South Africa’s Oscar campaign for The Heart is a Muscle, our official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards, is finally gaining the momentum it deserves, following sustained engagement with stakeholders and calls from the Democratic Alliance for urgent government action.
Private entities such as MultiChoice and AFDA had already pledged their support, while the City of Cape Town and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) have now officially committed to the campaign. The NFVF has confirmed a contribution of R400 000 and has submitted a request to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) for an additional R600 000, an amount that would significantly close the remaining funding gap and allow the South African team to compete on equal footing with over 85 nations in the Oscar race.
I have written again to Minister Gayton McKenzie, urgently requesting engagement on the R600 000 submission, hoping this time for a response, as my previous correspondence dated 7 October has gone unanswered. His leadership at this moment could be decisive in ensuring that South Africa’s creative sector is represented with pride and purpose on the global stage.
With only five weeks left before Oscar voting closes, every day counts. The campaign’s growing traction is proof of what is possible when South Africans work together, but also a reminder that the creative sector continues to thrive despite government inertia, not because of it.
Supporting The Heart is a Muscle is not charity, it is an investment in South Africa’s soft power, tourism potential and creative economy. Our filmmakers have already shown the world their talent and determination, now it is time for government to do the same.