad lib this time. And the Golden Horn goes to ..." said Greg Solomon confidently, but he had no idea of the mess to come.

Crystal Donna Roberts suddenly read the envelope she was handed, although it was the wrong one: "Best actress in a feature film, the Golden Horn goes to Jill Levenberg; Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie".

Jill Levenberg walked to stage, as Greg Solomon stood awkwardly and Crystal Donna Roberts suddenly realised the mistake and looked around for direction and help as she walked to the side of the stage, saying "I don't understand what I must do. Okay, okay, sorry".

Jill Levenberg was told to step aside and wait in the wings.

"And then, Best supporting actress in a feature film, goes to Ilse Klink in Stroomop," said Crystal Donna Roberts, reading the next and now correct new envelope that got handed to her, with actress Ilse Klink who now came to stage to give her speech.

After that the video roll for Best actress in a feature film unspooled although everyone now knew Jill Levenberg won. "Guess who? Jill Levenberg!" shouted Crystal Donna Roberts as the actress came back out from backstage, saying "Wow, what a strange experience".

Neo Moretlwe, NFVF communications coordinator and Saftas publicist Keagile Makgoba from Instinctif PR agency on Sunday didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment and an explanation as to why the Saftas wrong envelope mistakes occurred.


UPDATE Monday 4 March 2019 08:10:

Instinctif issues a "holding statement" from Clive Morris Productions, saying "As CMP we pride ourselves on striving for production excellence and have a long history of flawless live productions".

"However, on a live broadcast there is always the possibility of human error. Even the Oscars can attest to this."

"During the live broadcast of the Saftas, the show was running extremely heavy, well beyond the two and a half hour allotted broadcast time and the production team was forced to make radical cuts while live on air."

"Unfortunately these unrehearsed edits resulted in miscommunication between backstage and production and what followed was an incorrect envelope being brought on stage. As the production team we take responsibility for the error and regret any distress it may have caused."

"As CMP we are honoured to have produced the industry awards and we look forward to contributing further and growing our industry. There are learnings we would like to share with the NFVF to mitigate this for future SAFTA productions."

2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) sees M-Net's The River on DStv's 1Magic channel win the most awards at 10, while Showmax makes history winning the first awards for a video streaming service.

In another embarrassing broadcast production of the South African Film and Television Awards on Saturday night the National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 13th Saftas saw M-Net's telenovela The River on 1Magic (DStv 103) win the most awards - 10 - with Showmax making history, winning its first awards and marking the first awards ever going to a video streaming service in the history of the awards show.

With multiple production companies boycotting the Saftas this year in a list that's growing, winners who were announced at the technical awards on Saturday morning and the evening's "main" awards at Sun City were not truly legitimate and representative of the South African film and television industry.

The NFVF and Saftas organisers admitted they did nothing the past year to reach out to producers and to address their concerns around the Saftas.

The 13th Saftas broadcast on SABC2 was presented by Pearl Modiadie and Thomas Msengana who were flat in the presentation in a production filled with multiple mistakes and problems, ranging from sound to visual mistakes and even a wrong winners envelope.

In a statement Shadrack Bokaba, NFVF acting CEO, said "With the Saftas, the NFVF looks to celebrate the industry as a whole while being able to outline some of the inroads made in the industry and I believe that this weekend, we certainly did that. Well done to all the winners."


Best short film
Stillborn (Yellowbone Entertainment)

Best student film
The Water Dancers (University of Cape Town)


TV COMEDY
Best achievement in directing
Tali's Wedding Diary (Ari Kruger)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Thuli no Thulani (Rethabile Ramaphakela, Mpho Osei, Karabo Lediga, Anne Davis, Julian Koboekae, Tshegofatso Monaisa, Meren Reddy, Bradley Katzen, Katleho Ramaphakela)

Best achievement in art direction
Abo Mzala III (Lerato Pitso)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Abo Mzala III (Regentse Munyai)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Abo Mzala III ( Gisselah McLeod)

Best achievement in sound
Bedford Wives (Janno Muller)

Best achievement in cinematography 
Tali's Wedding Diary (James Adey)

Best achievement in editing
Talis' Wedding Diary (Richard Starkey)

Best actress
Julia Anastasopoulos (Tali's Wedding Diary)

Best actor
Hannes Burmmer (Elke Skewe Pot)

Best supporting actress
Nomsa Buthelezi (Abo Mzala III)

Best supporting actor
Warren Masemola (Single Galz)

Best TV comedy
Tali's Wedding Diary (Sketchbook Productions)


TV SOAP
Best achievement in directing
Isibaya (Phiwe Mkhanzi, Sthembiso Mathenjwa)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Isithembiso (Charleen Ntsane, Chris Blomkamp, Daniel Zimbler, Sayitsheni Mdakhi,  Iain Paton, Catherine Muller,  Libby Dougherty, Andrew Petersen, Mbasa  Tsetsana, Thabo Boom, Matthew Jankes)

Best achievement in editing
Isithembiso (Kirsten de Magalhaes, Rian van der Walt, Jeremy Briers, Molatsi Molefe, Martin Mosala, Sphiwe Nhlumayo, Matodzi Nedmungadi, Tshepo Kgatsoetsoe, Brett Anolik)

Best achievement in sound
Isithembiso (Sevetian Maslamoney, Zeno Peterson)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Uzalo (Nokubonga Ngobeni)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Uzalo (Stella Johnson)

Best achievement in art direction
Getroud met Rugby (Michelle Cronje)

Best actress
Kgomotso Christopher (Scandal!)

