TV REVIEW. Wrong envelope syndrome and mistakes remain but 18th SAFTAs finally looked smoother

by Thinus Ferreira

As a new first-time-done production after a new producer took over the TV broadcast of the 18th South African Film and Television Awards, the 3-hour showcase on Saturday night was smoother sailing than in previous years, although mistakes - like another wrong envelope opened - persisted.

The live 18th SAFTAs main awards show, done from Hall 3 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg on Saturday night was far from the error-riddled, cringeworthy and painful watching experience it has perpetually been in previous years.

Produced by Relebogile Mabotja and Bruce Townsend's Black Swan Media, the 18th SAFTAs telecast shown on SABC2 and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) became probably the first-ever SAFTAs award show to achieve a passing grade, with a lot fewer of the obvious mistakes that marred previous years.

Viewers however still had to watch through 23 minutes for the first award to be handed out in what is an awards show. At 20:23 viewers finally got their first winner. 

Throughout the night several very amateurish-looking presenters announced nominees and winners in categories, with several blatantly struggling to pronounce show titles and the names of winners. 

Clearly, nobody was prepped by floor managers or through voicenotes in the week on how to pronounce the few nominees correctly which they would have to articulate on stage. Leave it to a reality TV star to literally say: "Oh, I'm not going to pronounce this correctly".

Sound problems, sound level issues and background music playing during speeches persisted all night.

Where winners in categories were no-shows it became obvious that the majority were from outside of Johannesburg and not flown by the NFVF to the SAFTAs. 

Once again this year viewers had to hear a "No sorry. Correction. They gave me the wrong one ..." on Saturday night after a wrong envelope was opened prematurely and viewers discovered Natasha Sutherland was going to win as Best supporting actress in a TV drama before it was that category. 

The In Memoriam segment was the most complete one at the SAFTAs ever (great).

It had a funeral sponsor (good), although wrong camerawork and angles coupled with wrong control room decisions for certain shots made several names completely invisible and unseen (bad). 

The singer also stood in front of and was camera-framed in front of dearly departed names in several shots, also making some names illegible (bad) to viewers at home.

Great was the addition for the first time in SAFTAs history of a sign language interpreter block in the bottom right corner, as well as the very first deaf presenter to introduce a category, who spoke with the help of an interpreter.

Also great were the SAFTAs stage design and stage lighting (especially the LED strip lights as trim on the steps).

The addition of a righthand side block on stage depicting television watching and the making through different eras all the way to today's ring-light home studios set-up was a very nice touch.

Also well done were pre-filmed mini-reunions like the cast of Surburban Bliss reflecting on the show during its time, issues like racism and the evolution of South Africa's TV biz.

Another very good improvement: The SAFTAs producers who stopped showing and lovingly panning across empty seats. 

Very few empty seats were visible, along with very few people seen walking and milling about. It made the awards show appear much more elegant and orderly.

The rolling film interstitial that framed slightly hazy clips of nominees looked and worked very good as an audio-visual element.  

The NFVF's SAFTAs showed boobs (Shaka iLembe) for the first time ever, although just a second.

The SAFTAs also for the very first time ever included the uncensored "F-word" - twice - in a pre-packaged clip and without any language warning on SABC2 or Mzansi Magic. Keep in mind this is supposedly family-viewing as variety programming.

The speech of Kagiso Modupe, who won as Best supporting actor in a TV comedy for Netflix's Yoh! Christmas, was extremely cringe-worthy to watch as he claimed that he was the only person to ever have paid actors royalties.

His highly ironic utterances came as the very upset cast and crew of his Pound 4 Pound series for Paramount Africa's BET channel have still not been paid. 

Best acceptance speech of the 18th SAFTAs probably goes to Zikhona Sodlaka who won as Best actress in a telenovela for Mzansi Magic's cancelled Gqeberha - The Empire.

She said: "Who knew that a time like this would come when the world would be ready for performers from Africa? When the world would be ready for our stories? And told exactly as who we are. If you are watching from home, you are enough."

