The SAFTAs were established to honour, celebrate, promote and reward the creativity, quality, and excellence of South African Film and Television talent as well as content and to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of new talent within the industry.
Please read the updated guidelines which inform the qualifying factors of each category and submit entries online by visiting www.saftasonline.co.za.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 25 SEPTEMBER 2025.
For any queries, contact the SAFTAs team at info@saftasonline.co.za.
The industry is encouraged to submit entries into the following categories through the SAFTAs portal (www.saftasonline.co.za).
| SAFTAs19 Categories | ||
| No. | Craft/Main Show | Category |
| 1. | Craft | Best Achievement in Sound – Documentary |
| 2 | Craft | Best Achievement in Editing – Documentary |
| 3 | Craft | Best Achievement in Cinematography– Documentary |
| 4 | Craft | Best Achievement in Directing- Documentary |
| 5 | Craft | Best Made forTV Documentary |
| 6 | Craft | Best Documentary Short |
| 7 | Craft | Best Documentary Feature |
| 8 | Craft | Best Factual Programme |
| 9 | Craft | Best Current Affairs Programme |
| 10 | Craft | Best Structured or Docu Reality Show |
| 11 | Craft | Best Lifestyle Programme |
| 12 | Craft | Best Educational Programme |
| 13 | Craft | Best Children’s Programme |
| 14 | Craft | Best Student Film -Live Action and Animation |
| 15 | Craft | Best Student Film – Animation |
| 16 | Craft | Best Achievememt in Make-Up and Hairstyling-TV Comedy |
| 17 | Craft | Best Achievement in Wardrobe-TV Comedy |
| 18 | Craft | Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Comedy |
| 19 | Craft | Best Achievement in Sound – TV Comedy |
| 20 | Craft | Best Achievement in Editing- TV Comedy |
| 21 | Craft | Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Comedy |
| 22 | Craft | Best Achievement in Cinematography- TV Comedy |
| 23 | Craft | Best Achievement in Directing – TV Comedy |
| 24 | Craft | Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling – TV Drama |
| 25 | Craft | Best Achievement in Wardrobe– TV Drama |
| 26 | Craft | Best Achievement in Art Direction- TV Drama |
| 27 | Craft | Best Achievement in Sound-TV Drama |
| 28 | Craft | Best Achievement in Music/Original Score-TV Drama |
| 29 | Craft | Best Achievement in an Orginal Song -TV Drama |
| 30 | Craft | Best Achievement in Editing- TV Drama |
| 31 | Craft | Best Achievement in Cinematography-TV Drama |
| 32 | Craft | Best Achievement in Scriptwriting-TV Drama |
| 33 | Craft | Best Achievement in Directing- TV Drama |
| 34 | Craft | Best Made for TV Movie |
| 35 | Craft | Best Animation |
| 36 | Craft | Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling- TV Soap/Telenovela |
| 37 | Craft | Best Achievement in Wardrobe- TV Soap/Telenovela |
| 38 | Craft | Best Achievement in Art Direction- TV Soap/Telenovela |
| 39 | Craft | Best Achievement in sound- TV Soap/Telenovela |
| 40 | Craft | Best Achievement in Original Music/ Score-Telenovela |
| 41 | Craft | Best Achievement in an Orginal Song-Telenovela |
| 42 | Craft | Best Achievement in Editing-Telenovela |
| 43 | Craft | Best Achievement in Scriptwriting-Telenovela |
| 44 | Craft | Best Achievement in Scriptwriting-TV Soap |
| 45 | Craft | Best Achievement in Cinematography-Telenovela |
| 46 | Craft | Best Achievement in Directing-TV Soap |
| 47 | Craft | Best Achievement in Directing-Telenovela |
| 48 | Craft | Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling- Feature Film |
| 49 | Craft | Best Achievement in Costume Design– Feature Film |
| 50 | Craft | Best Achievement in Production Design- Feature Film |
| 51 | Craft | Best Achievement in Sound Design-Feature Film |
| 52 | Craft | Best Achievement in Original Music/Score-Feature Film |
| 53 | Craft | Best Achievement in an Original Song-Feature Film |
| 54 | Craft | Best Achievement in VFX in Film or TV |
| 55 | Craft | Best Achievement in SFX in Film or TV |
| 56 | Craft | Best Achievement in Editing- Feature Film |
| 57 | Craft | Best Achievement in Cinematography-Feature Film |
| 58 | Craft | Best Natural History and Environmental Programme |
| 59 | Main | Best Short Film |
| 60 | Main | Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy |
| 61 | Main | Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy |
| 62 | Main | Best Actor in a TV Comedy |
| 63 | Main | Best Actress in a TV Comedy |
| 64 | Main | Best Variety Show |
| 65 | Main | Best Entertainment Programme |
| 66 | Main | Best International Format |
| 67 | Main | Best Online Content |
| 68 | Main | Best Competition Reality Show |
| 69 | Main | Best Structured Soapie Reality Show |
| 70 | Main | Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama |
| 71 | Main | Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama |
| 72 | Main | Best Actor in a TV Drama |
| 73 | Main | Best Actress in a TV Drama |
| 74 | Main | Best Supporting Actor in Feature Film |
| 75 | Main | Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film |
| 76 | Main | Best Actor in a Feature Film |
| 77 | Main | Best Actress in a Feature Film |
| 78 | Main | Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Feature Film |
| 79 | Main | Best Achievement in Directing – Feature Film |
| 80 | Main | Best Supporting Actor in a TV Soap |
| 81 | Main | Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap |
| 82 | Main | Best Actor in a TV Soap |
| 83 | Main | Best Actress in a TV Soap |
| 84 | Main | Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela |
| 85 | Main | Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela |
| 86 | Main | Best Actor in a Telenovela |
| 87 | Main | Best Actress in a Telenovela |
| 88 | Main | Best TV Comedy |
| 89 | Main | Best TV Drama |
| 90 | Main | Best TV Soap |
| 91 | Main | Best Telenovela |
| 92 | Main | Best Feature Film |
| 93 | Craft | Best Youth Programme |
| SAFTAs19 Categories Evaluated By the SAFTAs Jury for Nominees and Winners Selected by Public Vote | ||
| 94 | Main | Best TV Presenter |
| 95 | Main | Most Popular Soap/Telenovela |
*Please note that the call for Discretionary Award Categories will be released at a later stage.