South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) urgently looking for a new CEO.

The struggling National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is urgently looking for a new CEO after the abrupt departure of Zama Mkosi under a cloud at the end of May.

Shadrack Bokaba is temporarily standing in as acting CEO of the NFVF to provide "organisational stability".

The minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa ordered a forensic investigation into the NFVF months ago and the report and findings were delivered to the government in March 2018 already.

So far Nathi Mthethwa has refused to make the report into the findings of corruption and mismanagement public.

The past few years the NFVF has been embroiled in various allegations of money wasting and mismanagement of funds by senior executives, seriously damaging the credibility and reputation of the NFVF with the organisation that has seen its relationship with both the TV and film industry deteriorate, as well as with the media.

The allegations of mismanagement and money waste included not just overseas trips and expense accounts for foreign travel in luxury hotels with outrageous travel demands - money meant to fund film and television in South Africa - but also local splurging with trips to Sun City.

The bulk of NFVF staffers in an open letter complained about NFVF working conditions and made a litany of allegations of corruption within the NFVF and other irregular issues, implicating Zama Mkosi, as well as the NFVF's chief financial officer and NFVF council members.

The NFVF is now urgently looking for a new CEO, with the closing date for applications that's 16 July.

The new NFVF CEO will have to "develop and oversee the strategy of the NFVF" and will have to "direct, lead and manage the NFVF in its strategic growth and operations path"

People who want to apply must send their CV to vacancies@nfvf.co.za by no later than 16 July 2018.

Encounters documentary film festival forced to possibly close down after National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) abruptly withdraws funding on opening night, organisers start crowdfunding page in desperate bid to keep festival going.

In a shocking move the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) that has lots of money to splash the cash on luxury overseas trips for executives to exotic film festivals has abruptly pulled its financial support of the 20th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival - on its opening night - with the festival that might have to shut down this week if it can't urgently raise R700 000.

The Encounters Film Festival faces a dramatic shutdown if it can't find funds from somewhere after the department of arts and culture's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) abruptly withdrew its support of the film festival that it supported financially since it started in 1999.

Zama Mkosi, former CEO of the NFVF abruptly resigned last week and left under a cloud, while arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa, has refused to publicly release the report, completed in March 2018, following a forensic investigation into mismanagement, waste of money and allegations of corruption in the NFVF implicating senior management executives.

An NFVF delegation just returned from the 71th Cannes Film Festival splurging thousands of rands to purportedly market South Africa, but the NFVF apparently doesn't have money to support South Africa's own local film festivals and documentary film makers.

The NFVF has said nothing about abruptly withdrawing its support of Encounters that the NFVF supported since 1999 on the festival's opening night of 31 May.

The Encounters Documentary Film Festival is the premier documentary festival in Africa and one of the few solely dedicated to the documentary genre as one of the oldest film festivals on the continent.

The 20th Encounters festival runs from 31 May to 10 June and has now started a crowdfunding page in the hopes of raising enough money to keep the film festival going. By Sunday the festival received pledges of R82 700 - 12% of its goal.

The theme of the 20th Encounters is "Power of Womanhood". Of the 40 films set to be shown at this year's festival, over half has female directors. 

"This is a call to action to all documentary fans, filmmakers and the media to save our festival," says Encounters board member Mandisa Ralane.

"Encounters has a proud two decade legacy of bringing the best documentary films to South African audiences but will be unable to continue unless R700 000  is raised in the next week."

The 20th Encounters opened with Whispering Truth to Power, Shameela Seedat's award winning film about the last year in office of Thuli Madonsela. The festival organisers say that without Encounters there would be very limited opportunities for films like this to be seen in South Africa.

"It is sad that it should happen at this juncture, at the last minute, after years of providing a platform to so many filmmakers to present their work, aiding filmmakers with development of their films into marketable and distributable products, providing training, skills transfer and other opportunities to so many,  particularly aspiring filmmakers from historically disadvantaged communities," says Reggie Kanzi, Encounters festival organiser.

Zama Mkosi abruptly out as NFVF CEO as findings of forensic investigation is being implemented; Shadrack Bokaba in as acting CEO to provide 'organisational stability'.

Zama Mkosi has abruptly resigned as CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) with her resignation following a forensic investigation into allegations of mismanagement, waste of funds and other issues at the embattled organisation supposed to promote and support South Africa's film and television industry.

Zama Mkosi is out with immediate effect and is being replaced by Shadrack Bokaba as acting CEO for the time being, "in the interest of organisational stability" according to the NFVF. There's been no quote or statement from Zama Mkosi or any reasons given why she's left the NFVF abruptly, but she resigned on 27 May.

The NFVF says it will start the process looking for a new CEO. Zamantungwa Mkosi was appointed NFVF CEO in February 2012.

The past few years the NFVF has been embroiled in various allegations of money wasting and mismanagement of funds by senior executives, seriously damaging the credibility and reputation of the NFVF with the organisation that has seen its relationship with both the TV and film industry deteriorate, as well as with the media. 

The allegations of mismanagement and money waste included not just overseas trips and expense accounts for foreign travel in luxury hotels with outrageous travel demands - money meant to fund film and television in South Africa - but also local splurging with trips to Sun City.

The bulk of NFVF staffers in an open letter complained about NFVF working conditions and made a litany of allegations of corruption within the NFVF and other irregular issues, implicating Zama Mkosi, as well as the NFVF's chief financial officer and NFVF council members.

It led to the minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa ordering a forensic investigation into the NFVF, the report and findings of which the department has so far refused to make public although it was delivered to the government in March 2018 already.

The NFVF that continues to organise expensive overseas trips, also continues to be criticised for the badly organised and low quality of the televised South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), the NFVF's supposed showpiece, that keeps being marred by in-fighting and unhappy producers and production companies who boycott the awards.