18 SAFTAs full winners list: Shaka iLembe clinches 12 Golden Horns

by Thinus Ferreira 

South Africa's most expensive TV show to date earned its hefty price tag with the first season of Shaka iLembe which won 12 awards at the 18th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), while Netflix's Yoh!, Christmas and Showmax's Outlaws both netted eight Golden Horns each.

Over the two-night craft and main awards ceremonies on Friday and Saturday night – again held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg – MultiChoice and M-Net’s set of TV channels on DStv scooped 32 wins in total, followed by Netflix South Africa with 19.

MultiChoice's streamer Showmax won 10 awards in total, although its Canal+ co-production drama series Spinners got completely shut out and was snubbed with no wins.

Amazon Prime Video surprisingly grabbed seven trophies, five of which were for The Fragile King, which also won Best feature film.

The wins are both painful and ironic since Amazon Studios shocked and dismayed the local film industry when it abruptly decided to exit South African original production earlier this year.

The SABC won 12 categories for various content on the South African public broadcaster. eMedia’s e.tv won just four categories although it included a win for a second consecutive year for Ochre Media's Scandal! in the Most popular soap category, which is a public vote.

The 18th SAFTAs primarily belonged to three shows: MultiChoice and M-Net's first season of the Shaka iLembe drama series from Bomb Shelter seen on Mzansi Magic, Netflix South Africa’s Yoh!, Christmas comedy series from BBZEE Films, as well as the Outlaws telenovela on Showmax from Tshedza Pictures.

Shaka iLembe won 12 categories including Best TV drama.

Meanwhile Yoh!, Christmas pushed kykNET’s Taktiek (with just one win) out of the way to grab eight Golden Horns, including for Best TV comedy. Outlaws won eight awards, including for Best telenovela.

SABC1’s Skeem Saam won Best TV soap, while Best documentary went to !Aitsa. The late Mpho Sebeng won Best supporting actor in a telenovela for his role in SABC3’s The Estate.

The SAFTAs gave Lifetime achiever awards to Generations creator Mfundi Vundla, as well as to the actor and sculptor Arthur Molepo.

The 18th SAFTAS once again suffered from some technical problems and mistakes like the opening of a wrong envelope too soon, revealing Natasha Sutherland as Best supporting actress in a TV drama too soon and before the category's turn.

Lebogang Mogoera, acting CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), said the SAFTAs is "immensely proud of the calibre of talent showcased this year and the hard work of all those involved in bringing these stories to life".

"A big thank you to our long-standing broadcast partners MultiChoice and SABC whose support enabled us to bring the awards to all South Africans."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, said "This weekend highlighted the rich diversity and powerful storytelling that our creative industry offers viewers".

"As the leading investor in local content across Africa, MultiChoice is dedicated to supporting and expanding the continent’s film and television landscape. Congratulations to all the winners and to the teams who poured their talent and hard work into bringing these stories to life."

Here's the full list of winners of 2024's 18th South African Film and Television Awards:

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND - DOCUMENTARY

!AITSA | Simon Kohler, MED CINE, Encounters Festival

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING - DOCUMENTARY

Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story | Ebenhaezer Smal (Haezer), Orange Films and Star Films, Showmax, M-Net, SuperSport

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY - DOCUMENTARY

Rosemary's Hitlist | Sims Phakisi, Idea Candy, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - DOCUMENTARY

Music Is My Life - Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo | Mpumi "Supa" Mbele, LifeOfJS, SABC1

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Faces of Fortune, Red Coat Films, Encounters festival

BEST MADE FOR TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Pale Ya Kosa, Full Circle Productions, SABC2

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

!AITSA | MED CINE, Encounters Festival

BEST CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME

Baking With the Rey's | Rey Music, SABC3

BEST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME

The Khoekhoe Saga | On Set Images, SABC2

BEST FACTUAL PROGRAMME

Outopsie | 7EVENTY9 Films, VIA

BEST COMPETITION REALITY SHOW

Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam | Homebrew Films, kykNET

BEST STRUCTURED SOAPIE REALITY SHOW

Young, Famous and African S2 | Urban Brew Studios & A Pop Media, Netflix

BEST STRUCTURED OR DOCU-REALITY SHOW

Reno Race | RHT United T/A RichCon, SABC1

BEST YOUTH PROGRAMME

MTV Shuga Down South S3 | Burnt Onion Productions, BET Africa

BEST ONLINE CONTENT

The Adventures of Noko Mashaba - Struggles of SA Youth | Rams Comics, YouTube/Facebook

