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."

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.

SA's 2022 Oscars snub: NFVF's secret selection group decides no South African film is good enough to enter for 95th Academy Awards, claims films don't depict 'marginalised communities' well enough.

by Thinus Ferreira 

Filmmakers are disappointed and furious following South Africa's failure to select and enter a film for 2023's Oscars International Feature Film category, with an anonymous selection group of the NFVF responsible for picking South Africa's entry claiming that none of the country's films are good enough for the Academy Awards and are not depicting minorities well enough.

For the first time in 15 years South Africa won't have an entry at the 95th Academy Awards taking place on 12 March 2023 in Los Angeles, with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) - funded by the department of sports, arts and culture and tasked with picking a South Africa film to enter for the Oscars - saying all South African films entered this year allegedly failed when it comes to properly depict "marginalised communities".

After South African films were submitted this year to the NFVF as the country's possible Oscars entry, the NFVF chose none in November. 

Filmmakers have not been told what the reasons are for the failure to select and enter a film for the Oscars this year. 

None highly regarded films - good enough to be shown at South African and international film festivals and reaping film festival awards and prizes - were entered through the NFVF as South Africa's Oscars submissions.

These range from 1960, Jewel, Meet Melusi, Thando, The Fragile King, Time Spent with Cats is Never Wasted, Umbrella Men and Wild is the Wind, to the Afrikaans drag-artist thriller Stiekyt from Homebrew Films which won three awards including for best cinematography at kykNET's 10th Silwerskermfees in March and proudly depicts an LGBTQI minority group in South Africa.   

Lerato Mokopanele, NFVF communications manager, told TVwithThinus in response to a media query that "The majority of the South African films that were submitted for this entry did not meet the stringent Oscars selection criteria for the respective category".

"For those that did meet the set criteria, the independent selection committee decided that these projects did not appropriately represent marginalised communities."

Asked for the names of the 11 people from South Africa's TV and film industry and a brief description of their expertise who comprise the anonymous selection group deciding what film the country enters, the NFVF refused to make the names public.

The NFVF was only willing to say that said the group are "key industry specialists in the film sector" who represent the official South African Academy Selection Committee for the 95th Annual Academy Awards' Best International Film Feature category" and that they have a "minimum of 10 years' experience and specialised skills set competency in behind and front-of-camera work in the film industry".

The NFVF said it doesn't want South Africa to know who picks South Africa's Oscars contender film "and reserves the right not to disclose the names of these individuals". 

Asked why films are good enough to be shown at film festivals and win awards there but not good enough for the NFVF to enter as an Oscar contender and if the NFVF thinks film festivals are flawed, Lerato Mokopanele says "The film festivals and Oscars criteria are not the same, therefore one cannot compare the two".

The NFVF says the decision not to enter any South African film for the 95th Oscars "was not made because there is no film good enough in South Africa". 

For films which did meet the entry criteria "the independent selection committee decided that these projects did not appropriately represent marginalised communities".

"The NFVF, as an agency mandated to provide the equitable growth of the industry, has historically released various calls that allow for an eclectic array of stories to be told - this is evident through all the projects we have approved for funding as showcased on our website".

NFVF decision 'incredibly problematic'

South African filmmakers are accusing the NFVF of censorship and are angry over the lack of transparency and communication about the organisation's decision not to have South Africa represented at 2023's Oscars.

An award-winning South African filmmaker and director told TVwithThinus that the NFVF's response over the failure to enter a local film for the Oscars is "incredibly problematic" and that filmmakers are yet to be told how this year's submissions failed to appropriately represent marginalised people.

"There are some incredible films on this list," the person said. 

"I would have celebrated any of those that qualified if they were chosen. It means a lot to any filmmaker and becomes a tool for which we get our career to grow, so to have that opportunity taken away from those who entered and qualified is a major disappointment when I consider the work that goes into what we do."

Waldimar Pelser M-Net director for kykNET-channels, told TVwithThinus "The NFVF's decision not to enter any of this year's excellent South African films for a foreign language Oscar represents a missed opportunity to showcase local talent globally".

"We are especially proud of Etienne Fourie's Stiekyt, a dark comedy set in a drag club, and very disappointed the film will not compete in LA next year."