At the badly organised 12th Saftas held in March and televised on SABC2, Zama Mkosi who got an executive producer title, used the platform to lash out at and slam South Africa's media. Alluding to the allegations of corruption, mismanagement and mismanagement of funds inside the NFVF, Zama Mkosi told viewers how difficult is is to find funding for the Saftas due to the "ongoing bad press" the NFVF gets in the media.

The NFVF in a statement now says "Zama Mkosi has resigned as CEO of the NFVF with immediate effect". The NFVF "also announces the appointment of Joy Mawela as the head of industry development, training and marketing effective 1 June 2018 and Mbali Buthelezi as chief financial officer effective 1 July 2018".

"In the meanwhile the NFVF council has commenced implementation of the findings of the forensic report that was commissioned by the minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa, with regard to the various allegations of impropriety at the NFVF."

"Equally important to the NFVF council is the desire to improve staff morale and brand reputation of the NFVF, amidst all the negative publicity that has engulfed the NFVF in the recent past," says the NFVF.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) responds over the shoddy, mistake-riddled 12th Saftas: 'To err is human'.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is responding over the 12th South African Film and Television Awards held at Sun City that was once again a shoddy, mistake-riddled awards show, saying that "to err is human".

The 12th Saftas that took place from 22 to 24 March at Sun City and that was boycotted by some of South Africa's biggest TV productions like SABC1's Generations and SABC2's Muvhango, once again caused controversy that ranged from unhappiness over category winners, bad organisation, questions around the waste of money, how the press is treated, as well as what the return on the investment is the NFVF gets from the media.

As in previous years, the live Saturday broadcast of the 12th Saftas on SABC2, hastily produced by attv after a late tender was awarded, was once again marred by a litany of the same embarrassing mistakes, damaging the image of the industry it's supposed to showcase.

Viewers watched as the 12th Saftas showing empty chairs and people milling about during the telecast, ran far over over time and was filled with audio, visual and script mistakes and problems.

Wrong names were called out, there was wrong pronunciation, wrong footage roll were being shown, and names were embarrassingly left out of the In Memoriam segment while the co-hosts, category presenters and winners apologised on-air for problems and mistakes.

The same range of technical mistakes happened on the Thursday evening for the Saftas "technical" awards night that wasn't broadcast on TV but was also described as amateurish by those who attended.

Zama Mkosi, NFVF CEO got an executive producer title for the production of the 12th Saftas.

In a media enquiry, TVwithThinus asked the NFVF why there were so many mistakes during the first as well as the second awards night - the same range of mistakes as in previous years - and why the NFVF and Saftas organisers are not improving on decreasing these easily preventable mistakes.

"To err is human, some errors always occur during live broadcasts unfortunately," said Peter Kwele, NFVF head of marketing and communications.

As to why names were again left out of the In Memoriam segment at the Saftas, Peter Kwele responded by saying that "each year a concerted effort is made to the research of those practitioners who have passed on. The film industry representatives are also invited to submit colleagues' names".

Responding to claims that the media room at the Saftas had its sound cut off mid-show with journalists who couldn't hear anything or what winners accepting their awards had to say, the NFVF says "no sound was scheduled for the media room for the entire event neither on Thursday nor Saturday".

The NFVF and Saftas apparently also cancelled presentations due to electricity problems and didn't have any back-up plan.

"A general electricity failure was experienced in Rustenburg, therefore Ster-Kinekor decided it would be best to cancel the screening of the Black Panther movie scheduled for 10:00 in the Waterfall Mall. The children from various North West province's villages, townships and small dorpies (VTSD) schools in the area were offered tickets for another day," said the NFVF.

The Saftas held a high tea session on Friday 23 March at The Palace at Sun City hosted by Zama Mkosi, where women spoke about inequality within South Africa's arts and TV and film industry, the lack of gender and racial transformation and the #MeToo movement although there's been no articles or reports about what exactly was said and discussed.

The NFVF was asked for a press release and if a transcript of what was said at the event is available.

In response Peter Kwele says "20 media only were invited and hosted across the board" and that "there is no press release or transcript available". Asked about the lack of coverage for the event and if the NFVF and Saftas are happy with the return on investment it got from the press, the NFVF says "as there was no release issued therefore no coverage was expected".


The awards need to be serious to begin with
In a fascinating two-part behind-the-scenes article that Prudence Mathebula wrote for TVSA detailing the lavish way some invited journalists were fêted with deluxe hotel rooms, food and gift-filled goody bags yet showing up late to cover both award show evenings, the NFVF was asked why it didn't make sure that these invited journalists arrived on time.

"The media invited by the NFVF were issued a timetable of the day's events on both Thursday and Saturday," said the NFVF that noted that press were advised of the times of their required presence at events.

"It is estimated that the media presence reached 150 people over both evenings. Trying to contact that amount of people on an extended area like Sun City, to ensure they all attend events timeously, is no easy task,"said Peter Kwele.

On Thursday evening, V Entertainment on 1Magic (DStv 103) devoted the episode to a roundtable discussion about the things that are wrong with the NFVF's Saftas and award shows in South Africa.

"The categories aren't categorised properly. That's my first issue with it," said ChiChi Letswalo, Isithembiso actress, who was one of the panelists.

"So you just have somebody who's doing a different type of show, up against someone who's doing another kind of show, and it doesn't make sense. The way it's structured is not proper for me. And I honestly believe that it's more about the dresses that you're wearing and the pictures that you're going to be taking versus the actual talent."

The awards need to be serious to begin with," said ChiChi Letswalo. "Like what we receive needs to be taken very, very seriously and I don't think it's being taken seriously."

REVIEW. 2018's 12th South African Film and TV Awards was again a badly done production, marred by a litany of the same embarrassing mistakes as in previous years and damaging the image of the industry it's supposed to showcase.

