23 February 2016
See 2016 SAFTAs nominations list: https://t.co/BIJkOHSEEL pic.twitter.com/aCrZ6o2lYG
— SundayWorld (@SundayWorldZA) February 18, 2016
The Safta celebration, run by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), is in its tenth year, and this year the event’s theme is a call for a “commitment to growth and development of the industry”.
NFVF chief executive Zama Nkosi said at the announcement of the nominees that the tenth Saftas would be the best yet. “It is a great honour (for) the NFVF to have been the custodians of these awards from the very beginning. We have seen how much it has grown, we have seen it grow from 50 entries to over 400 entries.”
Winners will be announced during two star-studded events on 18 and 20 March 2016, at Gallagher Estate and broadcast live on SABC 2. Strictly Come Dancingand Expresso presenter Katlego Maboe will be the ceremony host, along with TV personality Minnie Dlamini. Maboe is also nominated for Best TV Presenter.
Nataniel was at the #SONA last week to suss what what matters: what everyone was wearing. https://t.co/SHyiaRa3Lz pic.twitter.com/FUaAs5bqHc
— ZANEWS (@zanews) February 15, 2016
The Emmy-nominated satirical comedy show, ZA News: Puppet Nation, leads the list with 11 nominations, while acclaimed SABC 3 sitcom Those Who Can’t received nine nominations.
Puppet Nation director Alex Fynn, who earned a Best Director nomination, calls the nominations the fruits of a team effort. “I think most people don’t really know what it takes to produce this kind of show. (and) 11 nominations is exactly what this team needs to just keep on pushing and doing what we do.” The show is broadcast on the StarSat network, as well as through its online platforms.
Other highlights include nominations for the SABC 1 soap opera, Generations: The Legacy, which missed out on recognition at the 2015 awards, and a Best TV Drama nomination – one of seven nominations – for the innovative interactive series Saints and Sinners, which begins its second season this year. The unique narrative of the show uses viewer polling to determine the outcome of each episode.
The local television institution, Isidingo, and e-tv’s popular funeral business drama, Ashes to Ashes, each earned six nominations for acting and production.
Ayanda, a movie produced by @TerryPheto has received five nominations at South African Film and Television Awards. pic.twitter.com/Pr7DQrzRWd
— TransAfricaRadio (@TransAfrica872) February 19, 2016
This year’s Safta film nominations feature some quality productions vying for top honours during a year in which a host of local films were released to critical acclaim and box office success.
Nominations for Best Film include indie festival darling Ayanda, which got five nominations; Afrikaans drama Dis Ek, Anna; and the Mzansi Magic channel’s township drama, For Love and Broken Bones.
The film, While You Weren’t Looking, that deals with the everyday lives of South Africa gay and lesbian society, features heavily in the acting categories with nominations for veterans Lionel Newton and Tina Jaxa.
For a full list of TV and film nominations, visit the NFVF website’s Saftas page.
Source: News24
