The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has officially announced 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. This change comes in light of organisational adjustments 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),” stated the NFVF.

The rescheduling also aims to align the SAFTAs with the international awards calendar, allowing South African talent to be celebrated alongside major global film and television awards, the NFVF said. “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.”

With this shift back to March, the eligibility criteria for SAFTAs19 will expand to cover an 18-month period for projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas, or streamed online between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2025. This will be a once-off exception given the unique circumstances, according to the NFVF.

Looking ahead, eligibility will revert to a 12-month cycle. For SAFTAs20, scheduled for March 2027, eligibility will apply to projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas, or streamed online between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

The NFVF has also unveiled a new theme for SAFTAs19: “One Story. One Industry. One Future – Celebrating South Africa’s Screen Legacy, Together.” This theme “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 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,” the NFVF emphasized.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) and Acting Chairperson of the SAFTAs Committee, Dr. Rirhandzu Machaba, said: “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.”

Details regarding the venue, broadcast partners, and nomination announcements will be shared in the coming months.