BEST LIFESTYLE PROGRAMME

Die Argitekte | Thank you kindly, Bobby, VIA

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMME

Checkpoint | eNCA

BEST MADE FOR TV MOVIE

'n Tyd van Waterpere| Sonvelt Media, M-Net, kykNET

BEST INTERNATIONAL FORMAT

The Masked Singer SA | Rose and Oaks Media, SABC3

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME

Koppestamp | Just Ad Production, kykNET

BEST VARIETY SHOW

Sport@10 | SABC Sport, SABC1

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING - TV COMEDY

Roomies | Yonela Nombewu, 32Done Productions, 1Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN WARDROBE - TV COMEDY

Roomies | Thembelihle Buthelezi, 32Done Productions, 1Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND - TV COMEDY

Yoh! Christmas | Themba Mashinini, Guy Steer, BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION - TV COMEDY

Magaeng | Kagiso Malefane, Burnt Onion Productions, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING - TV COMEDY

Yoh! Christmas, Tessa Verfuss, Quinn Lubbe, Miriam Arndt, BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING - TV COMEDY

Yoh! Christmas | Tiffany Barbuzano, Zoleka Monare, Johny Barbuzano, Gillian Breslin, BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY - TV COMEDY

Yoh! Christmas | James Adey, BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - TV COMEDY

Yoh! Christmas | Johnny Barbuzano, Lauren Chengan, Sanele Zulu, Zolani Phakade, Chris Beasley, BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Queen Motlatle, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN WARDROBE - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Shirley Masondo, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Dylan Lloyd, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SPECIAL EFFECTS (SFX) IN HAIR AND MAKE-UP- FILM/TV

Do Your Worst | Nicola Roodt, Ronwyn Jarrett & Cassidy Lombard, Blingola Media, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Athanasios Koundouris, Vaughan Phillips, Andries Scholtz, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC/SCORE - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Philip Miller, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ORIGINAL SONG – TV DRAMA

Classified | Zethu Mashika, Diprente, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Sibongeleni Mabuyakhulu, Llewellyn Rice, Megan Gill, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi 

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS (VFX) – FILM/TV

Shaka Ilembe | Eugen Olsen, Gerhard Painter, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Zeno Petersen, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Thishiwe Ziqubu, Paul Grootboom, Catherine Stewart, Andrew Peterson, Daniel, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic 

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - TV DRAMA

Shaka Ilembe | Angus Gibson, Zeno Petersen, Adze Ugah, Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING - TV SOAP/TELENOVELA

1802-Love Defies Time | Lungelwa Mildred Hela, Hela Media, 1Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN WARDROBE - TV SOAP/TELENOVELA

House of Zwide | Bevely Mogorosi, Teddy Geldart, Bomb Shelter, e.tv

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING –TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Natalie Varoy, Ebenhaezer Smal, Bongi Malefo, Siwelile Mbanjwa, Nandi Mehlomakulu, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC/SCORE – TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Brendan Jury, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ORIGINAL SONG – TELENOVELA

The River | Brendan Jury, Sindi Dlathu, Tshedza Pictures, 1Magic

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY – TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Ntobeko Dlamini, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND – TV SOAP

Binnelanders | Eric McKechnie, Barry Gillot, Stark Films, kykNET

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND –TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Geoff Kock, Clark Fivaz, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION - TV SOAP/TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Waldemar Coetsee, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING – TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Gwydion Beynon, Phathutshedzo Makwarela, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Tebogo Malope, Thembalethu Mfebe, Nthabi Tau, Menga Nhlabathi, Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING – TV SOAP

Skeem Saam | Khomotjo Aphane, Myrah Molokomme, Metsa Makhwidiri, Joseph Senosi, Kelton Sinyosi, Sibusisiwe Manqele, Siphamandla Madondo, Zola Hlungwani, Peu, SABC1