"The fact that this critically acclaimed Afrikaans film has been selected to show at international film festivals is a reflection on the appetite for our local stories in other markets. This regrettable decision will not impact the commitment and investment from MultiChoice and kykNET in developing and telling our stories."

As time runs out M-Net will now stop at Sunday’s 2021 Oscars train station to broadcast the 93rd Academy Awards on MultiChoice's DStv for Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

For the first time in decades M-Net risked not having the Oscars televised on DStv this year but the pay-TV operator that struggled to conclude and sign a broadcasting rights agreement for the 93rd Academy Awards will likely announce on Friday that it will show the awards show and its pre-show, both done from the train station in Los Angeles, this year.

By Friday morning Sunday night's 93rd Academy Awards, taking place from both the Dolby Theatre but primarily from Los Angeles' Union Station train station this year, was still conspicuously absent from MultiChoice's DStv electronic programme guide (EPG).

There's also been no promotion or marketing of the Oscars on any M-Net channel or other platforms to help drive viewership on the last day of the working week to the weekend's award show, with South Africa's My Last Octopus that is a nominee in the Best Documentary Feature category. 

M-Net issued no press release like it did annually in previous years that it had acquired the Oscars, or broadcasting times, raising suspicions that M-Net failed to secure the Oscars for broadcast in South Africa and across the rest of the African continent for the first time in decades.

Neither MultiChoice nor M-Net offered any immediate official comment early on Friday morning in response to media enquiries but insiders told TVwithThinus that M-Net will have the Oscars but technically is still waiting for the broadcasting rights deal to be signed.

According to the contract, M-Net will only be able to do promos for the Oscars from Friday after around 11:00 with the DStv EPG that will only be adjusted later. 

With the official Oscars ceremony taking place on Sunday 25 April at 20:00 in the United States with Steven Soderbergh as Oscars producer, M-Net will show the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony live from America at 02:00 South African time on Monday morning 26 April on M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 104) as a simulcast.

Steven Soderbergh is going to try and use Union Station to bring a cinematic experience to this year's Oscars, filming it like a movie and not a TV show, at 24 frames per second, with panoramic widescreen cinema shots.

Also included in M-Net's Oscars deal, according to sources, is this year's special 90-minute official pre-show, also done from the train station. 

This pre-show special, entitled Oscars: Into the Spotlight will have Ariana DeBose and the comedian Lil Rel Howery as the presenters and will start at 00:30 SAST on M-Net Movies as a live broadcast.

Oscars: Into the Spotlight will highlight the nominees' journey to this year's awards show, give viewers around the world an inside look at the upcoming awards.

It will also bring the Oscars' music to viewers for the first time ahead of the show with Celeste, H.E.R., Leslie Odom Jr., Laura Pausini, Daniel Pemberton, Molly Sandén and Diane Warren who will all be performing the 5 nominated original songs nominated this year in their entirety during this special.

M-Net plans to show the 93rd Academy Awards during primetime on Monday 26 April at around 22:30 on its M-Net (DStv 101) channel, with proper ad breaks.

E! (DStv 124) will also have 2021 Oscars red carpet coverage starting on Sunday 25 April at 23:00 with Giuliana Rancic and coverage continuing until 02:00 on Monday morning.

Official comment from M-Net and MultiChoice will be added here if received.

UPDATE Friday 23April 2021 15:29 - MultiChoice's PR company Atmosphere finally issued a statement to all media, confirming that M-Net will show the Oscars as I reported earlier today - however MultiChoice says it will be shown live at 03:00 on Monday morning.

The Oscars starts at 20:00 EST in the United States on Sunday night, which is 02:00 South African time on Monday morning. No word on how MultiChoice and M-Net derived at the time of 03:00 or whether it will be showing the Oscars one hour delayed.

UPDATE Friday 23April 2021 15:47 - MultiChoice's PR company Atmosphere is responding to a media enquiry about the time confusion and says the time has been corrected to 02:00 on Monday morning for the 93rd Academy Awards.

At this time the Oscars still don't appear on the schedules and MultiChoice's DStv EPG for either the M-Net (DStv 101) or the M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 104) channels. 

ALSO READ: 2021’s Oscars at a train station? 4 big ways in which the 93rd Academy Awards will be very different this year.