The 12th South African Film and TV Awards (Saftas) was once again a badly done and embarrassing sub standard production, with the award show broadcast on SABC2 that was marred by a litany of the same mistakes as in previous years and damaging the image of the very industry it's supposed to showcase.

With the live broadcast once again running far over time - only ending at 23:03 instead of 22:30 and one of the big indicators of when a live show is badly produced and not keeping to its supposedly minute-my-minute pre-mapped plan - viewers who might have set recordings would have missed the whole last part of the show once again boycotted by some of the biggest shows on South African television.

The first award in this year's televised Saftas, produced by the attv production company for the NFVF, was only handed out after 25 minutes in - the thing that viewers are actually tuning in for.

The National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) broadcast of the 12th Saftas - done for a second year from Sun City and with NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi getting an executive producer title - was again marred by on-air spelling mistakes, sound and visual problems and mistakes throughout.

The 12th Saftas again contained too many awkward presenter and script mistakes, wrong names called out, wrong pronunciation from a lack of practice and rehearsal, wrong footage roll, and names embarrassingly left out of the In Memoriam segment.

The amateur, uninspiring set construction with a wooden stage quickly showed up as dull from shoeprints that were never polished during ad breaks and with visible scrapes during panning shots, as even the reflective trim on the front steps started to fall off and hang.

Shaky camerawork at times spinning off into darkness with the director not switching to another live cam in time, panning shots over empty chairs without any seat-fillers, viewers hearing the floor manager directing the in-studio audience while the nominee roll plays, and a lack of representatives and executives from e.tv, M-Net and MultiChoice leaving it mostly a SABC majority, added to amateur production values of the ceremony that is supposed to show how good South Africa's film and TV production is.

Saturday's cringe-worthy Saftas looked like a badly organised school concert, one where it's more about the act of dressing up and going to show off clothes, coiffe and Jimmy Choo's, than actually honouring television and film work.

Like a kindergarden end-of-year pantomime, this year's Saftas once again created the impression that the parents (TV and film talent attending) looking on, are somehow in on an act and colluding with a set of unspoken rules - coming together to watch an on-stage spectacle without any expectation of quality, but looking to see if their child gets a moment to shine and if anyone's able to move at least halfway-right on cue and say at least some of the words right while looking pretty.

Like a school headmistress before the week's assembly guest or speaker arrives, as a housekeeping and production rule, Thando Thabethe on-air had to tell the audience they will be played off if they talk too long. It's something that nominees should be told off-air as part of their initial invitation pack and by the stage manager before the start of the live show.

Camera shots kept showing people walking around. At some point viewers heard the floor manager trying to tell the audience, "When a winner comes up, please ..."

Adding to the awkwardness and embarrassment was NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi who later popped up on stage (doesn't she belong in the final control box directing playout as executive producer?) who appeared earlier in a pre-recorded, taped message, alluding to the allegations of corruption mismanagement and mismanagement of funds, telling viewers how difficult it is to find funding for the Saftas due to the "ongoing bad press" in the media.

Embarrassed presenters literally called out mistakes. "That is a mistake," said co-host Phat Joe early on in the 12th Saftas broadcast, before he later also wrongly stumbled, then retreated from the stage while one category sub set was still ongoing, as visible problems and errors kept stacking up.

Several times during the Saftas presenters wondered out loud where the envelopes and Golden Horn statues were that they were supposed to read out and hand over.

"Obviously that is not Emmanuel Castis on screen," said Emmanuel Castis after wrong footage were shown. "I'm definitely not Lerato Kganyago," said Nomzamo Mbatha on stage who was introduced as Lerato.

Several times the mics of on-stage presenters were faulty, simply not turned on or not channeled through the sound desk correctly, leaving it to the side-stage mics to capture the sound, and for the hall audio to be relayed to viewers at home - resulting in the "boxy" voices.

Some of this ironically happened during the segment where the Noot vir Noot music show creator, Johan Stemmet was honoured with one of this year's Lifetime achievement awards.

The In Memoriam segment to honour TV and film people who've passed away in the past year again left out several names, meaning that very basic research isn't being done by the NFVF and Saftas or can't be done and that there is a lack of access to basic newspaper archives. With the focus on, and large shots of musicians, viewers at home struggled to actually see all the names the Saftas segment was supposed to be about.

There were many more mistakes and daft, inexplicable production decisions that resulted in terrible production values for what was yet-again a shoddy Saftas.

South Africa's TV and film industry deserves a better produced, better organised and a better broadcast Saftas, while South African viewers who have to sit through over three hours of television trash deserve a better done show.

Credibility of the 12th Saftas in 2018 once again tarnished as Generations and Muvhango are locked out of the Most Popular TV Soap viewers vote category after boycotting the awards show and not submitting entries for the awards.

The credibility and authenticity of this year's upcoming 12th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) has once again been compromised with two of the biggest local soaps, Generations and Muvhango that have both been locked out of the awards show's Most Popular TV soap category in response to them boycotting the competition by choosing not to make any entries for the awards at all.

As in previous years, the winner of the Most Popular Soap category at the 2018 Saftas - as voted for by viewers - will this year once again not be a true reflection of what the viewers' choice really might be since people who want to vote for Generations or Muvhango won't be able to.

Meanwhile Generations is SABC1's second most watched show and soap, pulling 8.77million viewers during December. Muvhango remains SABC2's most watched show and soap, and drew a sizeable 5.3 million viewers during December.

This year Muvhango, SABC2's Venda soap produced by Duma Ndlovu's Word of Mouth productions, and SABC1's Generations - The Legacy produced by Mfundi Vundla's Morula Pictures, both decided not to enter the Saftas organised by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF).

Because the NFVF forces soaps and telenovelas to enter in other categories if they want to be listed in the Most Popular Soap category, this year Generations and Muvhango - like the past 2 years - have been blocked from the Saftas.