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING – TV SOAP

Skeem Saam | Mmoni Moabi, Percy Maboane, Ricardo Klassen, Peu, SABC1

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING - FEATURE FILM

iNumber Number: Jozi Gold | Theola Booyens, Quizzical Pictures, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN – FEATURE FILM

Hans Steek die Rubicon Oor | Marné van der Burgh,  Red Letter Day Pictures, kykNET

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN – FEATURE FILM

iNumber Number: Jozi Gold | Bathoni Robinson, Quizzical Pictures, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DESIGN - FEATURE FILM

Blindelings | Tim Pringle, 17 FILMS, kykNET

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING – FEATURE FILM

Runs in the Family | Eva Du Preez, Giant Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC/ SCORE - FEATURE FILM

Runs in the Family | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, Giant Films, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ORIGINAL SONG - FEATURE FILM

Big Nunu's Little Heist | Zandile Patrick Nyathi, Diprente, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY – FEATURE FILM

iNumber Number: Jozi Gold | Tom Marais, Quizzical Pictures, Netflix

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING - FEATURE FILM

The Fragile King | Tristan Holmes, The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video

BEST STUDENT FILM - ANIMATION

By Two | The Animation School

BEST STUDENT FILM - LIVE ACTION

Anguish | AFDA

BEST ANIMATION

Kizazi Moto Generation Fire: Herderboy | Triggerfish Animation Studios, Disney+

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV SOAP

Marlee van der Merwe (Binnelanders) | Stark Films, kykNET

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV SOAP

Kabelo Thai (Scandal!) | Ochre Media, e.tv

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELENOVELA

Mmarona Motsegoa (Redemption) | Burnt Onion Productions & Seriti Films, BET Africa

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELENOVELA

Mpho Sebeng (The Estate) | Clive Morris Productions, SABC3

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SOAP

Elizabeth Serunye (Skeem Saam) | Peu, SABC1

BEST ACTOR IN A TV SOAP

Germandt Geldenhuys (Binnelanders) | Stark Films, kykNET

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELENOVELA

Zikhona Sodlaka (Gqeberha - The Empire) | Tshedza Pictures, Mzansi Magic

BEST ACTOR IN A TELENOVELA

Presley Chweneyagae (The River) |Tshedza Pictures, 1Magic

BEST TV SOAP

Skeem Saam | Peu, SABC1

BEST TELENOVELA

Outlaws | Tshedza Pictures, Showmax

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA

Natasha Sutherland (Lioness S2) |  Ochre Media ADO Arena Holdings, M-Net

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA

Nat Ramabulana (Fatal Seduction) | Ochre Media ADO Arena Holdings, Netflix

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA

Shannon Esra (Lioness S2) | Ochre Media ADO Arena Holdings, M-Net

BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA

Thembinkosi Mthembu (Shaka iLembe) | Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST TV DRAMA

Shaka iLembe | Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV COMEDY

Dorothy Anne Gould (Yoh! Christmas) | BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV COMEDY

Kagiso Modupe (Yoh! Christmas) | BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV COMEDY

Marion Holm (Taktiek) | Nagvlug Films, kykNET

BEST ACTOR IN A TV COMEDY

Prev Reddy (Miseducation) | Burnt Onion Productions, Netflix

BEST TV COMEDY

Yoh! Christmas | BBZEE Films, Netflix

BEST SHORT FILM

Father's Day | Bunzi Bear Pictures, The Film Festival Doctor

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM

Jennifer Steyn (The Fragile King) | The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM

Adrian Alper (Seconds) | Free Women Films, Amazon Prime Video

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM

Antoinette Louw (The Fragile King) | The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM

Vusi Kunene (Seconds) | Free Women Films, Amazon Prime Video

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING – FEATURE FILM

The Fragile King | Tristan Holmes, The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video

BEST FEATURE FILM

The Fragile King | The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video

BEST NATURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME

Legends of Venom: Viper | Earth Touch | National Geographic

BEST TV PRESENTER (public vote)

Laconco (Forever Thina) | Urban Brew Studios, Mzansi Magic

MOST POPULAR TV SOAP OR TELENOVELA (public vote)

