Lead in the Safta nominations
The South African Film and Television Awards (Safta) have been announced, and Inxeba (The Wound) leads the pack in feature film categories with eight nods. The kykNET TV comedy Hotel also received seven nominations in various TV categories, making it the most nominated show for 2018.
The awards, which have become a premiere event showcasing up-and-coming and established talent, announced the hundreds of nominees in 79 categories yesterday.
Controversial film Inxaba has made a positive impact on the judging panel with its leading number of nominations.
The film is contending in categories Best Feature Film, Best supporting actor (Bongile Mantsai and Niza Ncoyini), Best Actor (Nakhane Mahlakalaka), Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Director and Best Script Writing.
“We are overwhelmed and incredibly honoured by the positive response from the judges,” said director John Trengove.
“No other film has racked up as many Safta nominations, and it is particularly rewarding to receive this level of recognition today, when the film has opened on the local circuit, to much criticism for its perceived cultural insensitivity.”
Hotel is nominated in the categories Directing (TV Comedy), Script Writing (TV comedy), Makeup and hairstylist, Wardrobe and costume design, Best Actress: TV Comedy (Simone Nortman), Best Actor TV Comedy (Schalk Bezuidenhout) and Best TV comedy.
Comedian Tumi Morake received two nods in the Best TV presenter category for her work on Point of Order and Red Cake: Not the Cooking Show.
The Saftas is committed to creating a platform for skills transfer and growing film activity in under-serviced provinces, such as the North West.
The Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs will start a year-long programme in the province to focus on pupils, women and the youth from rural and small towns and township areas in skills transfer, with the objective of removing barriers to participation.
The initiative was launched last year when Sun City was named the new home for the two-night award ceremony.
Both award ceremonies will take place on the weekend of March 22, with the technical awards taking place on March 22, followed by the star-studded ceremony on the 24th. It will be broadcast live on SABC2.
One of Safta’s most popular awards remains the public voting category, where viewers can vote for their favourite soap opera – however Muvango and Generations The Legacy snubbed the awards and aren’t in the running this year.