South Africa's My Octopus Teacher makes final shortlist for 2021's Oscars in Best Documentary Feature category.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African film My Octopus Teacher available on Netflix has made the final shortlist for the 2021's 93rd Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Feature category.

The final nominees in the various categories for the 2021 Oscars were announced on Monday afternoon.

South Africa's My Octopus Teacher as a 2020 Netflix Original will compete in the Best Documentary Feature against Collective (Magnolia Pictures and Participant), Crip Camp (Netflix), The Mole Agent (Gravitas Ventures), and Time (Amazon Studios).

My Octopus Teacher was directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed and documents a year spent by filmmaker Craig Foster forging a relationship with an octopus in a South African kelp forest.

My Octopus Teacher was a decade in the making with Craig Foster who started filming in 2010. The film became the first South African Netflix Original nature documentary.

My Octopus Teacher has already won several awards, including Best Documentary at the LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival; and for Best Cinematography and Best Science/Nature Documentary at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.

My Octopus Teacher also won Best Feature Film at the EarthxFilm Festival and Best Documentary Director at the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival for Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed.

The film also won Best Documentary Feature in January at the Houston Film Critics Society Awards; and won in the categories for Best Music Score and the Pare Lorentz Award at the International Documentary Association Awards that also took place in January this year. 

My Octopus Teacher also collected bling at the JacksonHole Film Festival in October 2020 where it picked up trophies in the categories for Best Editing, Best Science in Nature Film - long-form, Best People & Nature Film - long-form and snagged the awards' Grand Teton Award.

The 93rd Academy Awards will take place from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, as well as multiple locations on 25 April and will be broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101) in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa after it was pushed back from its originally scheduled 28 February date.

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".

M-Net adds Oscars 2020 red carpet special with Anele Mdoda for 92nd Academy Awards + full broadcast coverage list for the red carpet and 'cyclone stage' ceremony.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net (DStv 101) has added a half hour Oscars 2020 red carpet special for its prime time schedule on Monday night to intro the 92 Academy Awards with Anele Mdoda who will interview some stars as they make their way into the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

It's the second time that Anele Mdoda will do the Anele at the Oscars special that she presented last year for the first time. It's the third time in history that a South African TV reporter is doing red carpet duty at the Oscars, and the third time that South Africa will have its own red carpet Oscars TV special.

Anele at the Oscars as a recorded show will be broadcast at 21:00 on Monday night, 10 February 2020, on M-Net (DStv 101), followed by the prime time showing of the 92nd Academy Awards at 21:30.

M-Net will also broadcast the awards ceremony as a live simulcast on Monday morning at 03:00 on M-Net Movies (DStv 104). This year the Oscars will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide with MultiChoice and M-Net that have the rights for sub-Saharan Africa.

This year's Oscars stage with be a glittering "cyclone" - a Swarovski-covered stage created by Jason Sherwood.

Important to note is that NBCUniversal's E! (DStv 124) for the 5th year in a row will again not have any actual red carpet coverage during the last hour of red carpet arrivals since those rights belong to the ABC network in America that gets exclusive live red carpet access.

While E! will carry the beginning of the red carpet arrivals live, viewers will have to switch to M-Net Movies to watch the red carpet arrivals live from 23:30, as well as for the official red carpet show starting at 01:30 on Monday morning. M-Net acquired these official red carpet pre-shows as part of the Oscars broadcast package.

Here's your comprehensive TV guide on exactly how, the channels, and the times, where you can watch the show as well as the surrounding red carpet coverage:

Oscars: E!'s Insider Guide
▪ 21:00 Sunday 9 February, E! (DStv 124)
A recorded special counting down to one of Hollywood’s biggest nights spotlighting the biggest names who might make a showing this year on the red carpet.

On the Red Carpet: Oscars 2020 The Arrivals 
▪ 23:30 Sunday 9 February, M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) LIVE

The official red carpet coverage broadcast kicks off looking at the fashion as the stars arrive and interviews with the stars.

E! Live From The Red Carpet: Oscars 2020

▪ 00:00 Monday 10 February, E! (DStv 124) LIVE

E!'s live coverage red carpet coverage of the 2020 Oscars starts. The "E! Glambot" makes a return to the Oscars to capture one-of-a-kind red carpet moments. Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic are the hosts.

