The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, the custodians of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), has officially opened submissions for local production companies to submit their entries for the 19th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs19).The SAFTAs were established to honour, celebrate, promote and reward the creativity, quality, and excellence of South African Film and Television talent as well as content and to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of new talent within the industry.
Please read the updated guidelines which inform the qualifying factors of each category and submit entries online by visiting www.saftasonline.co.za.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 25 SEPTEMBER 2025.
For any queries, contact the SAFTAs team at info@saftasonline.co.za.
The industry is encouraged to submit entries into the following categories through the SAFTAs portal (www.saftasonline.co.za).
SAFTAs19 Categories
No. Craft/Main Show Category
1. Craft Best Achievement in Sound Documentary
2 Craft Best Achievement in Editing Documentary
3 Craft Best Achievement in Cinematography- Documentary
4 Craft Best Achievement in Directing- Documentary
5 Craft Best Made forTV Documentary
6 Craft Best Documentary Short
7 Craft Best Documentary Feature
8 Craft Best Factual Programme
9 Craft Best Current Affairs Programme
10 Craft Best Structured or Docu Reality Show
11 Craft Best Lifestyle Programme
12 Craft Best Educational Programme
13 Craft Best Children's Programme
14 Craft Best Student Film -Live Action and Animation
15 Craft Best Student Film Animation
16 Craft Best Achievememt in Make-Up and Hairstyling-TV Comedy
17 Craft Best Achievement in Wardrobe-TV Comedy
18 Craft Best Achievement in Art Direction TV Comedy
19 Craft Best Achievement in Sound TV Comedy
20 Craft Best Achievement in Editing- TV Comedy
21 Craft Best Achievement in Scriptwriting TV Comedy
22 Craft Best Achievement in Cinematography- TV Comedy
23 Craft Best Achievement in Directing TV Comedy
24 Craft Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling TV Drama
25 Craft Best Achievement in Wardrobe- TV Drama
26 Craft Best Achievement in Art Direction- TV Drama
27 Craft Best Achievement in Sound-TV Drama
28 Craft Best Achievement in Music/Original Score-TV Drama
29 Craft Best Achievement in an Orginal Song -TV Drama
30 Craft Best Achievement in Editing- TV Drama
31 Craft Best Achievement in Cinematography-TV Drama
32 Craft Best Achievement in Scriptwriting-TV Drama
33 Craft Best Achievement in Directing- TV Drama
34 Craft Best Made for TV Movie
35 Craft Best Animation
36 Craft Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling- TV Soap/Telenovela
37 Craft Best Achievement in Wardrobe- TV Soap/Telenovela
38 Craft Best Achievement in Art Direction- TV Soap/Telenovela
39 Craft Best Achievement in sound- TV Soap/Telenovela
40 Craft Best Achievement in Original Music/ Score-Telenovela
41 Craft Best Achievement in an Orginal Song-Telenovela
42 Craft Best Achievement in Editing-Telenovela
43 Craft Best Achievement in Scriptwriting-Telenovela
44 Craft Best Achievement in Scriptwriting-TV Soap
45 Craft Best Achievement in Cinematography-Telenovela
46 Craft Best Achievement in Directing-TV Soap
47 Craft Best Achievement in Directing-Telenovela
48 Craft Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling- Feature Film
49 Craft Best Achievement in Costume Design- Feature Film
50 Craft Best Achievement in Production Design- Feature Film
51 Craft Best Achievement in Sound Design-Feature Film
52 Craft Best Achievement in Original Music/Score-Feature Film
53 Craft Best Achievement in an Original Song-Feature Film
54 Craft Best Achievement in VFX in Film or TV
55 Craft Best Achievement in SFX in Film or TV
56 Craft Best Achievement in Editing- Feature Film
57 Craft Best Achievement in Cinematography-Feature Film
58 Craft Best Natural History and Environmental Programme
59 Main Best Short Film
60 Main Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy
61 Main Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy
62 Main Best Actor in a TV Comedy
63 Main Best Actress in a TV Comedy
64 Main Best Variety Show
65 Main Best Entertainment Programme
66 Main Best International Format
67 Main Best Online Content
68 Main Best Competition Reality Show
69 Main Best Structured Soapie Reality Show
70 Main Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama
71 Main Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama
72 Main Best Actor in a TV Drama
73 Main Best Actress in a TV Drama
74 Main Best Supporting Actor in Feature Film
75 Main Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film
76 Main Best Actor in a Feature Film
77 Main Best Actress in a Feature Film
78 Main Best Achievement in Scriptwriting Feature Film
79 Main Best Achievement in Directing Feature Film
80 Main Best Supporting Actor in a TV Soap
81 Main Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap
82 Main Best Actor in a TV Soap
83 Main Best Actress in a TV Soap
84 Main Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela
85 Main Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela
86 Main Best Actor in a Telenovela
87 Main Best Actress in a Telenovela
88 Main Best TV Comedy
89 Main Best TV Drama
90 Main Best TV Soap
91 Main Best Telenovela
92 Main Best Feature Film
93 Craft Best Youth Programme
SAFTAs19 Categories Evaluated By the SAFTAs Jury for Nominees and Winners Selected by Public Vote
94 Main Best TV Presenter
95 Main Most Popular Soap/Telenovela
*Please note that the call for Discretionary Award Categories will be released at a later stage.
