It's that time of the year when award ceremonies rule the roost. Coming on the back of Hollywood's |Golden Globes is our controversial awards ceremony - the SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas). Debashine Thangevelo offers her take on several of the categories as unveiled by the National Film |and Video Foundation…

Another year, another perplexing selection of Safta nominees... While I fully comprehend that it is a laborious process, as has been outlined by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) in the past - I struggle to find it reflective of an industry as a whole.

Especially when certain channels go largely ignored. A case in point would be Mzansi Magic, which produces a plethora of local shows.

If we were to go on the shows |that got the nod, we would led to |the erroneous belief that the TV industry isn't producing shows. |But maybe that's just me.

And rather than bog myself down with the so-called red tape around the process and the fact that certain channels/producers/ production houses don't submit as they refuse to acknowledge the awards ceremony - a debate for another place and time - I'm going to focus on the 2012 nominees…

DRAMA

One of the most talked-about |drama series of 2011 was SABC1's Intersexions, which had social networks Twitter and Facebook abuzz with comment about the HIV/Aids-centred storylines.

The 26-part series by Curious Pictures curried favour because it mirrored society and was anchored by truthful and intimate story-telling about people from all walks of life.

Unsurprisingly, this series dominates 13 categories: Best TV Drama Series, Best Director on a TV Drama Series, Best Actor in a TV Drama Series, Best Actress in a TV Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama Series, Best Writing Team in a TV Drama Series, Best DOP/ Cinemato-grapher in a TV Drama Series, Best Editor on a TV Drama Series, Best Production Design in a TV Drama Series, Best Music Composition in a TV Drama Series, Best Costume Design in a TV Drama Series, Best Make-up & Hair in a TV Drama Series and Best Sound Design in a TV Drama Series.

Although Sokhulu and Partners and Zone 14 are the other contenders, there are no prizes for guessing which show will be cleaning up in this category, eh?

COMEDY

As with drama, there is a firm favourite in this category too. And SABC2's Ga Re Dumele clearly made a big impression on the judging panel.

The series revolved around a couple struggling to let go of their 28 year daughter - their sixth child and the last born.

Ga Re Dumele is up for Best Directors on a TV Comedy, Best Actors in a TV Comedy, Best Actress in a TV Comedy, Best Ensemble, Best Art Director on a TV Comedy and Best TV Comedy.

Offering the series a bit of competition are SABC2's Stokvel with six nominations, SABC1's Gauteng Maboneng with seven nominations, kykNET's Proesstraat with three nominations and SABC2's Rasdien with two nominations.

Personally, it is nice to finally |see a pay channel show given the green light at the Saftas, which was previously mockingly referred to as the SABC awards by the industry.

SOAPS

Interestingly enough, even before the NFVF announced the nominees on Thursday night, SABC2's 7de Laan issued a press release on their conspicuous absence this year.

Colin Howard, 7de Laan line producer, said: "The exclusion of |7de Laan from the Best Soap Award confirms our reservations with the Saftas election process for soaps. Most soaps produce 260 episodes a year and consist of strong ensemble casts and carry four to five storylines per episode.

"To insist that performance awards should be judged on a maximum of three episodes makes no sense for the soaps.

"No single episode could effectively showcase the work of any single cast member - especially when many on the judging panel do not necessarily watch the programme regularly."

The soap is also aghast that all the local soaps weren't in the running for the public vote.

Then again, SABC2's Venda daily drama, Muvhango, didn't make the cut either.

Meanwhile, M-Net's fledgling soap, The Wild, yet to celebrate |its first anniversary, bagged an impressive five nominations for Best Director on a TV Soap, Best Actors in a TV Soap, Best Actress in a TV Soap, Best Ensemble in a TV Soap, Best Technical Team on a TV Soap and Best Art Direction on a TV Soap.

e.tv's Scandal and Rhythm City seem to be going head to head in most of the categories with six and seven nominations respectively.

SA's leading soap, SABC1's Generations, ironically only got two nods (Best Writing Team on a TV Soap and Best Post Production |Team on a TV Soap) while SABC3's Isidingo is in the running for Best Actress in a TV Soap, Best Ensemble on a TV Soap, Best Art Direction on a TV Soap.

My top vote goes to: Tumisho Masha (The Wild) for Best Actor in a TV Soap, Louise Barnes (Scandal) for Best Actress in a TV Soap and The Wild for Best Ensemble on a |TV Soap.

And so the off-screen drama continues to plague the Saftas…

But does anyone care anymore?

• Factual Educational Entertainment

In this category, where curious minds flock for knowledge, four shows were selected.

The Secret to Survival, made by Tin Rage TV, may garnered many fans, but it will have to prove its worth against other equally strong contenders that include Made in China, Media Matters and Groen.

My money is on Media Matters, as it comes across as a well-researched and well-presented show.

• News and Actuality

There are only three nominees in this category. This is also the genre in which factual shows bring viewers closer to the truth on any given subject.

The nominated shows are No Place Like Home: A Brazilian Story, Carte Blanche and the notorious Speak Out. Carte Blanche has a reputation of breaking stories on sensitive subjects and will probably win.

We can’t underestimate Speak Out though, for its in-your-face approach to sensitive subjects. Customers who get a raw deal from service providers know that when they approach this show, they will receive help in exerci-sing their consumer rights. It sometimes feels like Cheaters, but it clearly brings results.

• Best Magazine

Things get interesting when we get to this category. This is where we have a variety of entertain-ment-related content. Carte Blanche returns to contest against the posh show All Access, the colourful Pasella and the amazing Headline.

Without doubt Headline deserves this one, because since it started even the Sunday papers do not come close when it comes to covering entertainment news this fearlessly. If not Headline, then Carte Blanche could get it.

• Variety Show

In this segment three nomina-tions were made and these are Studio 1, Mzansi Magic First Birthday Special and The Masters of Rhythm.

If you forget that The Masters of Rhythm is a lot like Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew, you will appreciate how the show unravels the hip hop dance culture in SA.

• Best Music Show

This, perhaps, might be the most interesting category of the night for many. Afro Café, Club 808 and Jam Alley Crew vs Crew are competing for the top spot. Your first question must be: where is SABC1’s Live? Jam Alley hasn’t been the same without Twasa and Afro Café is a bit of a dud.

• Game Show

In this category the nominated shows are Jam Alley, Noot Vir Noot and Kom Ons Karaoke. However, the 35-year-old Noot Vir Noot is a hot favourite, as always.

• Best Talk Show

My Top 10 at 10: My Life in Music, Redi and Tonight With Trevor Noah all battle for the top spot. It is hard to decide which one is the best here as they are all good in their own respects. – Munyaradzi Vomo