E! Stream the Red Carpet: Oscars 2020

▪ 00:40 Monday 10 February, Twitter @enews

E! does a digital show covering the Oscars red carpet as part of its second screen coverage.

The Oscars Red Carpet Show
▪ 01:30 Monday 10 February, M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) LIVE

The official red carpet pre-show with presenters Billy Porter, Tamron Hall, model Lily Aldridge and film critic Elvis Mitchell. Beginning at 02:30 when E! must cut away, Ryan Seacrest, for a second year in a row, will switch from E! to join this show as a presenter to cover the last half hour from alongside the red carpet before the ceremony starts.

Red Carpet Rundown: Oscars 2020

▪ 02:30 Monday 10 February, E! (DStv 124) LIVE

Since E! is no longer allowed alongside the actual red carpet at this time, fashion correspondents and experts analyse the looks from the stars who've already arrived for Oscar night with photos and commentary.

92nd Annual Academy Awards 

▪ 03:00 Monday 10 February, M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) LIVE

The ceremony from inside the Dolby Theatre. The Oscars will once again be hostless this year for a second consecutive year.

Anele at the Oscars 

▪ 21:00 Monday 10 February, M-Net (DStv 101)

A pre-recorded half-hour with Anele Mdoda in Hollywood covering the glitz, glam and excitement of Hollywood's biggest night.

92nd Annual Academy Awards 

▪ 21:30 Monday 10 February, M-Net (DStv 101)

The prime-time rebroadcast of the awards show.

E! News

▪ 10:20 Tuesday 11 February, E! (DStv 124)

Lilliana Vazquez and Scott Tweedie do a special Oscars 2020 lookback episode with news and commentary about this year's ceremony and red carpet coverage. E!'s team of correspondents will do a special Oscars recap with all the insider secrets, surprises, snubs and backstage shockers, plus the biggest fashion risks and hottest after-parties.

Pop of the Morning

▪ 10:50 Tuesday 11 February, E! (DStv 124)

Lilliana Vazquez, Scott Tweedie and Victor Cruz do a special Oscars 2020 edition of the daily talk show looking back at gossip, issues and sharing their insights of this year's ceremony and red carpet.

2020's Emmys gets a date, Oscars going hostless for a second time.

America's 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday 20 September 2020 the Television Academy announced, while this year's Oscars will go hostless for a second year in February.

The 72nd Emmy Awards will once again be broadcast live on M-Net in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa on Monday morning 21 September, with a prime time rebroadcast later the same day, with the ceremony that's set to take place inside the Microsoft Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, California.

The Television Academy hasn't yet announced whether the Emmys will have a main host this year which went hostless in September 2019 for the 71st Emmy Awards.

In a separate announcement, this year's 92nd Academy Awards will definitely be hostless for a second year after it had no host in 2019 when Kevin Hart withdrew two days after he was announced as the would-be main host when several of his homophobic tweets from earlier years resurfaced.

The 92nd Academy Awards which will also be broadcast by M-Net, will take place on Sunday 9 February 2020 from inside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and shown live in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa early on Monday morning 10 February.

At the current two week Winter 2020 Television Critics Association (TCA) tour taking place at the Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena, California, Karey Burke, entertainment president for America's ABC network, said that the Oscars again won't have a host.

"Together with the Academy, we have decided there will be no traditional host, repeating for us what worked last year. The Oscars will have huge entertainment values, big musical numbers, comedy and star power."

"We expect that we’re going to have a very commercial set of nominations and a lot of incredible elements have come together that make us think we are going to have a very entertaining show again."

Africa's film profile rising as 6 films from the continent enter the 91st Academy Awards foreign film race with Malawi and Niger as first-time Oscars entrants.

Africa's film star continues to rise as more countries from the continent continue to submit entries in the Academy Awards foreign language category and with Malawi and Niger becoming first-time entrants this year in the film race that received 87 approved submissions for the Oscars this year.

Eighty-seven countries qualified for submitted films for consideration in the foreign-language film category for the 91st Academy Awards with Malawi that submitted Shemu Joyah's The Road to Sunrise, and Niger that submitted Rahmatou Keita's The Wedding Ring.

Nigeria is absent but 6 African countries feature on this year's approved foreign language race list, with the 87 films that are slightly down from the record-setting 92 that were submitted and approved last year.

Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday 22 January 2019 with the 91st Oscars ceremony that will be held on Sunday 4 February 2019, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.

It will be televised live and again during prime time in South Africa and across Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform. The Oscars will be shown live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Egypt, Yomeddine, A.B. Shawky, director

Kenya, Supa Modo, Likarion Wainaina, director

Malawi, The Road to Sunrise, Shemu Joyah, director

Morocco, Burnout, Nour-Eddine Lakhmari, director

Niger, The Wedding Ring, Rahmatou Keïta, director

South Africa, Sew the Winter to My Skin, Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, director

2018 OSCARS - HOW, WHAT & WHERE TO WATCH. Your comprehensive TV guide to watch The 90th Academy Awards and all the various red carpet lead-up programming.

The 90th Annual Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, is taking place tonight in Hollywood, marking the end of the 2018 awards season - here's your comprehensive TV guide on exactly how, the channels, and the times, where you can watch the show as well as the surrounding red carpet coverage.

Two things are important to note - firstly, E! for a 3rd year in a row will again not have any red carpet coverage during the last hour of red carpet arrivals since those rights belong to the ABC network in America, so you need to switch to M-Net Movies Premiere.

Secondly South Africa's Lalla Hirayama is at the red carpet for a M-Net Movies Premiere TV special that will be broadcast on Monday night. It marks the first time in history that a South African TV reporter is doing red carpet duty at the Oscars carpet, and the first time South Africa will have its own red carpet Oscars TV special.

Here's your must-know rundown TV guide list:


Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2018 Academy Awards 
▪ Sunday 4 March 22:00 - 00:00 (LIVE) E! (DStv 124)
E!'s early Oscars coverage with early arrivals, trivia, banter, fashion lookbacks and possible fashion suggestions.

This show is done by presenters Kristin Cavallari, Brad Goreski and Josh Horowitz, along with E! correspondents Kristin Dos Santos, Zuri Hall, Jason Kennedy, Erin Lim, Nina Parker and Morgan Stewart.

It will include a performance by Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke and the Olympic athlete Gus Kenworthy will make an appearance.


Live From the Red Carpet: 2018 Academy Awards
▪ Monday 5 March 00:00 - 02:00 (LIVE) E! (DStv 124)
Giuliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest will take turns to interview the stars arriving on the red carpet for the Oscars, along with coverage from Kristin Dos Santos, Zuri Hall and Josh Horowitz, celebrity stylist Jason Bolden, and Elaine Welteroth, the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue.

With Hollywood dealing with the #MeToo movement in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, issues like equal pay that has involved E! itself, and with controversy swirling around Ryan Seacrest himself over allegations of sexual harassment that isn't going away, this is the 2 hour coverage where there might be awkward moments if there were to be any.

Stars might call out E! live on TV or Ryan Seacrest, or there might be celebrities who refuse to talk to him after publicists earlier this week said they will advise their celebrity clients to rather steer clear this year and not talk to him, but to rather talk to Giuliana.


The Oscars: All Access
▪ Monday 5 March 01:30 (LIVE) Facebook
Facebook will again be the exclusive social network to live stream the Oscars red carpet and backstage coverage. This show also will be live-streamed on Oscar.com.

Returning as presenters are Sofia Carson, Chris Connelly, Ben Lyons and Adnan Virk, joined by newcomer Wesam Keesh.

The Facebook show will incorporate footage from more than 20 cameras placed along the red carpet, backstage and in the audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

This show will have red carpet interviews with nominees, presenters, and performers, as well as a glimpse backstage and from the audience throughout the live Oscars broadcast. This second screen experience excludes the official TV awards show broadcast, so be sure to use it to enhance your viewing experience, not replace it.


Red Carpet Rundown: Oscars 2018
▪ Monday 5 March 02:00 - 03:00 (LIVE) E! (DStv 124)
E! continues its Oscars build-up coverage with this hour long filler show until the awards show starts. Guiliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest remain close to the red carpet but can no longer do live interviews, show live shots of arrivals, or be on TV and be seen at the red carpet during the final hour. In this show, using still photos, they look "back" at this year's Oscar looks of the stars who've already arrived.