This is the third year in a row and the fourth time overall that Muvhango has publicly made it displeasure with the NFVF's Saftas known. Last year Muvhango that was joined by SABC1's Skeem Saam, slammed the awards show and its judging process as "not fair".

In 2017 Muvhango said that "there has been little if any effort from the Saftas organisers to improve the judging process or allowing the public vote to hold rank".

Previously the Saftas locked out 7de Laan (2012), Binnelanders and Villa Rosa (2013) and Muvhango (since 2014) from the Most Popular Soap category for the shows' refusal to enter in categories. In 2012 e.tv pulled its soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! as well as all its other shows from the Saftas and last year Uzalo on SABC1 was also out of the running.

Generations in a statement to TVwithThinus says "we have been entering the Saftas since the inception of Generations - The Legacy in 2014, hoping our talent will be recognized but unfortunately our cast hasn’t received such recognition from the Saftas. We opted not to submit entries the 12th Saftas."

"We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our growing share in viewership and would like to thank our viewers for making us one of the biggest shows in the country; it’s their consistent recognition that propels us to keep telling ground breaking stories that create a discourse in our society."

Meanwhile the NFVF and the Saftas organisers seem unable to get and foster unanimous buy-in for the awards show, with talks between the organisers and South Africa's production community that has not yielded improvement, despite new promises last year to sort out the problems and differences.

The NFVF in response to a media enquiry asking why it keeps blocking soaps from the popular category, told TVwithThinus that "the NFVF recognises and is in full support of all TV and film productions in South Africa".

"But as per the Saftas entry guidelines, the public can only vote for entries that were submitted by production houses. Furthermore, if a soap or telenovela is not entered, it cannot be considered for voting by the public."

Asked what happened to promises last year to personally engage and speak with shows who have concerns over the Saftas and its judging - nobody knows for instance who the judges are and what they're judging - the NFVF says it did talk to producers.

"The chairperson of the SAFTAs, NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi, and the Saftas overall chairperson, Firdoze Bulbulia as part of the 11th Saftas post-review, endeavoured to engage with the production houses that did not enter the 11th Saftas, in an effort to explain the Saftas entry process. The meeting ended in an agreement that the shows would enter the 12th Saftas," says the NFVF. 

Voting has now opened for the Most Popular TV Soap category - excluding Generations and Muvhango. 

SMS'es cost R150 and free SMS'es can't be used. People can vote by sending an SMS to 48430 with the code number corresponding to the show they're voting for. 

TV Soap / Telenovela	Number
7de Laan	1
Binnelanders	2
Broken Vows	3
Getroud Met Rugby	4
Gold Diggers Season 2	5
High Rollers Season 3	6
Isibaya	7
Isidingo	8
Isithembiso	9
Keeping Score	10
Rhythm City	11
Ring Of Lies 2	12
Scandal	13
Skeem Saam	14
Suidooster	15
The Queen	16
Uzalo	17

The 12th Saftas will this year once again be taking place at Sun City in the North West province between 22 and 24 March for a second time, with the 2018 Saftas nominees that will be announced on 2 February.

South African TV soaps Muvhango and Skeem Saam - last year's winner - are boycotting this year's 2017 Saftas, slamming the awards show as 'just not fair'.

Controversy is yet again swirling around the credibility of the upcoming 11th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) as the country's soaps - including last year's winner - are once again boycotting the awards show, slamming the Saftas as "just not fair". 

Both SABC2's Muvhango - for the second year in a row and the third time overall - as well as ironically last year's winner, SABC1's Skeem Saam, have refused to enter the 2017 Saftas, with the ongoing boycott again denting the Saftas credibility.

Because Muvhango and Skeem Saam refused to enter the Saftas that ironically this year has the theme "SA's got it, let's celebrate it" - the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) that organisses the Saftas dumped both Muvhango and Skeem Saam from the Most Popular TV Soap category.

It's the category where a viewers' vote is supposed to decide the winner although viewers in reality will yet again be unable to choose one of the soaps that they really might want to vote for.

When it comes to popularity in terms of South African TV viewership, ironically the Venda soap Muvhango, produced by Word of Mouth productions, remains the most watched soap and show on all of SABC2 with roughly 6.2 million viewers. Meanwhile Skeem Saam pulls 5.9 million viewers - the  third most watched show on all of SABC1.

Overall Muvhango and Skeem Saam respectively are the third and fourth most popular and most watched TV shows on all of South African television. Each soap respectively also commands a 60% or bigger share. It means that two out of three of all the TV sets switched on during their broadcast timeslots, are tuned to these shows. 

This year viewers will however suddenly be able to vote for SABC1's Uzalo that was also missing from last year's options. The 2017 Saftas has now included it in the Most Popular TV Soap category for the first time. Last year the Saftas said Uzalo was a drama.

Critics contend that TV shows shouldn't be forced to enter the Saftas just to be eligible for recognition of their work and that the 181 judges, presumably chosen because of their expertise and knowing film and television, should be watching shows and films throughout the year anyway and know quality work and what had been shown.

The Saftas - moving from Johannesburg to Sun City from 16 to 18 March this year in a new 5-year deal with Sun International to do the handing out of Golden Horn trophies there - has been the subject of repeated criticism every year about how the award show is run, how shows are nominated and selected, how they're judged, who the judges are and over the perceived exclusion of women, minorities and smaller – especially black – producers.

Broadcasters including e.tv, M-Net and the SABC, along with several soaps, have previously taken turns to boycott the Saftas and criticise it for issues ranging from credibility, and a lack of inclusivity and diversity, to its compromised judging process and a lack of transformation.

Last year the Saftas in a statement admitted that "urgent attention is required to transform the industry and ensure that the Saftas become more inclusive".

The contentious Saftas previously locked out 7de Laan (2012), Binnelanders and Villa Rosa (2013) and Muvhango (2014) from the Most Popular Soap category for the shows' refusal to enter in categories. In 2012 e.tv pulled its soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! as well as all its other shows from the Saftas.

