The Afrikaans drama Variasies op ‘n Tema, or Variations on a Theme, will be South Africa’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, Daily Sun reported.
The film will compete for a place in the Best International Feature Film category. The Oscars ceremony will take place on 14 March 2027.
“This selection is an incredible honour for all of us. The Kharkams community is the heartbeat of this film, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share this story with the world,” producer Annemarie du Plessis said.
Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar wrote and directed the film. It stars Hettie Farmer, who comes from Kharkams.
The story follows an elderly goat herder who lives in the mountains of Namaqualand. She is caught by a scam that promises her money owed for her father’s service in World War II.
While she waits for money that never arrives, her family wants to move her to the city. That move would take away the little freedom she still has.
The film looks at waiting, endurance and loss. It does this through a series of repeated visual scenes, which the makers call variations.
Du Plessis said she hoped the selection would push other storytellers forward. “We hope this moment inspires filmmakers and storytellers to keep going, to be bold and to trust the stories that matter to them,” she said.
The film has already won attention overseas. It took the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands in February 2026.
It has also been shown at the New Directors/New Films festival run by MoMA and Film at Lincoln Centre. Other screenings were at the Melbourne and Hong Kong international film festivals.
Lerato Mokopanele, acting head of operations at the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), said the organisation was proud of the choice.
“This 100% Afrikaans film, a South Africa-Netherlands co-production, is a powerful showcase of the world-class talent and storytelling emerging from our country,” Mokopanele said.
“We hope this film brings home the Oscar trophy,” she said. She also thanked the selection committee for its work.
A 13-member South African Academy Awards Selection Committee made the choice. Its members work in directing, producing, distribution and technical fields.
The entries were screened in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 1 to 4 September. Final talks took place on 9 September, and SNG Grant Thornton audited the process.
The film will next have two sold-out screenings at the BFI London Film Festival, which runs from 7 to 18 October in London.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Daily Sun. Image: Daily Sun. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.