Viewers need to note that for a 3rd year in a row E! isn't actually showing any live or otherwise red carpet coverage during this last hour before the Oscars and neither are any other broadcasters. For that you need to switch to M-Net Movies Premiere.

Broadcasters are allowed to record for later, but the live broadcasting rights for the last and most important red carpet arrival time has been given to the official broadcaster, in this case ABC. Viewers can switch over to M-Net Movies Premiere that has this live red carpet coverage programme from 01:30.


Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live from the Red Carpet
▪ Monday 5 March 01:30 - 03:00 (LIVE) M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104)
Exclusive coverage with access to the red carpet in the final hour leading up to the awards show.

The presenters of this 90 minute special are Michael Strahan, The Goldbergs’ Wendi McLendon-Covey, The View co-host Sara Haines, Vanity Fair executive West Coast editor Krista Smith and IMDb special correspondent Dave Karger.


90th Annual Academy Awards
▪ Monday 5 March 03:00 - 07:20 (LIVE) M-Net Movies (DStv 104)
▪ Monday 5 March 21:00 - 00:25 M-Net (DStv 101)
There's absolutely nothing - nothing - that Hollywood loves more than a good Hollywood ending.
Therefore, after last year's blooper when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the wrong envelope for the final Best Picture category, both have been asked back for a redo and will again appear on stage at the end.

The accountants were fired but Warren and Faye aren't the only ones who'll be back. The show producers Jennifer Todd and Michael De Luca are back as well, as is Jimmy Kimmel as the host.

The M-Net Movies Oscars: Red Carpet Special 
▪ Monday 5 March 20:30 - 21:00 M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104)
Produced by HomeBrew Films for M-Net Movies, Lalla Hirayama is next to the red carpet for this recorded half hour Oscars special.

Whether you've watched the Oscars live at 03:00 on Monday morning or are going to watch the recorded version during prime time, this show will serve as an excellent close-out or lead-in show companion piece to the awards ceremony.

What makes it notable is that this show marks the first time that a South Africa entertainment TV reporter got a spot at the Oscars red carpet, with the first TV special done from there for this awards show.

Spare a thought for the daunting and amazing logistics behind-the-scenes. Interview footage is uploaded and sent to Cape Town where it will be quickly edited to package, and then to MultiChoice in Johannesburg from where it's will be broadcast on M-Net Movies Premiere.

E! News 2018 Oscars wrap-up
▪ Tuesday 6 March 19:05 E! (DStv 124)
Tuesday's edition of E! News with Jason Kennedy will as usual be a special comprehensive Oscars look-back episode with the notable news, interviews and fashions from this year's awards show.

M-Net Movies' Lalla Hirayama doing 90th Oscars red carpet coverage, M-Net Movies Oscars: Red Carpet Special to be shown on M-Net Movies Premiere on DStv.

Lalla Hirayama and M-Net's M-Net Movies channel cluster brand will be alongside the red carpet of the 90th Academy Awards when the Oscars takes place at the Dolby Theatre on 4 March.

M-Net Movies got accreditation from The Academy of Motion Pictures and Science for a red carpet spot.

"This is quite a feat," says Lani Lombard, M-Net channels head of publicity.

"You can imagine how broadcasters around the world are trying their luck each year to be part of this prestigious event. It’s a dream come true for M-Net Movies and Lalla Hirayama and the team will be pulling out all the stops to represent our viewers and stand out from the crowd".

The M-Net Movies Oscars: Red Carpet Special with Lalla Hirayama will be broadcast on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) at 20:30 leading into The 90th Academy Awards at 21:00 on M-Net (DStv 101). 

"This has to be the highlight of my entire career," says Lalla Hirayama. "I'm so grateful to be given the opportunity to represent South Africa for the first time in Oscar history. There’s a lot of work to do leading up to 4 March but I’m ready to take it on by the horns."

"We have the most incredible team put together to ensure we deliverer the best South African content straight from the most prestigious red carpet event of the year. I hope I can make SA and M-Net Movies proud," says Lalla Hirayama.

South African film, The Wound, with director John Trengove makes the list of 9 shortlisted films for the 90th Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the 9 films advancing in this year's 90th Oscar race for best foreign language film with South Africa’s The Wound from director John Trengove making the shortlist.

