South Africa has achieved a remarkable milestone in the global entertainment industry, securing five nominations at the International Emmy Awards—the highest number of nominations ever received by an African nation since the awards’ establishment in 1973. This unprecedented recognition places South African television on the world stage, showcasing the country’s growing influence in quality content production.
The nominated programs represent a diverse range of genres, demonstrating the depth and versatility of South African storytelling. With nominations spanning drama series, documentaries, sports documentaries, and children’s programming, the country has proven its ability to compete with the world’s leading television producers.
South Africa’s Position Among Global Leaders
Among participating countries, South Africa ranks third in total nominations, trailing only the United Kingdom and Brazil. This achievement highlights the rapid growth and international recognition of the South African television industry, particularly productions airing on DStv and Showmax platforms.
The nominated shows all aired internationally between January 1 and December 31, 2024, meeting the eligibility requirements for this year’s awards ceremony, scheduled for November 25, 2025, in New York City.
The Five South African Nominees
Drama Series: Koek (Cake)
The drama series “Koek” has earned a coveted spot in the Best Drama Series category, competing against acclaimed productions from Mexico, Israel, and the United Kingdom. This Showmax original series continues to captivate audiences with its compelling narrative and strong performances.
Competing against:
- Las Azules (Women in Blue) from Mexico
- Bad Boy from Israel
- Rivals from the United Kingdom
Documentary: School Ties
“School Ties” represents South Africa in the Best Documentary category, showcasing the country’s ability to produce thought-provoking and socially relevant content. The documentary continues to stream on DStv and Showmax platforms.
Category competitors include:
- Hell Jumper (United Kingdom)
- King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones (France)
- O Prazer é Meu (It’s My Pleasure) from Brazil
Sports Documentary: Chasing the Sun Season 2
The second season of “Chasing the Sun” has secured a nomination in the Best Sports Documentary category, demonstrating South Africa’s excellence in sports storytelling and documentary filmmaking.
Competing titles:
- Argentina ’78 from Argentina
- It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football from Spain
- Sven from the United Kingdom
Acting Excellence: Charlotte Hope in Catch Me a Killer
British actress Charlotte Hope has received a Best Actress nomination for her leading role in the Showmax Original true crime drama “Catch Me a Killer.” Although Hope is British, the nomination is credited to South Africa as the production is a Showmax Original series.
Best Performance by an Actress category includes:
- Anna Maxwell Martin in Until I Kill You (United Kingdom)
- Carolina Miranda in Mujeres Asesinas Season 2 (Mexico)
- Maria Sid in Smärtpunkten (Pressure Point) from Sweden
Children’s Programming: Play Room Live
DStv’s Play Room channel has earned recognition with “Play Room Live” in the Best Kids: Factual & Entertainment category. The show currently broadcasts on channel 300, providing quality educational and entertainment content for young viewers.
Category nominees:
- Auf Fritzis Spuren – Wie war das so in der DDR? (Germany)
- Bora, O Pódio é Nosso (Brazil)
- Kids Like Us (United Kingdom)
Complete List of International Emmy Award Categories
The International Emmy Awards recognize excellence across 15 diverse categories, celebrating outstanding television production from around the world:
Major Categories
- Best Drama Series
- Best Comedy
- Best Documentary
- Best Sports Documentary
- Best Performance by an Actress
- Best Performance by an Actor
- Best Non-Scripted Entertainment
- Telenovela
- TV Movie/Mini-Series
Specialized Categories
- Best Arts Programming
- Best Current Affairs
- Best Kids: Animation
- Best Kids: Factual & Entertainment
- Best Kids: Live-Action
- Best News
- Best Short-Form Series
What This Means for South African Television
This record-breaking achievement signals a turning point for the South African television industry. With four of the five nominated productions available on DStv and Showmax, these platforms have proven instrumental in elevating local content to international standards.
The nominations span multiple genres, demonstrating that South African creators excel across the entertainment spectrum—from gripping dramas and compelling documentaries to children’s programming and sports content. This diversity strengthens the country’s position as a significant player in global television production.
Conclusion: A New Era for African Television
South Africa’s five International Emmy nominations mark a historic moment not just for the country, but for the African continent as a whole. This achievement shatters previous records and establishes South Africa as a serious contender in the global television landscape.
As the awards ceremony approaches on November 25, 2025, in New York, the South African entertainment industry awaits the results with anticipation. Regardless of the final outcomes, these nominations have already accomplished something extraordinary—they’ve proven that African stories, told by African creators, deserve recognition on the world’s most prestigious television stage.
The success of these productions on international platforms like Showmax and DStv demonstrates that quality content transcends borders, and South African television is ready to compete with the best the world has to offer. This milestone represents not an endpoint, but the beginning of even greater achievements to come for South African and African television.