'Little effort to improve the judging process'

As to why Muvhango is boycotting the Saftas yet again, Muvhango associate producer Morishe Matlejoane told TVwithThinus that "our stance remains as is".

"There has been little if any effort from the organisers to improve the judging process or allowing the public vote to hold rank. We remain stern in our views until a significant change is noticed. As mentioned previously, we seek to protect the integrity of our hard working crew and actors from the narrow views of a few individuals. It's just not fair".

Last year Muvhango slammed the Saftas for its "unstandardised" judging system, with Morishe Matlejoane in 2016 saying that "there has been growing skepticism around the process followed by the organisers".

"In any contest where judges are selected 'within' the system and not independently set to be true independent critics, there will always be room to question. The Saftas are not independently run to fully encompass every broadcast to give a true reflection of the South African TV landscape."

"There are people working alongside those who are nominated, people working for rival production companies, which all leads to major credibility issues".

The NFVF hasn't yet responded with answers to questions in a media enquiry made last week Thursday, seeking comment on things like what the Saftas has done to improve the process since Muvhango boycotted the award show last year, the damage to the credibility of the Saftas and the NFVF's views on the ongoing boycott of SA TV shows of the awards show.

In an earlier statement announcing the move to Sun City and the North West province, Zama Mkosi, NFVF CEO, says that the Saftas "are anticipating a very successful and mesmerising 11th Saftas that South Africa can enjoy and experience with us".

For the 2017 Saftas the NFVF dumped categories like Best Sports Show, Best Animation film and Best TV animation, saying South Africa lacks adequate submissions in these TV and film fields.

Categories to reward work within news and actuality remain almost non-existent with no recognition of TV news anchors and TV journalists.

The 2017 Saftas added Best TV Talk show host and Best Micro film as new categories, as well as the New Discretionary Award going to a youth achiever.

The 2017 South African Film and Television Awards will be broadcast live on SABC2 on 18 March.

The NFVF once again damages the credibility of the Saftas: Blocks the SABC's Uzalo and Muvhango to be voted for by viewers as Most Popular Soap for 2016.

Controversy is once again erupting around the credibility of the South African Film and Television Awards that is blocking viewers this year from voting for the public broadcaster's hugely popular soaps Uzalo and Muvhango - while suddenly adding additional categories after talks with the SABC.

The Saftas that in previous years drew criticism over the credibility of the awards, previously locked out 7de Laan (2012), Binnelanders and Villa Rosa (2013) and Muvhango (2014) from the Most Popular Soap category that viewers vote for. In 2012 e.tv for instance pulled its soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! as well as all its other shows from the award show.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) that runs the Saftas, forces TV productions to enter other categories every year or otherwise be completely disqualified and banned from the Most Popular Soap category - the one in which viewers vote and decide the winner.

It means that once again for the 10th Saftas set to take place on 18 and 20 March, it will be a hollow win for whatever soap gets the most votes as Most Popular Soap since the group is once again incomplete and not a full representation of their TV screens and what viewers should be able to vote for.

Ironically Uzalo is the most popular and most watched soap and TV show in South Africa and highest rated show and soap on SABC1. Based on TV ratings and ARs, the currency of South Africa's TV industry, Uzalo would win.

Muvhango meanwhile is the most watched soap and number one rated programme on SABC2 but will be completely invisible at this year's Saftas.

The Saftas says that it promotes and honours diversity in South Africa's film and TV industry, but ironically has now locked out the Venda soap for two years in a row from the most popular category - a prime example of the very type of show it should be seen as celebrating.

The NFVF in a statement says the Saftas "are aligned to the NFVF's mandate of growing and developing the industry through showcasing and celebrating of our country's diversity - languages, and regional representation".

The Saftas confirms to TVwithThinus that viewers are blocked from voting for Uzalo - regionally filmed in KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal - and Muvhango.

"Muvhango did not enter the Saftas this year," says Naomi Mokhele, NFVF spokesperson. "Therefore as per the awards' guidelines, only soapies that were submitted for entry into the Saftas can be considered for the awards categories".

As to why Uzalo, the hugely popular SABC1 weekday soap isn't eligible and included, Naomi Mokhele says "the producers entered it as a drama and not a soapie".

Meanwhile, after talks with the SABC's chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng who was unhappy about a perceived lack of transformation, the NFVF has suddenly added more categories to this year's Saftas after it already announced the nominees for all the categories.

It's not clear why the NFVF agreed to suddenly add new categories to the 2016 Saftas less than a month before the award show, instead of properly phasing it in for subsequent editions when the nomination process starts again towards the end of this year.  

"The two parties agreed that urgent attention is required to transform the industry and ensure that the Saftas become more inclusive," said the SABC and the NFVF in a joint statement. 

The SABC and the NFVF agreed that productions that feature African languages, women and people with disabilities will now be considered with a special "window period opened to accommodate them before the awards".

Now the NFVF suddenly added what it calls "three new special awards" to the 10th Saftas, including a special Disability Recognition Award. It's not clear whether people will have to enter for these new awards - as the Saftas requires for other categories - or whether the Saftas will identify and self-select winners. 

"We are constantly refining the process of the Saftas, guidelines for submissions and the judging process," says Zama Mkosi, NFVF CEO.

"There is an overwhelming commitment by the NFVF to broaden participation of previously disadvantaged individuals and groupings in the complete value chain of the film and television industry".

Somizi Mhlongo and Nadia Neophytou named as red carpet interviewers for the 10th South African Film and Television Awards.

Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo and entertainment reporter Nadia Neophytou will be the red carpet interviewers for the 10th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) taking place on 20 March.

"We are delighted to be working with Somizi Mhlongo and Nadia Neophytou, both of whom are home-grown talents that have built stellar, longstanding careers," says Zama Mkosi, CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) organising the Saftas.

