5 things you need to know about Saftas 11

Cape Town - South Africa's film and TV stars will be honoured at the 11th annual South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) this weekend.

The theme for the annual awards show - now in its eleventh year - is 'SA has got it, let's celebrate it'.

The awards honour the excellence across the industry that, when fuelled by the magic of imagination, crafts characters and shapes worlds that enthrall audiences within our shores and beyond.

Here are 5 things you need to know about this year's awards:

1. The Saftas new home

The awards ceremony has found a new home. Previous years it was held at the Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg. This year the stars will descend on Sun City from 16 – 18 March.

We are very proud and excited to be the hosts of the #SAFTas11. We are all for recognising and celebrating the nation's greatest talents. pic.twitter.com/9Ci4f2ltXG

— Sun City Resort (@SunCityResortSA) February 17, 2017

2. Where you can watch the ceremony

The main awards ceremony will be televised live on Saturday, 18 March.  Viewers can watch the broadcast on SABC 2 (DStv 192) at 19:30.

See a promo here:

Channel24 will cover the Saftas live as it happens.

3. The hosts

Expresso presenter and Best Presenter winner Katlego Maboe will host the award ceremony a second year in a row. 

Local personality Thando Thabethe will join him on the Saftas stage as his co-host. 

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A post shared by Katlego Maboe (@katlegomaboe) on Mar 11, 2017 at 11:06pm PST

4. The nominees

Over 400 production companies submitted their work for entries. In total there are 258 nominees in 89 categories. 

Here are some of the nominees again from last night's #SAFTAs11 nominee dinner. pic.twitter.com/qOVTq6zG8W

— SAFTAS (@SAFTAS1) February 25, 2017

See the full list of nominees here

5. Red carpet coverage

What's an awards evening without the red carpet.

Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo returns to interview filmmakers, producers, actors and TV stars live on the red carpet.

Bonang Matheba and The Search: E Host Africa winner Kat Sinivasan will be taking viewers beyond the red carpet. You can catch E! Beyond the Red Carpet on Tuesday, 21 March at 20:00 on E! (DStv 124). 

It's ENTERTAINMENT time! Watch as these two light up the #ERedCarpet on E! Beyond the Red Carpet: SAFTAs, 21 March at 8pm CAT.

A post shared by E! Africa (@eonlineafrica) on Mar 13, 2017 at 9:54am PDT