The Oscar committee will whittle down the list to a top 5 and those final films in the category will be announced alongside all of the other Oscar nominations on Tuesday, 23 January 2018.

The Wound has been a controversial film in South Africa that some traditional leaders want banned, and that follows a closeted gay relationship between two men in the context of the Xhosa initiation ritual.

The 9 finalists for nominations in 2017 as per the Academy’s press statement are:

Chile, “A Fantastic Woman”, Sebastián Lelio, director
Germany, “In the Fade”, Fatih Akin, director
Hungary, “On Body and Soul”, Ildikó Enyedi, director
Israel, “Foxtrot”, Samuel Maoz, director
Lebanon, “The Insult”, Ziad Doueiri, director
Russia, “Loveless”, Andrey Zvyagintsev, director
Senegal, “Félicité”, Alain Gomis, director
South Africa, “The Wound”, John Trengove, director
Sweden, “The Square”, Ruben Östlund, director

The 90th Oscars will take place on Sunday 4 March 2018 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.

On Wednesday, The Wound was named the year’s Best Foreign Film by the African American Film Critics Association.

The AAFC, the world’s largest group of professional black film critics, will present the award at the 9th annual AAFCA Awards ceremony on 7 February in Hollywood.

M-Net will broadcast the 2016 Academy Awards live and again later in prime time on 29 February; plus all the E! Oscars red carpet coverage programming times.

M-Net will once again broadcast this year's Oscars live at the same time as in the United States for South African viewers, as well as later in prime time in Monday 29 February.

The 88th Annual Academy Awards with Chris Rock as the host will be broadcast live on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103) on Monday morning 29 February at 03:30.

The 2016 Oscars will then again be shown during prime time on M-Net (DStv 101).

The 3-hour Hollywood red carpet award show means an interruption of the usual Monday night M-Net programming line-up with no new episodes of Grey's Anatomy, The Fixer or Code Black which will all be back a week later on 7 March.

NBCUniversal International Networks' channel E! Entertainment (DStv 124) will do red carpet pre-coverage, starting with Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2016 Academy Awards on Sunday 28 February at 20:30.

That will last until 00:30 on Monday morning 29 February when Live from the Red Carpet: The 2016 Academy Awards kicks off with Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic on E! Entertainment until 03:30 when the ceremony starts on M-Net Movies Premiere.

This red carpet coverage will be repeated on Monday 29 February on E! Entertainment at 16:00 until 23:00, when viewers can see E! After Party: The 2016 Academy Awards for an hour and a half.

On Wednesday 2 March at 20:00 E! Entertainment will have its special Fashion Police: The 2016 Academy Awards with Melissa Rivers, Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski.

Oscars president Cheryl Boone Isaacs 'heartbroken, frustrated' over shocking lack of black nominees for 2016 Academy Awards; 'we need to do more, quickly'.

Facing a growing backlash from Hollywood with black actors and directors saying they will boycott and not attend the 2016 Oscars, the Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs says she's heartbroken and frustrated with the lack of black nominees and that "big chances" can, must and will be made.

Director Spike Lee has said he will boycott and not attend the "lily-white" Oscars this year and has called for Hollywood glitterati to stay away.

"How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year [that] all 20 contenders under the actor category are white?," asked Spike Lee of the Oscars taking place on 28 February in Los Angeles with comedian Chris Rock as the host who himself this week called the Oscars "the white BET Awards".

Already the actors and producers pair Will and Jada Pinkett Smith indicated that they won't attend, with Jada Pinkett Smith saying in a video message on Facebook that "begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power. And we are a dignified people and we are powerful".

With the growing backlash, the Academy on Monday night issued a statement with president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who is black, saying "I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it's time for big changes".

Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vote for the nominees and winners in all the Oscar categories. Yet nobody knows who exactly the voting members are, although, as a legacy institution, it's highly likely that the vast majority are white.

This year even less black nominees made the cut that in 2015, sparking even more concern than last year and growing calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards which annually beams the global ceremony to a global audience of million of viewers, shaping a certain view of what - and who - Hollywood is.

For the second year in a row the Oscars failed to have a single black actor nominated.

"The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership," says Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

"As many of you know, we have implemented changes to diversify our membership in the last four years. But the change is not coming as fast as we would like. We need to do more, and better and more quickly."