"I'm looking forward to bring something different, someting rattata, something Somizi to the 2016 Saftas as red carpet presenter," says Somizi.

"I'm very excited to be heading home to South Africa to co-host the Saftas red carpet," says Nadia Neophytou who works in New York.

"I'm looking forward to interviewing the filmmakers, producers, actors and TV stars who've been nominated. I'm looking forward to seeing who takes home the Golden Horn".

The 2016 Saftas will be broadcast on SABC2 and M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channels.

OH SO ODD AGAIN: The nominees of the 10th 2016 Saftas is once again not really awarding the best of the best - oh and McDonalds McCafe is a sponsor.

Still evolving after 10 times, The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has announced the nominees for its 2016 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) this morning at Monte Casino.

The 2016 Saftas will take place on 18 and 20 March at Gallagher Estate with the second night that will be broadcast on SABC2, this year with SABC3's Expresso presenter Katlegoe Maboe as host.

The NFVF through the Saftas tries to honour the best of South African TV and film, although, like America's Oscars, are marred by ongoing problems and deficiencies in the system, preventing the real best of South Africa's television and film productions to receive Golden Horn trophies.

This year's Saftas nominee list will once again have ordinary South African viewers as well as TV critics and insiders scratching their heads over how the nominees were chosen.

Highly rated shows, meaning they mass market appeal, as well as critical darlings are left out in virtually all of the categories in favour of a collection of names, shows and on-screen talent a lot of people don't know.

Add in McDonalds this year as a weird sponsor for its McCafe coffee brand for the Saftas and you can get somewhat of a feel of how never quite on point and off key the Saftas actually are.

Leading with 11 nominations is the satirical show ZA News: Puppet Nation on StarSat with 11 nominations, followed by 9 nominations for the SABC3 mockumentary Those Who Can’t.

The made-for-TV movies Rise and Ingoma, as well as the TV comedy Kota Life Crisis all got 8 nominations.

The soap dramas Saints and Sinners (Mzansi Magic) and isiBaya (Mzansi Magic) each got 7 nominations, with 6 nominations each for Isidingo (SABC3) and Ashes to Ashes (e.tv).

Five nominations each went to Rhythm City (e.tv), The Gift and While You Weren’t Looking. The feature film Ayanda also earned five nods.

"These nominations not only honour extraordinary achievements but they serve as an incredibly helpful guide to the best of the best of what's out there for our television viewers and ticket buyers," says Zama Mkosi, NFVF CEO.

"We always encourage the creative community to show us their best work and South African audiences will award them for it."

The NFVF and Saftas organising and judging committee lacks credible, expert people who watches a lot and knows television and film (and those people do exist) - it leads to the problem where the Saftas judges are dependent on judging work that's entered and episodes that are entered - instead of them themselves casting, through knowing, a wide net and picking and including what's great.

The result is that over-eager producers, actors and production companies enter (often less than stellar) work, out of which shortlists and nominees are chosen. Better work often exists, but it's not recognised.

By the time you have advertiser-funded productions (so-called AFP's) not only eligible but actually being nominees in categories - shows that's primarily sponsor driven and in fact long TV commercials masquerading as TV shows - it's not really the best of what South African television has to offer.

Sadly there's once again more wrong than right with the latest nominees for the 10th Saftas - as if those who produce the list, inhabit in some other reality than the real reality where common sense should prevail even in the fickle, superficial world of film and television.

Where's the bigger diversity, more of the real gems, the more balanced nominees in several categories?

Sadly, nobody really speaks up - neither those nominated and playing the game, and those who don't know better - in a form of collusion which results in the Saftas never really actually getting better and improving.

The Saftas nominees list and categories for 2016 are once again unbalanced - its obvious to see, but nobody speaks up about it.

People and shows that should be on it are not and people and shows that shouldn't be on it are - it's a problem because it speaks to the credibility and reputation and veracity of what we as South Africa push forward and wants to say "this is our best".

In the same way that McCafe isn't the best coffee in South Africa but the NFVF and the Saftas are fine to go with it as a sponsor and attach it to the awards, the "best of the best" that Zama Mkosi speaks of, isn't really, really being reflected in the Saftas 2016 nominees list.

Just because you say something (ask Donald Trump), doesn't make it true.

It remains incredibly painful to know that often lesser work is being rewarded when there's a multitude of really hard-working and brilliant people working in television and film in South Africa who are not getting their rightful due, reward and moment in the spotlight.

2016 South African Film and Television Awards nominees

The South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) updates its look with gold and the word 'imagine' for the 10th Safta ceremonies set for March.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has unveiled this year's logo and look for the 10th South African Film and Television Awards ceremonies that will be held in March.

The gold-over theme for 2016 now has the word "Imagine".

The NFVF, an agency of the department of arts and culture, will again try to produce a better televised Saftas awards show this year.

The Saftas, supposed to be for the local South African film and TV industry, always reflects its badly on television - marred year after year by bad production values, shoddy and shocking omissions and mistakes, a litany of technical problems and mistakes, as well as amateur presenting talent who struggle to read and don't know, nor care, with correct pronunciation of people's names.

With the new visual identity for the 10th Saftas "we're celebrating the glamour and the solid hard work that thrives in this industry every day," says Zama Mkosi, the NFVF CEO in a statement released today to show the updated look for 2016.

"We consider ourselves the backbone of the Saftas and the decision to imbue a new sense of progress and meaning to the identity, affords us another opportunity to demonstrate our support."

"As we celebrate a decade of the Saftas it was a fitting time to redefine the event and all the elements that make it a noteworthy annual gathering".

Entries open for the NFVF's 10th South African Film and Television Awards; Saftas awards show set to take place in March 2016.

Entries have opened for the 10th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) and will close on Friday 18 September at 16:00, and entries for feature film submissions closing on 16 October.

