The Story⚡
South African productions on Showmax have earned 66 nominations at the 19th South African Film and Television Awards, placing local stories at the center of national acclaim.
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The nominations, announced on February 17, 2026, cover a range of categories from feature films to telenovelas, documentaries, and reality series. Among the standout entries is the dystopian film The Fix, produced by Crave Pictures, which received 11 nominations.
The Fix
This dystopian science fiction thriller is set in a near-future where the Earth’s atmosphere has become toxic. A young model takes an experimental drug that causes radical physical mutations. She initially seeks to reverse the effects but discovers that her transformation could save humanity. Written and directed by Kelsey Egan and produced by Crave Pictures, the film received 11 nominations.
Youngins
This teen telenovela follows a young girl who flees a family tragedy in rural KwaZulu-Natal to attend a boarding school in Johannesburg, where she becomes entangled in scandals, rivalries, and the complexities of teenage life. Produced by Tshedza Pictures and directed by Thembalethu Mfebe, Sandile Mdlul,i and Nthabiseng Tau, the series received six nominations.
Reënboogrant
This Afrikaans teen drama is a modern reimagining of Louise van Niekerk’s bestselling 1990s young adult novels. It centres on the Brink family and their friends as they navigate family conflicts, romance, aspirations, and rivalries while growing up in Tshwane. Produced by Sonvelt Media, the series received multiple nominations in technical categories, including editing, original music, and wardrobe.
Steinheist
This documentary investigates one of South Africa’s largest corporate scandals: the collapse of Steinhoff under former CEO Markus Jooste, which led to more than R200 billion in losses from accounting fraud. Produced by Idea Candy, it received nominations for Best Made for TV Documentary and Best Achievement in Editing – Documentary.
Tracking Thabo Bester
This true-crime documentary follows the investigation into convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who faked his death in prison and escaped, along with the role of his accomplice, Nandipha Magudumana, in the subsequent crimes and scams. Produced by Idea Candy, the series received a nomination for Best Made-for-TV Documentary.
The awards are presented under the theme “One Story. One Industry. One Future. – Celebrating South Africa’s Screen Legacy, Together.” The craft awards will take place on 13 March 2026 and will be streamed live. The main ceremony will be held on 14 March 2026 and broadcast live on Mzansi Magic (Channel 161) and SABC 2.
Nomsa Philiso, Director of Content and General Entertainment in English and Portuguese Africa for the MultiChoice Group, noted: “These nominations reflect the incredible work being made by storytellers across our industry. We’re proud to collaborate with creative teams who bring South African stories to life with such commitment and excellence. Congratulations to every nominee whose talent, collaboration, and dedication continue to bring powerful South African stories to audiences at home.”
In Summary
The awards ceremonies are set for March 13, 2026, for craft categories, streamed live on the SAFTAs YouTube channel, and March 14, 2026, for the main event. Public voting for categories like Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela opened on February 19, 2026, allowing viewers to support entries such as Youngins, Reënboogrant, Wyfie, and Empini.
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