A year after the last protest with no response, South Africa’s film and television industry is preparing for what could be its most decisive moment yet, as thousands of workers gear up for a national shutdown-style march later this month. On 28 and 29 January 2026, creatives from across the country will take to the streets of Cape Town and Pretoria under the banner Save SA Film Jobs, in what organisers describe as a direct call-out to everyone working in the arts. At the heart of the protest is a collective cry from an industry that says it has been left in limbo for nearly two years.
Actors, writers, directors, animators, producers, crew, post-production professionals, agents, managers and disgruntled creators are to take to the streets asking to be heard. “The scale of this march reflects the scale of the crisis,” says the Save SA Film Jobs Coalition. “This is an industry fighting for survival after months of inaction and silence from the DTIC.” According toSave SA Film Jobs Coalition, the march organisers, the upcoming demonstrations are expected to dwarf the February 2025 protests, both in numbers and in reach.
What was once seen as a sector-specific issue has now become a shared crisis, with production houses closing, freelancers without work and international projects quietly taking their business elsewhere. At the heart of the frustration is theDepartment of Trade, Industry and Competition’sFilm and TV Incentive, which industry players say has effectively ground to a halt. Adjudication meetings have not resumed, approvals remain stalled and millions of rands in foreign direct investment are reportedly trapped in bureaucratic delays.
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For an industry that relies heavily on momentum, timing and trust, the consequences have been devastating. “This is an industry fighting for survival,” says the Save SA Film Jobs Coalition, which is coordinating the marches.
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