SAFTAs18 announce their nominees

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), a Department of Sport, Arts and Culture agency, has announced the 18th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs18) nominees.

The SAFTAs continue to honour the outstanding quality, talent and excellence in SA’s dynamic film and TV industry under the custodianship of the NFVF.

This year, 347 entries were received, showcasing our local talent’s rich diversity and creativity.

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The judging process began in June and concluded in August and was again conducted with utmost fairness, thanks to the invaluable contributions of 197 esteemed industry experts who served as jury members.

This year marks a significant milestone as they introduce five new categories to recognise the evolving landscape of the local film industry.

• Best achievement in visual effects (VFX) – TV or film

• Best achievement in special effects (SFX) in hair and make-up – TV or film

• Original song – telenovela

• Original song – TV drama

• Original song – feature film.

After not having enough animation entries since 2013, this year, the animation category returns with a significant number of entries, which enables the SAFTAs to honour excellence in this field. This is an indication of growth in the SA animation space.

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Nominee highlights:

• Tshedza Pictures leads the pack for achievements by production houses with 29 nominations for productions such as Outlaws and The River, which scored 11 nominations each, and Gqeberha – The Empire, which received three nominations, to name a few.

• Burnt Onion Productions (Burnt Onion) follows with 22 nominations for projects like Miseducation, which received 10 nominations, and Entangled, which received three, to name a few. Five of Burnt Onion’s nominations are shared with Seriti Films for the telenovela Redemption.

• The Bomb Shelter Film Company received 20 nominations, 17 of which were for Shaka iLembe, including best actress in a TV drama for Nomzamo Mbatha, best supporting actor in a drama for Wiseman Mncube and Senzokuhle Radebe.

• Ochre Media also scored big with 19 nominations for productions such as Lioness, Fatal Seduction and SCANDAL!

• In the feature film categories, Quizzical Pictures scored 13 nominations for iNumber Number: Jozi Gold.

• Idea Candy achieved an impressive 12 nominations across the documentary, reality TV and short film categories for productions such as Rosemary’s Hitlist and Convict Conman.

• BBZEE Films achieved 10 nominations for Yoh! Christmas, while Peu achieved eight nominations, seven of which were for Skeem Saam, and Hela Media received six nominations for the soap/telenovela 1802 – Love Defies Time.

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• Orange Films and Star Films’ Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story received three nominations, Rose and Oaks Mediaachieved two nominations for The Masked Singer, as did Rey Music’s Baking with The Reys.

Weil Entertainment’s Crown Chasers and SABC’s Sport@10 received a nomination each.

• Thembinkosi Mthembu stands out with four nominations for best actor in a drama for Shaka iLembe and Adulting, best actor in a telenovela for Outlaws, and best supporting actor for The River.

• The late Mpho Sebeng received two nominations for best supporting actor in a telenovela and best supporting actor in a comedy, while Sindi Dlathu’s two nominations for The River make her a nominee across all six seasons of the telenovela, The River.