Best actor
Jamie Bartlett (Rhythm City)

Best supporting actress
Gcina Mkhize (Isibaya)

Best supporting actor
Abdul Khoza (Isibaya)

Best TV soap
Uzalo (Stained Glass TV)


TELENOVELA
Best achievement in directing
The River (Johnny Barbuzano, Catharine Cooke, Zolani Phakade, Ferry Jele)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
The River (Gwydion Beynon, Phathutshedzo Makwarela)

Best achievement in original music
The River (Brendan Jury)

Best achievement in editing
The River (Ula Oelsen, Bongi Malefo, Matodzi Nemungadi)

Best achievement in sound
The River (Ben Oelsen, Lele Seate, Tladi Mabuya)

Best achievement in cinematography
The River (Gaopalelwe Kabe, Trevor Brown)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Broken Vows (Princess Morodi)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Broken Vows (Mmabatho Seema)

Best achievement in art direction
Broken Vows (Sam Dell)

Best actress
Moshidi Motshegwa (The River)

Best actor
Presley Chweneyagae (The River)

Best supporting actress
Vele Manenje (Ring of Lies II)

Best supporting actor
Lawrence Maleka (The River)

Best telenovela
The River (Tshedza Pictures)


TV DRAMA
Best achievement in directing
Tjovitjo (Vincent Moloi)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Emoyeni (Thishiwe  Ziqubu, Karabo Lediga, Tshenolo  Mabale, Nozipho Nkelemba, Mmabatho  Montsho)

Best achievement in editing
Emoyeni (Itumeleng Nkabinde)

Best achievement in sound
Fynskrif (Stef Albertyn)

Best achievement in original music
Fynskrif (Braam Du Toit)

Best achievement in art direction
The Docket (Ilze Van Den Berg, Richard Rehbock, Nazo Maloyi)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Lockdown II (Gisellah Mcleod)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Lockdown II (Babalwa Carol Djieutcheu)

Best achievement in cinematography
Emoyeni (Marc Rowlston)

Best actress
Dawn Thandeka King (Lockdown II)

Best actor
Mothusi Magano (Emoyeni)

Best supporting actress
Lorcia Cooper (Lockdown II)

Best supporting actor
S'dumo Mtshali (Is'thunzi II)

Best TV drama
Lockdown II (Black Brain Productions)



Best documentary short
The NFVF and Saftas suddenly didn't award this category because there is now a dispute regarding an ownership issue. The NFVF, Saftas organisers and Instinctif PR agency didn't notify the public about this and by Monday morning, 4 March 2019 hasn't responded to media enquiries about what is going on with the category.


DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Best achievement in directing 
Everything Must Fall (Rehad Desai)

Best achievement in cinematography
Tribe versus Pride (Dereck Joubert)

Best achievement in editing
Tribe versus Pride (Jolene Van Antwerp)

Best achievement in sound design
Tribe versus Pride (Beverly Joubert)

Best documentary feature
Everything Must Fall (Uhuru Productions Pty Ltd)


Best wildlife programme
Incredible Bats (Earth Touch)

Best children's programme
Restyle my Style IV (Quizzical Pictures)

Best reality show
My First (Mirror Effect Media)

Best game show
Noot vir Noot 43 (Stemmburg Television)

Best international format show
My Kitchen Rules SA II (Picture Tree)

Best factual and education programme
Kick it (Engage Entertainment)

Best current affairs programme
Dr Sello Of Ikhageng (Health-e, Checkpoint)

Best variety show
Jan (Brainwave Productions)

Best magazine show
Nisboere (Production etal)

Best youth programme
Mi Kasi Su Kasi (What Box)

Best talk show
Thando Bares All (Oxyg3n Media)

Best music show
The Rockets 50ste Herdenkingskonsert (All Star Productions)

Best made for TV movie
Thembi's Trial (Chocolate Milk and Cookies)


FEATURE FILM
Best achievement in directing
Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie (Daryne Joshua)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Kanarie (Christiaan Olwagen, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder)

Best achievement in cinematography
Meerkat Maantuig (Willie Nel)

Best achievement in sound design
Sew the Winter to my Skin (Barry Donnelly)

Best achievement in original music
Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie (Quinn Lubbe)

Best achievement in editing
Nommer 37 (Simon  Beesley)

Best achievement in production design 
Five Fingers for Marseilles (J Franz  Lewis)

Best achievement in costume design
Five Fingers for Marseilles (Pierre Vienings) 

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling
Stroomop (Minuche Bridgette Snyman)

Best actress
Jill Levenberg (Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie)

Best actor
Jarrid Geduld (Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie)

Best supporting actress
Ilse Klink (Stroomop)

Best supporting actor
Zolisa Xaluva (Sew the Winter to my Skin)

Best feature film
Sew the Winter to my Skin (Yellowbone Entertainment)


Best TV presenter
Siv Ngesi (The Man Cave VI)

Most popular soap/telenovela
The River (Tshedza Pictures)