The 19th annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) awards ceremony was originally planned for October 2025.
Zuko Komisa

The 19th annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) have been rescheduled to March 2026, following a decision by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) to postpone the event.
The awards ceremony was originally planned for October 2025.
The postponement comes as a result of recent leadership changes and what the NFVF is calling a period of “organisational renewal.”
The foundation stated that the delay will allow them to strengthen governance, refine their strategic direction, and reinforce their role as the custodian of the awards.
The new date in March is also said to better align the SAFTAs with the international awards calendar, giving South African creatives the chance to be recognised alongside their global peers.
This shift marks a return to the awards’ original timeline, which was altered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFVF hopes this will establish a consistent and predictable schedule for the industry moving forward.
The theme for the 19th SAFTAs is “One Story. One Industry. One Future.” It aims to celebrate South Africa’s screen legacy and bring the industry together.
To accommodate the change in date, the eligibility period for films and television shows will be extended.
Instead of the usual 12-month period, projects released between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2025 will now be considered.
This 18-month window will ensure that content released during the extended period is still eligible for nomination.
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