The Saftas is run under the auspices of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and is supposed to honour, celebrate and promote the creativity and quality of South Africa's film and TV talent and productions.

The Saftas however annually falls short of that lofty idea every year, with a botched awards show and inexplicably bizarre shortlists in several categories.

The NFVF has now created an online system for submissions and says its been done "in an effort to simplify the submission process and insure [sic] timeous feedback to applications and will ensure a smoother capturing and evaluation process".

People who want to enter can do so at saftasonline.co.za with the competition rules and entry guidelines that's at nfvf.co.za.

Only South African TV programmes and films produced and publicly shown between 1 August 2014 and 31 July 2015 are eligible to be entered in the categories for TV fiction, non-fiction, student films and TV animation.

For feature film and feature length animation, only South African films produced and publicly shown between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015 are eligible to be entered.

"The Saftas are about celebrating the industry and we'd like to encourage all eligible local productions to submit entries," says Zama Mkosi, NFVF CEO and Saftas chairperson.

Nominees for the 10th Saftas will be announced in February 2016 says the NFVF, with the main awards show taking place in March 2016.

National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) on death of Nelson Mandela: 'We salute our filmmakers who captured his story in his lifetime'.

South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) says "the country and the world mourn this icon who taught the world the importance of reconciliation, unity, forgiveness and peace".

"Madiba contributed immensely to the transformation of this country, a contribution that led to our people gaining a voice to speak freely and to tell the story of South Africa," says Zama Mkosi, NFVF CEO.

"To all the filmmakers, let us continue to celebrate and honour our former president through the telling of his story, honouring his memory and in the process ensuring that the world and future generations remember his life and are inspired to themselves live out all that Madiba stood for."

"We salute our filmmakers who had the foresight to capture the Nelson Mandela story in his lifetime, now more than ever that work will be our means of positive reflection and inspiration."

"As we bid Tata farewell, we salute the film industry for continuing to capture the nation's sentiments in moving pictures," says Zama Mkosi.

SHOCKER! NFVF shocked at creation of South African Film Commission; says Cape Film Commission CEO 'hijacked' a process.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is shocked at news over the apparent establishment of a South African Film Commission (SAFC) - but one not created by parliament and through the department of arts and culture as is currently underway.

The NFVF is upset with the the Cape Film Commission's (CFC) CEO, Denis Lillie, saying claims by him that the NFVF, the department of trade and industry, and the department of arts and culture provided permission to start such a commission is not true. The NFVF in a statement issued late Wednesday says that Denis Lillie "decided to hijack the process thereby misleading the industry".

Yesterday I reported on the surprising creation of the South African Film Commission (SAFC) which has been created and registered as an independent and non-profit organisation with the aim to help, serve and promote South Africa's growing film industry.

The newly created organisation was careful to explain that it will not replace the Gauteng Film Commission, KZN Film Commission, the Cape Town Film Commission, the Durban Film Office or other film promotion offices in South Africa but will work as a broad, national body to supplement on a national level what these existing offices are doing for film and television production work in South Africa.

Today the NFVF is reacting in anger, lashing out at Denis Lillie, who is the CEO of the Cape Town Film Commission, saying that the NFVF "has learned with great shock the news of the registration and establishment of the South African Film Commission by Cape Town Film Commission's Denis Lillie."

"The NFVF distances itself from the utterances of Denis Lillie, who in his statement, claims that he has been provided permission by the NFVF, department of trade and industry and department of arts and culture to start such a commission."

"In his statement to members of the Cape Film Commission, Denis Lillie suggests that the he has been having discussions with various agencies and entities across South Africa over the past 12 to 18 months."

"These included discussions with representatives from DAC, NFVF, the National Lotteries Board, the DTI and others and tabled a proposed South African Film Commission some time ago, and again at Cannes in 2012, with the NFVF CEO. He further states that he believes his commission would complete the NFVF and film commissions mandates."

"This statement is far from the truth and the NFVF would like to emphasise that it has never been and is not in talks with CFC and Denis Lillie regarding the establishment of the South African Film Commission with them."

The NFVF says in the statement that "the establishment of a South African film commission is the responsibility and falls under the ambit of the department of arts and culture and the NFVF as the agency of the department of arts and culture responsible for the film industry in South Africa."

The NFVF said the department of arts and culture is currently in the process of converting or restructuring the NFVF into a fully-fledged National Film Commission. 

"This process has commenced with the NFVF having successfully applied to register the trademark "South African Film Commission" and together with the department of arts and culture are currently following appropriate parliamentary channels to amend the relevant legislation."

"It is unfortunate that CFC and Denis Lillie have decided to hijack the process thereby misleading the industry," says Zama Mkosi, the CEO of the NFVF in the statement.

The NFVF says that the establishment of a South African Film Commission will be effected through an act of parliament and "is the sole responsibility of the department of arts and culture and not of an non-governmental organisation or any other private entity."

Denis Lillie says "although the NFVF state that our statements are far from the truth, these statements from the NFVF conveniently ignore discussions that took place between the Cape Film Commission and the NFVF over 12 to 18 months."

"They also ignore the discussions and email exchanges between the department of arts and culture ministry and the Cape Film Commission between June and October 2012 and beyond where the CFC initially tabled a proposal for a national film commission to complement the NFVF."

Dennis Lillie says the Cape Film Commission was "subsequently encouraged by the department of arts and culture to progress the proposal through interactions with the NFVF. These emails confirmed discussions the CFC had with the NFVF in June 2012 over the creation of a national film commission."

"Traditionally the CFC has worked with the department of trade and industry on film related matters as the department of trade and industry is the agency for economic growth, investment and job creation in the film sector."

"Our understanding from the NFVF mandate is that they are in part mandated to promote South African culture though film. The role of a Film Commission is partly to promote South Africa as a film making territory to both local and international filmmakers, hence the complementary process between both agencies."

