Variations on a Theme Selected by NFVF as South Africa's Official Entry for 99th Oscars in Best International Feature Film Category

by Thinus Ferreira

Variations on a Theme, in Afrikaans also titled Variasies op 'n Tema has been selected by the struggling National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) as South Africa's official entry for the 99th Annual Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category

Variations on a Theme is a 100% Afrikaans drama written and directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, with cinematography by Gray Kotzé and stars Hettie Farmer - Jacobs' real-life grandmother - from Kharkams.

Variations on a Theme was produced by the filmmakers' Kraal Stories, Meria Productions and Interakt of the Netherlands.

Variations on a Theme, filmed over just 5 days with narration from Jacobs, is the second feature film from co-writers and co-directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar. 

Their debut film Carissa premiered in the Orizzonti competition of the 2024 Venice International Film Festival. 

Variations on a Theme follows an elderly goat herder, Ouma Hettie, in the mountains of Namaqualand, South Africa, who falls victim to a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father's service during the Second World War.

Waiting for money that will never come, she faces her family's decision to move her to the city and strip away the last of her independence. Structured as a series of recurring visual "variations", the film transforms repetition into revelation, presenting a portrait of waiting, endurance and loss.

Presented as a documentary but actually a fictional story based on real-life experiences, Variations on a Theme is inspired by Jacobs' great-grandfather, Petrus Jakobus Beukes, who enlisted in the Allied forces during the Second World War when he was 19.

Annemarie du Plessis, the film's producer, says "Being selected to represent South Africa as the country's Oscar submission is an incredible honour".

"The fact that we get to share the beautiful community of Kharkams, who are truly the heartbeat of this film, with the world makes it even more special."

"We are so grateful to everyone who believed in this film and helped us get here. We hope that this moment can serve as an inspiration to other filmmakers and storytellers to keep going, to be bold, and to trust in the stories they want to tell.

Variations on a Theme had its world premiere in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2026 in the Netherlands, where it won the Tiger Award.

It went on to win Best African Film at the Joburg Film Festival and the Wild Dreamer Award for Best Film at Zagreb Subversive and received jury special mentions at the Tarifa-Tangier African Film Festival and Transilvania International Film Festival.

In October Variations on a Theme will have two sold-out screenings at the BFI London Film Festival, following screenings earlier in the year at prestigious festivals and programmes including New Directors/New Films at MoMA and Film at Lincoln Center, the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Lerato Mokopanele, the NFVF's acting head of operations, in a statement, says "The NFVF is pleased with the selection of Variations on a Theme, an Afrikaans film that is a product of a co-production between South Africa and the Netherlands, as it serves as a brilliant showcase of South African filmmakers' world-class skills".

"The cinematography, the historical storyline and the way in which it is told make for an interesting watch. We look forward to the film bringing home the esteemed Oscar trophy."

"The NFVF thanks the selection committee for its work during the selection process. This film is yet another footprint of the South African film sector internationally. The NFVF reaffirms its commitment to nurturing and promoting South African talent on the international stage."

According to the NFVF, the selection of Variations on a Theme followed "a rigorous adjudication process conducted by the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee, comprising 13 professionals drawn from across the filmmaking value chain, including directing, producing, distribution and technical expertise".

According to the NFVF, the 13-member committee was also approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The committee convened for film screenings held at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 1 to 4 September 2026, with the final deliberations taking place on 9 September 2026.

The NFVF says it appointed an independent auditing firm, SNG Grant Thornton that oversaw and audited the selection process, ensuring that it was conducted in accordance with the required standards of integrity and fairness.

M-Net loses the Oscars after decades as Academy Awards switches to YouTube worldwide from 2029

by Thinus Ferreira

From 2029, after more than 40 years, the annual Academy Awards ceremony in the United States will no longer be broadcast on M-Net on Canal+'s MultiChoice, since M-Net is losing access to the rights.

