Time for South African filmmakers to shine is almost here

Tshedza Pictures is leading the nomination list with 24 nominations..

Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

You have heard about the precarious state of the South African television and film sectors, which has recently forced actors, producers and other stake holders to march in Pretoria, taking their grievances of irregular grant awarding by the Department of Industry and Competition. With placards raising their issues, they marched to Parliament in Cape Town and the Offices of the department in late last year.

The filmmakers have a case as it is one of the most effective sectors that has emerged and produced top quality films and television programmes that give South Africans and certainly global audiences something worth their time to watch and admire.

If you want to gauge and satisfy yourself that the filmmakers who marched with a series of grievances know their story and are not just cry-babies looking for attention from authorities and public sympathy, you do not have to look further than the nominees for this year’s South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).

The quality of the productions that are up for grand prizes is exceptionally good, and so are the actors, directors and producers behind these productions.

One local production company, for example, is about yo make history as it has been it garnered 24 nominations, leading the pack.

Tshedza Pictures, is therefore tipped to walk away with several awards this year.

But who is Tshedza pictures?

Artificial intelligence has this to say about them:

“Tshedza Pictures is a South African production house known for its involvement in the creation of popular TV shows. They have produced hits like ‘The River’, ‘Outlaws’, ‘Adulting’, and ‘Gqeberha: The Empire’. The company is co-owned by Phathutshedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, who have been making headlines with their scriptwriting team.
Tshedza Pictures is set to bring South Africa’s first Xitsonga series to life with ‘Giyani: Land of Blood’ on SABC2. They have also launched the telenovela ‘Champions’ on Mzansi Magic, featuring A-list talent and a star-studded cast. Tshedza Pictures continues to reign on Mzansi screens with their latest telenovela ‘Champions’, which aims to inspire and excite the audience with its portrayal of ambition, positivity, and the resilience of South Africa’s people.”

“The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, and the custodian of the SAFTAs, is delighted to announce the nominees for the 19th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs19).

Increased Number of Entries Celebrating Excellence in South African Film and Television

After the announcement of the time frame change for the SAFTAs last year, the call for entries was opened, and the SAFTAs received 471 entries, surpassing the set target of 350 entries by 121 submissions. Out of the 471 entries received, an impressive number of 434 were compliant, showing a remarkable increase from the 347 compliant entries for SAFTAs18.

Robust jury process to evaluate all compliant entries 

“The 434 compliant SAFTAs19 entries were then reviewed by a jury of 156 film and television industry experts and professionals, who were appointed through an open-call process and sat on 20 judging panels reviewing entries across different categories. The jury reviewed entries and deliberated on selections through a robust two-phase audited process from 31, October 2025 until 21January 2026. During the first phase from 31 October 2025 – 7 January 2026, the jury evaluated projects wherein the deliberation on nominees and winners took place from 15 to 21 January 2026. The NFVF thanks all the jury members for their time and for ensuring that the integrity of the judging process was maintained throughout. The meticulous judging process has led us to this moment, where we are proud to celebrate the best of the South African film and television industry,” says NFVF.

Nominee Highlights

• Tshedza Pictures has achieved 24 nominations, leading with the highest number of nominations for the second year in a row. Some of their leading productions include “iThonga” with 10 nominations and “Youngins” with six nominations.            
• Quizzical Pictures closely follows behind Tshedza Pictures, with 22 nominations, “Reyka” S2 receiving nine nominations “White Lies” receiving eight nominations“Savage Beauty S2” receiving four nominations. 
• Penguin Films received a total of 17 nominations for their top telenovelas and series. “Skemergrond” earned three nominations, “Diepe Waters” received two nominations, and “Arendsvlei” got one nomination. All three shows are included in Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela public vote category.
• Known Associates Entertainment received 16 nominations in the TV Comedy and Feature Film categories, including  “Snake”, and “Death of a Whistleblower”.
• MMSV Productions’ telenovela, “Generations: The Legacy”, received 7 nominations, while Peu’s “Skeem Saam” received five, while Stained Glass TV’s  “Uzalo” achieved 4 nominations.
• The Milton Empire’s “Inimba” S1, a newcomer in the South African telenovela scene, received 5 nominations. 
• Streaming platforms like Netflix and Showmax have also made their presence felt with 55 and 59 nominations, respectively.
• The heavyweights of thespians Sello Maake ka-Ncube, Bonko Khoza, Zenande Mfenyana, Nelisiwe Sibiya, Celeste Loots, Sandra Prinsloo, Vusi Kunene, and Brumilda van Rensburg will make for an entertaining night showcasing the best South Africa has to offer.

The SAFTAs19 Craft and Main Show Awards, themed: One Story. One Industry. One Future. – Celebrating South Africa’s Screen Legacy, Together, will be held on 13 and 14 March 2026. 

The Awards nights promise to be a great showcase of South African talent, featuring a mix of established production houses and formats alongside the new entrants, and additional categories. The event will highlight a blend of experienced veterans and young up-and-coming talent, with representation in categories such as the Best Student Film and the animation categories. 

Public Participation

For months, social media has been buzzing with the South African public engaging in robust, fun, funny, and sometimes serious hashtags discussing the nuances of their favorite soapies, telenovelas, and their favorite presenters. It is now time to put those conversations to a vote that will decide who is the best in SA soapies, telenovelas, and who the nation’s best presenter is. Take part in the celebration, affirmation, and honouring the excellent work of your favourites by casting your vote for the Best TV Presenter and Most Popular Telenovela or Soap categories, which will be open to public voting. Voting numbers will be available on all SAFTAs’ social media platforms and the NFVF website from 19 February 2026, with voting lines closing on 11 March 2026.

Broadcast and Streaming Details

The SAFTAs Craft awards show will be streamed live on the SAFTAs YouTube page and across

Social media platforms on 13 March 2026, allowing fans to join the celebration of behind-the-scenes artistry and put faces to the amazing work of behind-the-scenes teams. The Main awards show will be simulcast live on Mzansi Magic (Channel 161) and SABC 2 on 14 March 2026. The Main show will be preceded by the Red Carpet special on Mzansi Magic and SABC 2. . Keep an eye on our social media pages for more information about the show. 

The countdown to the biggest night in the South African film and television calendar begins today, a night where the best SA film and TV talent come out to reignite their commitment to producing high-quality productions, be inspired to tell authentic SA stories, and most importantly, to celebrate and pat each other on the back for keeping the nation entertained and educated at such a time as this. 

The NFVF’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Onke Dumeko, says, “Historically, film and television in South Africa have always been at the forefront of keeping the nation informed, educated and entertained. It is fitting, therefore, that the producers, directors, actors, and all involved in this important job get the recognition they deserve and that they be celebrated for the great work they do in keeping important conversations ongoing. All you have to do is see the social media pages for intense but fun discussions about a local soap or telenovela, which tells you that these productions are part of the daily lives of so many South Africans. One can even go as far as saying they are part of the nation’s coping mechanism with all that is going on in the country and across the world, and the SAFTAs are a fitting way to give a nod to the incredible work of all these creatives in the film and television industry.”