Saftas judging: 'No doubt there's room for improvement,' says Nodi Murphy, judging chairperson of the 7th Saftas.

''There's no doubt that there's room for improvement, when is there not? And specifically for growth" said Nodi Murphy, the overall judging chairperson of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards during the live broadcast of the awards ceremony which was shown on Saturday night on SABC3.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) tries to honour South Africa's film and television industry by organising the award ceremony which sadly mostly remains mired in amateurism with a convoluted nomination, selection and judging system, and a shoddy televised ceremony which year after year is always filled with a myriad of production mistakes.

"We're talking about the Saftas here," said Nodi Murphy. "This is only possible with each of you lending your considerable power to the process and being involved, for they are your awards, and they are decided by your peers," she said.

"So I'm grateful to address hundreds of you here - powerful; powerful and influential - shapers of our aspirations and interpreters of dreams. I encourage you to continue to responsible to delve and discover and to bring to light as yet untold histories and stories to challenge attitudes and inequalities."

Zama Mkosi, chairperson of the South African Film and Television Awards committee and NFVF CEO said on Saturday night that "the committment shown by our broadcasting partners - SABC3, Mzansi Magic and Top One - is an indication of the growing stature of the awards, and will ensure that even more South Africans are exposed to the amazing talent found in our industry."

BREAKING. SABC2's 7de Laan back IN!; kykNET's Binneland and Villa Rosa OUT! of the 7th Saftas; e.tv returns, M-Net will broadcast.

You're reading it here first. 

I can break the news that the popular SABC2 soap 7de Laan is back in the race as South Africa's most popular soap on TV in the 7th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) which will take place in March 2013 and which will be screened on one of M-Net's TV channels for the first time.

I can also reveal that both of e.tv's soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! are legitimately back (although no official word from e.tv about having entering their soaps), after e.tv withdrew all of its nominees and shows just before the 6th Saftas took place earlier this year. 

I can also exclusively break the news that kykNET's Binneland and Villa Rosa won't be votable for the 7th Saftas as Best Soap (although it's a viewers' vote category only) - neither show entered for the 7th Saftas, similar to 7de Laan last year.

Controversy swirled around organisers, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), at the beginning of this year when the Danie Odendaal Production was blatantly excluded from the Best Soap Award during the 6th Saftas – a category in which only viewers' vote determine the winner.

7de Laan won as Best Soap at the Saftas in 2009, again in 2010 and 2011 before suddenly being excluded in 2012. 

The NFVF dumped 7de Laan, the 3rd biggest South African soap according to viewership figures, since the soap failed to enter other categories. The NFVF said soaps are only eligible to be voted for if they've entered other categories; the production said they were not aware of that.

Now 7de Laan is back in the Saftas after having entered into other categories, although South African TV viewers will again not have a true complete soap set to truly choose from and which will still be impacting on the true legitimacy of the Best Soap category winner.

iNkaba in, Binneland and Villa Rosa out

I can reveal that while SABC1's Generations, SABC2's Muvhango and 7de Laan, SABC3's Isidingo, e.tv's Scandal! and Rhythm City, M-Net's The Wild and even Mzansi Magic's telenovela iNkaba (for the first time) all entered into categories and therefore will be listed in the Best Soap category, kykNET on DStv's Binneland and Villa Rosa are absent because they did not enter anything.

Fans of Binneland and Villa Rosa won't be able to vote for these shows, although they are legitimate and longrunning soaps.

"Eight soaps that submitted entries will go to judging and also qualify for Best Soap as a viewer voting category," the NFVF tells me.

This year the 7th Saftas saw 354 entries qualify to proceed to the so-called "filtration process" which will be followed by final judging. While South Africa's TV industry plays nice, there is still simmering tension behind the scenes, with the Saftas abjudication process still accused of sistemic and judges' bias. Once again, previous winners and nominees of the Saftas serve as judges which is perceived to be a conflict of interest.

"The Saftas judges are professionals with integrity, also if a judge has been nominated in a category they are not permitted to sit on the judging of their own project. The judging process is audited," the NFVF tells TV with Thinus.

"I’m proud to say that not only is the Saftas growing but the whole industry as we continue to witness a considerable increase in the levels of international and local investments in the film and TV industry," says Zama Mkosi the NFVF CEO and Saftas chairperson.

Tension

"This year all the role players in the industry fully support the Saftas," says Mkosi. And while public criticism surrounding the upcoming 7th Saftas has not yet bubbled to the surface as in previous years, behind the scenes broadcasters and industry players are keeping a close eye on the process. Industry insiders remain concerned about the true independence of the awards.

"e.tv remains committed to working together with the NFVF and the Saftas committee to address concerns around the independence of the awards," says Monde Twala, e.tv's group head of channels. Just before the awards ceremony of the 6th Saftas e.tv in a big fight with the awards ceremony, withdrew all e.tv nominees and shows, although the broadcaster did enter again this year.

"Our efforts aim to bolster industry competence and transparency," says Monde Twala. "It is important that we work towards ensuring genuine reward for the country's diverse film and television talent pool."

Back on TV

Another swirling backstage drama in the past was the bad organising and the NFVF's inability to find a broadcaster in time to televise the awards show done over two consecutive nights, or to institute a so-called "carousel wheel" similar to American award shows where TV channels play nice and equally share in taking turns to televise shows such as the Emmys on a turn-by-turn basis to fascilitate buy-in and continued support.

Now M-Net agreed to show an edited version of the 7th Saftas in 2013. "M-Net is fully behind the awards, and has committed to screening an edited version on one of its channels," says Theo Erasmus, M-Net's director for general entertainment channels who is an M-Net representative on the Saftas committee.

"The Saftas have come a long way and it is encouraging to see all the role players, including industry peers, government and broadcasters holding hands in ensuring the awards evolve," says Nodi Murphy, the new overall chairperson of the judges of the Saftas.