As what used to be the collective exclusive parts - and that which still remains of traditional linear television continues to fracture, crack off and is swept away - M-Net (DStv 101) has lost the rights to the Academy Awards and the Oscars from 2029, after the American and global rights have been snapped up by YouTube.

It represents another chip away at what used to make M-Net a must-have premium pay-TV channel for DStv subscribers in South Africa and across the Rest of Africa (RoA) territory for decades. 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States announced that YouTube has acquired the rights to the Oscars in both the United States and worldwide, from 2029.

Disney owned the rights to the Oscars for the United States where it placed and showed it on ABC.

Disney also owned the global rights and sold the Oscars through its international distribution arm, Buena Vista International, on a country-by-country basis to various broadcasters and channels, like for instance M-Net for South Africa and Africa.

That now falls away with M-Net unable to get access to the Oscars from 2029, even if it wanted to.

South Africa viewers and viewers elsewhere across the African continent will be able to watch the annual Oscars free on YouTube which has been pay-TV content in South Africa and for the continent for decades.

As part of the deal with youTube, YouTube will also do an Oscars red carpet preshow and behind-the-scenes content while the Oscars ceremony is on, as well as the Oscars nominations announcement, the Governors Awards, the Oscars nominees luncheon, the Student Academy Awards ceremony; the Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony; Academy member and filmmaker interviews, and also film education programmes and podcasts.

Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO, in a prepared quote in a statement, says "Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in its statement, says it has signed a "multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars, beginning in 2029 with the 101st Oscars ceremony and running through 2033".

"The Oscars, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, and more, will be available live and for free to over 2 billion viewers around the world on YouTube, and to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States."

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor, note that "We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming."

Coronavirus: Award ceremonies for 2021's Oscars and BAFTAs both postponed from February to April 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

by Thinus Ferreira

America's Oscars, the world's most prestigious film awards ceremony, has been postponed from February to 25 April 2021 because of the growing global Covid-19 pandemic, the first time in 40 years that the Oscars are delayed, with Britain's BAFTAs also now moving later in 2021.

The last time that America's broadcast of the Oscars was postponed was in 1981 because of the assassination attempt of the United States president Ronald Reagan, which saw the Oscars broadcast delayed by 24 hours.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 93rd Oscars that was originally set for 28 February 2021 has now been moved out by a further 3 months to 25 April.

The Oscars and preceding red carpet coverage are annually broadcast in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa by M-Net on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Earlier this year the South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) was forced to cancel the physical awards ceremony for the 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) which was turned into an online announcement a month later in April.

The Oscars will now move the eligibility date for films to 28 February 2021.

"In extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalised for something beyond anyone's control," says Academy president David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a joint statement.

America's ABC network that will produce and broadcast the show says it's not yet sure how the awards broadcast will look.

"We find ourselves in uncharted territory this year and will continue to work with our partners at the Academy to ensure next year's show is a safe and celebratory event that also captures the excitement of the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures," says Karey Burke, ABC president of entertainment.

The United Kingdom's British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) also announced that it's now moving its original 14 February 2021 date. The BAFTAs usually takes place two weeks before the Oscars with 2021's BAFTAs that will now take place on 11 April 2021. 

The BAFTAs that is also pushing the eligibility date out, says in a statement "these changes are in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, which resulted in UK cinemas closing on 20 March, and are the result of extensive industry consultation".

About the awards date change the BAFTAs says "this change from the previously announced date of 14 February acknowledges the impact of the global pandemic and accommodates an extended eligibility period. Further details on the ceremony will be announced later in the year."

Marc Samuelson, BAFTAs film committee chairperson, says "We have pushed back by two months to give all films the best possible chance to be released and considered properly".

"As cinemas gradually re-open we know that the major releases will dominate screens. Relaxing the scale of theatrical release required, including releases on VOD in some cases, and pushing back the date of the Awards should help the smaller, independent, documentary, foreign language and particularly the British films to be seen in good time".