The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF) has announced that it will be launching the inaugural South African Film and Television Academy (SAFTA) Awards in October.
The purpose of the awards is to "honour, celebrate and promote the talent and accomplishments of the South film industry", according to SAFTA Chairman and NFVF CEO, Eddie Mbalo.
The inaugural award ceremony will be held on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October, 2006, at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg.
The SAFTA executive committee is chaired by NFVF CEO Eddie Mbalo, and comprised of industry representatives Kamscilla Naidoo and John Cronwright (SABC), Ferdi Gazendam (Ster Kinekor), Debbie McCrum (Nu Metro), Bongiwe Selane (M-Net), Raymond Theart (PMA), Joel Phiri and Desiree Markgraaff (IPO), and Jackie Motsepe (NFVF).
Judging panels made up of representatives of industry organisations, institutions, companies and media will select nominees and eventual category awards winners, according to
the NFVF website.
The judging process will be overseen and results verified by independent auditors.
The nominees for the awards will be revealed to the public and media at an exclusive function on 30 September.
The main awards ceremony on Saturday 28 October will be televised live by SABC2, from 20h00 - 23h00.
Local broadcasters, filmmakers, producers, students and stakeholders in the local film and television industry submitted over 500 entries to SAFTA, which include feature films, short films, documentaries, television dramas, sitcoms, soapies, magazine, news and actuality, wildlife, children, variety and reality programmes.
Although most awards will be judged by the chosen panel, audiences will be able to vote for their favourite soapie via a phone-in and SMS competition.
The NFVF is a statutory body mandated by a progressive act of Parliament to spearhead the equitable growth and development of the South African film and video industry.