Scandal! | Ochre Media, e.tv

LIFETIME ACHIEVER AWARD

Arthur Molepo

Mfundi Vundla

YOUTH ACHIEVER AWARD

Kenneth Vuyani Mbalula

OUTSTANDING PERSON WITH DISABILITY CONTRIBUTOR AWARD

Tebatso Mashishi

OUTSTANDING PROVINCIAL CONTRIBUTOR AWARD

Sizwe Shabangu

EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD

Josh Crickmay

ALSO READ: TV REVIEW. Wrong envelope syndrome and mistakes remain but 18th SAFTAs finally looked smoother

Tarnished NFVF set for Golden Horn handouts at ‘Back to Basics’ 18th SAFTAs

by Thinus Ferreira

The buckling National Film and Video Foundation will mount the 18th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) this Saturday evening at Gallagher Estate with Lerato Kganyago and Skhumba Hlophe as co-hosts.

Black Swan is the first-time production company mounting the TV awards broadcast this year for the embattled NFVF. 

The organisation is mired in behind-the-scenes drama - something which will undoubtedly make for some awkward moments and a lot of gossip over champagne glasses at Saturday's arrival pre-drinks in Midrand, the main ceremony, as well as the official after-party.

The rudderless NFVF is still without a CEO and also without a NFVF council that had been disbanded on 30 July, with Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's new sports, arts and culture minister who slammed the organisation a few months ago, nothing that "there is a big problem at the National Film and Video Foundation".

He said "It can't be that all the people in the arts are complaining. There must be a problem there. We must address that problem. We are here to fix things."

The NFVF will now put up a "Back to Basics"-themed TV awards this weekend with Lebogang Mogoera, a chief director in the department of sport, arts and culture currently standing in as latest acting NFVF CEO.

The 18th SAFTAs was originally set to take place a month ago but was pushed out by a month to not clash with MultiChoice's DStv Delicious Festival on 22 September since MultiChoice is a SAFTAs partner. 

The 18th SAFTAs will first hand out Golden Horn trophies at its craft awards, streamed on YouTube on Friday evening at 19:30 with SABC3's Expresso presenters Christopher Jaftha and Kuhle Adams as the hosts.

On Saturday the main awards broadcast will be a simulcast on SABC2 and M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel from 19:30. It will start with a half-hour red carpet show from Gallagher Estate with presenters Katleho Sinivasan and Nomalanga Shozi.

The main awards show will start at 20:00 with co-hosts Lerato Kganyago and Skhumba Hlophe. Various "talent search winners" are also expected on stage to present category winners throughout the live show.

The two-and-a-half-hour live broadcast is supposed to end at 22:30, but in previous years, it has run over. 

Besides its "Back to Basics"-theme the TV awards show also plans to reflect on 30 years of South African democracy and how the local TV and film industry reflected and promoted a more diverse and equitable society while it changed as well.

According to the NFVF, the awards shows will "reflect the SAFTAs commitment to the fundamental principles of storytelling and filmmaking while embracing innovation and creativity in the digital age. As we reflect on our rich heritage and cultural identity, we also look ahead to the future of South African entertainment".

Black Swan Media headed up by Relebogile Mabotja and Bruce Townsend has been appointed as the production company for the 18th SAFTAs, producing the awards show for the first time.

"To produce for the first time this year as we celebrate 30 years of freedom and democracy and 18 years of SAFTAs is particularly special to us, on the back of winning our first SAFTA as a business last year," says Relebogile Mabotja.

"We look forward to producing a great project while bringing Mzansi along for the ride."

Several local production companies and producers continue to boycott the SAFTAs and have again not entered this year, while Word of Mouth Pictures' Muvhango and Danie Odendaal Productions' cancelled 7de Laan both snubbed the awards as well and once again making the soap categories incomplete.  

The 18th SAFTAs nominees tally has Netflix South Africa with the most at 59, followed by M-Net's Afrikaans kykNET division just one less, with 58 nominations. 

The SABC has 39 nominations, MultiChoice's Showmax streamer has 38, with eMedia's e.tv that snagged 17 nominations this year.

