2025's Grammy Awards, Oscars and Sundance Film Festival going ahead despite Los Angeles wildfires

by Thinus Ferreira

America's 67th Grammy Awards, the 97th Academy Awards and 2025's 41st Sundance Film Festival will all go ahead despite the devastation wrought by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.

The 67th Grammy Awards set to take place on 2 February in Los Angeles will go ahead.

"In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and the responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on 2 February will proceed as planned," says Harvey Mason Jr, Recording Academy and MusiCares chief executive.

"This year's show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: Raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honouring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours."

"In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort and unite like nothing else. The Grammys will not only honour the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has again postponed the nominees announcement but says the 97th Academy Awards will go ahead as planned.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences originally scheduled this year's nominees announcement for this Thursday, 17 January, but it was then postponed due to the Los Angeles fires to Sunday 19 January. 

It has now again been postponed to next week Thursday, 23 January.

While the nominees luncheon on 10 February has been cancelled, the Academy says the 2025 Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles with host Conan O'Brien will still take place on Sunday 2 March. 

M-Net (DStv 101) will broadcast the 97th Academy Awards as it has done every year. 

The 2025 edition of America's Sundance Film Festival is also going ahead as scheduled from 23 January.

"Over the past few days, we've had many conversations with artists, volunteers, industry/press, trustees, donors, partners, and staff. The losses we're witnessing and so many are experiencing are hard to fathom and deeply emotional," says Amanda Kelso, acting Sundance CEO, in a statement.

"Yet, as we continue planning for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival - just 10 days away - we're moved by the resilience amidst the devastating loss."

"We may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on. Soon, we'll gather for Sundance's 41st Festival to discover a new year of films and filmmakers."

"Despite the challenges so many are confronting, we're making our final preparations for this year's Festival, as in times like these, our mission to support artists, uplift their work, and connect to communities is paramount."

"While it may challenge us in many ways, coming together will also empower and inspire us as we look to our future."

"Sundance exists to discover artists, celebrate their work, and support storytelling that connects people through the power of film and we know that coming together as a community can be both healing and catalytic."

kykNET's Old Righteous Blues chosen as South Africa's entry for the 97th Academy Awards

by Thinus Ferreira

The small-town drama around a young man's attempt to restore the once-glorious Old Righteous Blues Christmas choir band to its former stature is South Africa's official Oscars entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) announced that the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee chose Old Righteous Blues, set and filmed in the Western Cape province, as South Africa's official Oscars entry after an extensive judging process, which included scored reviews and in-depth deliberations.

The NFVF doesn't want to release the names of the panel of judges comprising South Africa's Academy Awards Selection Committee.

In Old Righteous Blues a young man confronts the long-standing consequences of a bitter feud started by his father two decades earlier which had split the choir in two and divided the community. 

For twenty years, street battles ensued, families were torn apart, and loyalties were tested as the two rival bands claimed ownership of the town’s Kerskoor with destructive and violent consequences.

Old Righteous Blues has already won 11 awards at the kykNET Silwerskermfees film festival, Romford Film Festival 2024 and Panther City Film Festivals. 

Some of the awards include Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Silwerskermfees for Joshwin Dyson, Muneera Sallies snagging Best Director at the 2024 Romford Film Festival, Ayden Croy winning for Best Actor at the 2024 Romford Film Festival, and Stefan Erasmus winning the category of Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 Panther City Film Festival.

Distributed by Indigenous Film Distribution, Old Righteous Blues which was acquired by M-Net for kykNET (DStv 144) is based on an original idea by writer and producer Carol Shore.

Director Muneera Sallies says Old Righteous Blues is "an intense glimpse into the life of a young man, a family, and a community. More than that it is an intense glimpse into a journey and into the heart of brotherhood, tapping into immense stores of pain, love, dreams, and courage".

"I was drawn to this project from the very first moment I had first picked up the script. I was intrigued and captivated by the characters and their stories within this little community, so much so that I immediately decided to visit and experience the streets of Bo-Dorp Robertson."

Lebogang Mogoera, acting NFVF CEO, in a statement, says Old Righteous Blues "is a testament to the exceptional storytelling talent within South Africa".

"We are honoured to have Old Righteous Blues represent us on such a prestigious global platform, and we believe its universal themes of redemption, community, and overcoming the past will captivate audiences worldwide."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, says "Old Righteous Blues is a powerful reflection of the complex and often painful dynamics of community, legacy and redemption".

"The film's setting is truly local and the mesmeric writing offers a unique and poignant South African perspective on unity and hope amidst division".

"MultiChoice is dedicated to telling African stories – produced and told by Africans – and taking them to the rest of the world, where they stand shoulder-to-shoulder alongside other would-be Academy Award contenders."

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net channel director for premium channels, says "The world which unfolds in Old Righteous Blues is magical and unique to the rural Western Cape towns where the movie was filmed".

"The story highlights the richness of South African heritage, while also exploring universal themes of resilience and identity."

"These Christmas choir bands are vehicles for joy and hope which the film captures with grace, warmth and humour. We are thrilled for the teams involved that this beautiful movie will represent the best of South African film-making in the run-up to the Oscars in 2025."

The top 11 nominations in the Best International Feature Film category will be announced on 17 December 2024 and the final top 5 will be announced on 17 January 2025.