"This isn't unprecedented for the Academy. In the '60s and '70s it was about recruiting younger members to stay vital and relevant. In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation".

"We recognize the very real concerns of our community, and I so appreciate all of you who have reached out to me in our effort to move forward together," says Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

EXCLUSIVE. M-Net Movies Premiere on DStv to bring viewers the live feed as nominations for all 24 Oscar categories are unveiled on TV for the first time.

You're reading it here first.

For the first time ever the nominations for Hollywood's annual Academy Awards will be announced live on television in America and TV with Thinus can reveal that South Africa's M-Net is ready to instantly be a part of the action and will broadcast the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards live on Thursday 15 January.

As all 24 Oscar nominations will be unveiled on live TV for the first time, M-Net decided to instantly step up to the plate as well, to not only bring this TV event to South African viewers as well but to do so as a live broadcast as well on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

On Thursday 15 January the live Oscar category contenders will be announced in Hollywood and M-Net will broadcast the feed live on M-Net Movies Premiere at 15:30, M-Net tells me.

JJ Abrams, Chris Pine, Alfonso Cuaron and Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs will preside over the live announcement of the 87th Academy Award nominations which will all be revealed at once for the first time on live television in a two-part live news conference at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills.

"This year, we're honoured to start a new tradition that celebrates the contributions of all the nominees by announcing all 24 categories. We're thrilled that a distinguished actor and two world-class film directors are part of the initial launch," says the Academy in a press statement.

"We're thrilled to have such exceptional talents present the nominations in a completely new format that furthers our mission and honours all of the artists who make movies," says Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO in the statement.

There will also be a global live stream of the event tomorrow at 15:30 South African time at oscars.org/live

Meanwhile M-Net confirmed to TV with Thinus that it will once again bring the 87th Academy Awards to viewers - and twice - as a live broadcast and again during primetime.

M-Net will broadcast the 87th Academy Awards live and in high definition on 23 February on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103) - the starting time is not yet confirmed - and then again as a recorded live TV event during primetime later the same day on M-Net (DStv 101) at 19:30.

BREAKING. International broadcasting rights for the Oscars to be handled by Disney Media Distribution until 2020.

International distribution of the annual Academy Awards known as the Oscars will continue to be handled by Disney Media Distribution until 2020.

"Disney Media Distribution has been successful  in securing distribution around the world for the Academy Awards, and we're thrilled to extend this partnership," Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences says in a just released statement. "The Oscars are an international event beloved by a global audience. It's a testament to the magic of Hollywood."

The most recent Oscars were seen in more than 225 territories internationally.

''And the Oscar goes to...'' Big changes coming to the Oscars for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.

Bob D'Amico/ABC

It's back to ''And the Oscar goes to...'' instead of last year's ''And the winner is...'' - and there's several other big changes coming for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards that South African viewers will be able to watch live on Monday morning 28 February at 03:00.

In a press release the Academy says the show's producers requested that the sentence announcing category winners be changed back to the ''And the Oscar goes to...'' which has been used for over 20 years. It was replaced last year with ''And the winner is...''. Some other big changes are in store for the ceremony as well which will be shown live and later, live and in HD, and later in HD giving South African viewers a plethora of choices this year.

The producers told The Hollywood Reporter that the 83rd Annual Academy Awards with co-hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway will be abandoning the notion of ''a traditional set'' and will be using ''projections'' to transition viewers to up to 7 different environments - including an animation world - as the award show takes viewers on a trip through the history of Hollywood.

Don Mischer, producer told the trade publication that the show will be taking viewers ''to different places, different times, and it will change dramatically. The look will change from act to act.''

ALSO READ: All the channels, times and programming options to watch the Oscars this year.

Programming note: 82nd Annual Academy Awards tonight on M-Net.

A reminder for South African TV viewers that you can catch the 82nd Annual Academy Awards on M-Net tonight from 19:30 until 22:30.
This year's Oscar ceremony with hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will also be screened in high definition (HD) on M-Net HD (DStv 170), also from 19:30 until 22:30.

UPDATE 8 March 13:20 - M-Net will rebroadcast the 82nd Annual Academy Awards tomorrow/ Tuesday 9 March at 09:00 as well as on M-Net Movies (DStv 103).