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK: From 'Neflix' to 'Tatkiek' the NFVF is secretly doing a shocking disservice to the SAFTAs.

by Thinus Ferreira

I didn't sleep at all last Wednesday night - ask the people who for instance got emails from me at 3am in the morning - as I sat like a Rumpelstiltskin and had to spin a 39-page PDF of awful, mistake-filled SAFTAs nominees hay into publishable gold.

With all due respect: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and its acting CEO Thobela Mayinje and the South African Film and Video Awards organisers have no idea and don't seem to care about the shocking damage it keeps inflicting on its own shoddily done awards and the way it keeps embarrassing instead of building South Africa's film and TV industry.

Does Anyone at the NFVF and the anonymous SAFTAs jury actually watch television? 

I'm asking, because you're calling Netflix "Neflix" and the kykNET comedy series Taktiek which is one of the most-nominated shows this year constantly "Tatkiek".

None of you noticed, bothered, cared or apparently read or checked your own documents - which makes me doubt everything you claimed you've watched, to choose the nominees.

I watch television and the multiple mistakes immediately jumped out at me, as they do every year. I've covered the SAFTAs since its very first year.

For this year's nominees announcement you once again couldn't bother with alerting the media and sending out an advisory, or calling journalists, that you'd be sending out and releasing the nominees list - you just suddenly dump an awful, mistake-riddled document on them.

There is no advisory, no nominees media briefing, no SAFTAs briefing, no proper SAFTAs media PR or dedicated SAFTAs publicity, and yet you probably wonder why there isn't actual coverage or more coverage of your awards (that taxpayers are paying for).

The only way I managed to get an embargoed list on Wednesday night last week is because of a publicist at a broadcaster (bless her soul!) who happened to alert me two weeks ago with a "Did you the NFVF plans to release the nominees this date?" 

If not for that, and not for her, I too would have been blindsided like the rest of South Africa's media that the 18th SAFTAs nominees were going to be dumped on us as a 39-page document that takes hours and hours to type and format and fix and get print ready.

Why is it that the PR teams of America's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the Oscars and the Television Academy doing the Emmys communicate with South African journalists and media more and better than what the NFVF does about the SAFTAs? It's a crying, disgusting shame.

Because you don't know or care, Redemption on Paramount Africa's BET channel is just "DStv".

Because you're clueless that the nominated City Beasts: Cape of Chaos is a People's Weather show, you just put "DStv" (although it's just shown on DStv, but also shown on eMedia's Openview). 

The same with Snakes in the City and Legends of Venom which are both National Geographic productions (you just go with the place-filler DStv).

Why is there no discussion ever, no interaction ever, no asking media ever: How would you like an awards show nominees list? In what format? On what date with an embargo if we plan to release the list on such-and-such a date? 

Why do you send a list but nothing visual like a photo? Have you ever seen a long article or a nomination article about an awards show anywhere without a picture of it?

Why must media who bother to call or need to phone, call the NFVF's landline and be put through a switchboard? Do your people who are getting paid to deal and communicate and liaise with media not want to really be bothered by media? It's 2024 and you do landline with media. Think about it.

Take a close look at the embarrassing document you've sent the media. 

It's "MNET" and then "Mnet" and "Mnet 101" and everything literally besides "M-Net" which is correct; and "kyknet" and "KYKNET" and "Kyknet"and "KykNet" - basically every single permutation besides "kykNET" which is the correct one. 

And is "Neflix" supposed to be Netflix?

The 18th SAFTAs nominees list goes from "LIFEOFJS" to "LifeofJS", and Amazon Prime (it's Amazon Prime Video or Prime Video - Amazon Prime is a subscription membership), to random CAPITAL LETTERS for 17 FILMS and DIPRENTE and others that become 17 Films and Diprente later.

The word "Tatkiek" which never existed, now exists on the internet - all thanks to you NFVF and SAFTAs (and the media that shamelessly copied and pasted your mistake-riddled list and press release and didn't check anything or didn't have time and wrote about TV but doesn't actually watch nominated shows).

How do you come up with the weird line spacing and the line justification that keeps jumping from left to full and back in the nominees document?

