Theme: One Story. One Industry. One Future. - Celebrating South Africa's Screen Legacy, TogetherJohannesburg - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the 19th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) will now take place in March 2026, following a rescheduling from October this year due to organisational changes and a period of renewal within the NFVF.
After careful review and consultation, the NFVF has rescheduled SAFTAs19 to take place in March 2026. The decision to move the awards is the result of leadership changes within the NFVF and related unforeseen delays, which have now enabled a broader period of organisational renewal. This transition has provided us with an opportunity to strengthen governance, sharpen our strategic focus, and reinforce the NFVF's role as the custodian of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
This adjustment also ensures that the SAFTAs align with the international awards calendar, providing South African talent the opportunity to be celebrated in parallel with major global film and television awards. Furthermore, it allows the SAFTAs to revert to the original timeline of March, which had changed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift will ensure that the event is marked consistently in the industry calendar every year moving forward in the interest of consistency and forward planning.
The eligibility criteria ordinarily pertain to projects that have been on air or screened in cinemas or streamed online in the previous calendar year (12 months). This means that if SAFTAs19 took place in 2025, eligibility would pertain to projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas or streamed online between 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024. Given this shift back to March of each year, the eligibility criteria for SAFTAs19 will expand to a period of 18 months for projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas or streamed online between 1 January 2024 - 30 June 2025. This will be a once-off exception given the unique circumstances. Moving forward, eligibility will revert to a 12-month cycle, meaning that for SAFTAs20 in March 2027, eligibility would be for projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas or streamed online between 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026.
Under the bold new theme, One Story. One Industry. One Future - Celebrating South Africa's Screen Legacy, Together , SAFTAs19 will honour the resilience, unity, and creativity of the South African film and television industry while inspiring excitement for the milestone SAFTAs20 in 2027.
This year's theme is built around three powerful ideas:
One Story: Celebrating our shared passion for storytelling that transcends genres, languages, and borders.
One Industry: Bringing together all stakeholders: creatives, producers, broadcasters, and audiences, in unity and collaboration.
One Future: Looking ahead with optimism and purpose, setting the stage for a vibrant next chapter in South African screen excellence.
This theme considers the challenges faced by the industry in recent years and aims to drive our commitment to strengthen the industry collectively as the NFVF commits to ensuring stability, confidence, and renewed trust. SAFTAs19 is not just an awards ceremony - it is a reaffirmation of our industry's resilience and creativity, and a commitment to working together towards an even stronger future.
Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), Dr. Rirhandzu Machaba who is also the Acting Chairperson of the SAFTAs Committee says, The SAFTAs have always been about recognising greatness, and in 2026 we look forward to celebrating an industry that continues to rise, inspire, and unite. SAFTAs19 will mark a moment for the industry to come together, reflect on our journey, and re-imagine the path ahead under the theme One Story, One Industry, One Future. It is both a celebration and a commitment: to tell our stories with pride, to stand together as one, and to work towards an even brighter future for South African film and television.
The build-up to SAFTAs19 will feature a series of industry spotlights, interactive campaigns, and celebratory content. As the NFVF prepares for this prestigious event, the message is clear: the South African film and television industry is united, resilient, and ready for the future.
Details on venue, broadcast partners, and nomination announcements will follow in the coming months.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
NFVF Representative:
Lerato Mokopanele
Marketing and Communications Manager
National Film and Video Foundation
Email: Leratom@nfvf.co.za
Tel: 011 483 0880
About SAFTAs:
The South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) were established by industry representatives and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), as an event that honours, celebrates, and promotes the creativity, quality and excellence of the South African film and television talent. They also serve to encourage the development of new talent, fostering a generation of filmmakers united in the collective mission of telling authentic South African stories.
About NFVF: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department Sport, Arts and Culture that was created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa's film and video industry. The NFVF does this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers. In addition, the NFVF commissions research and produces industry statistics that provide both the public and stakeholders with valuable insights into the South African film industry.
