by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) plans on shifting 2022’s South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) to September this year although it’s unclear whether it will be a once-off change or a permanent calendar relocation.

The NFVF’s award ceremony which has taken place in March since it started in 2009, took place in May last year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with the country’s TV and film industry wondering where this year’s awards show is, and also if it will still be taking place given the absence of communication and updates about it from the industry body.

According to insiders, the NFVF is now looking to move the 16th SAFTAs to September 2022. 

This is after the SAFTA organisers decided to move the awards show to June 2022. Entries closed at the end of January this year, with judging currently underway.

In response to a media query asking why the decision was made to move the 2022 SAFTAs and whether it’s a permanent change, Onke Dumeko, NFVF head of operations, told TVwithThinus “planning for the SAFTAs has been well underway for some
months now, however a statement will be issued within the next two weeks that
speak to the plans for the 16th SAFTAs”.