The entire way the NFVF as an agency of South Africa's department of Sport, Arts and Culture, "announces" SAFTAs nominees is inadequate, amateurish and extremely damaging to the industry it supposedly tries to elevate. 

It shows a lack of care, a lack of international industry know-how and best practices, and a lack of even the smallest attempt to try and find out, learn, and to do better and improve.

While nobody says anything, take my word for it: South African media everywhere are fed up (those who still care and haven't disengaged and given up). South African broadcasters and streamers are all irritated - they just won't say so publicly in order to maintain relationships.

And South Africa's producers, production companies, actors and people working their behinds off, and then trying and hoping for a nomination or maybe a Golden Horn, are superbly disappointed year after year in the tragic display the NFVF calls the SAFTAs nominees and SAFTAs awards ceremony broadcast. 

It's really way too late to get your act together. Start doing it better. Start doing it right.

And just a final question: What is happening with the 18th SAFTAs next month dear NFVF? 

As media, we know nothing. As in ... NOTHING. We heard about the date ... yesterday when you put it in a press release. Call us please - even if you have to use the landline.

ALSO READ: Nominees of 2024's South African Film and Television Awards: The full 18th SAFTAs list.

ALSO READ: Netflix 59, kykNET 58: A nominees tally break-down and why the 18th SAFTAs will be a red and blue letter throwdown.

Netflix 59, kykNET 58: A nominees tally break-down and why the 18th SAFTAs will be a red and blue letter throwdown.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix South Africa and kykNET are the two biggest nominee drivers of 2024's 18th South African Television and Film Awards with the red letter streamer earning 59 nominations and the blue K grabbing 58 nominations.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) released the nominations for the 18th SAFTAs last week. The awards ceremony was originally scheduled for September.

I've reliably learnt that the 18th SAFTAs has been pushed out by a month because the date clashed with MultiChoice's upcoming DStv Delicious Festival 2024 set for 21 and 22 September and that the NFVF and MultiChoice decided not to put on duelling events competing for public interest at the same time.

The 18th SAFTAs has now moved its technical and craft awards to 25 October which will be shown on YouTube, with the main awards which will be broadcast on 26 October on SABC3 and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).

While Netflix SA got the most nods, M-Net as a Randburg-based content hub - not the TV channel - got the most nominations.

If the nominations of programmes shown on SuperSport like Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story, nominations from M-Net (DStv 101) content like the second season of its Lioness drama series and Carte Blanche, as well as nominations for M-Net produced TV channels like 1Magic, Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu are added to kykNET's tally, the M-Net division surpasses Netflix with the most nominations this year.

The staggering over-performance of kykNET content - and specifically Afrikaans TV content within the overall number of SAFTAs nominations - become even more impressive when the nominations of Showmax Originals in Afrikaans like Trompoppie and Dam are added. 

Media24's VIA lifestyle channel on DStv also have a few nominations (3) for TV shows, further adding to the bulk of Afrikaans nominations at this year's SAFTAs.  

Streamer-wise MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax has 38 nominations, with its Cape Town-filmed Canal+ co-production Spinners largely shut out and snubbed with only three nominations. Spinners also wasn't eligible to enter the Best TV drama category since the lead production company is French.

Disney+ managed one nomination for its Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire animation series, with Amazon Studios that earlier this year decided to abruptly stop further production of any local South African and African continent that grabbed 11 nominations.

The South African public broadcaster got 39 nominations for the content across its channels - including for Primedia Studios' The Masked Singer on SABC3. 

The SABC likely could have added to its tally but Word of Mouth Pictures producing Muvhango and Danie Odendaal Productions that produced the cancelled 7de Laan, are two of the production companies that again snubbed the NFVF and didn't enter for the awards.

eMedia's e.tv grabbed 17 nominations, with Cape Town TV (CTV) which was the only community TV channel to get a nod with its single nomination for The Heart of Cape Town in the category for best achievement in sound in a documentary.

ALSO READ: Nominees of 2024's South African Film and Television Awards: The full 18th SAFTAs list.

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK: From 'Neflix' to 'Tatkiek' the NFVF is secretly doing a shocking disservice to the SAFTAs.