South African Film Industry
latest news & developments
After Showmax: Who controls the future of African film and television?
As Canal+ takes control of MultiChoice, the end of the African streaming service highlights growing fears that South African storytelling is becoming dependent on foreign media…
‘Silent Rebellion’ wins top honour at Joburg Film Festival 2026
The 2026 Joburg Film Festival concludes with Silent Rebellion winning Best Feature Film and a diverse group of filmmakers recognised across nine award categories.
Sona 2026 leaves the creative sector behind
South Africa’s creative sector went into the State of the Nation address with a clear demand: recognition, reform and rescue. What it received was silence. Just days before…
A sector in freefall
As productions stall and jobs disappear, film workers say a broken incentive scheme threatens the future of one of South Africa’s most visible industries
Inside the New Creative Academies Shaping South Africa’s Next Generation of Storytellers
South Africa’s creative sector is evolving as John Kani and Maumela Mahuwa launch academies designed to upskill performers, empower filmmakers and reshape African storytelling
From Land Politics to Friendship: ARIFF’s Films Mirror a Changing Continent
The Africa Rising International Film Festival returns with a story-first programme celebrating emerging filmmakers, bold narratives, and the dynamic future of African cinema
The bioscope is back: Soweto film Market & film festival are reclaiming township cinema culture
Thapelo Motloung breaks down building a filmmaking ecosystem in Soweto through SIFF and Soweto Film Marke
South African black rom-coms are thriving with local audiences
Local movie Lobola Man is the latest offering on Netflix from Burnt Onion Productions
The Netflix effect
South Africa’s youth take centre stage in film boom
SA film industry a ‘huge’ opportunity to grow the economy
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape are making strides in developing the local industry to attract more international filmmakers
‘Mrs Right Guy’ is a blockbuster but its take on feminity sells women short
Local films are finally depicting black lives but the ditzy heroine and her man preserve gender roles.
Movie star Israel Makoe can’t shake off the bad boy image
Former "Yizo Yizo" star Israel Makoe – who acts as a gangster in "Hard To Get" – says playing the role of a villain is "a way of educating people".
iMPAC: Short films get their five minutes
This year’s iMPAC festival includes three one-hour short-film selections of work by founder Pluto Panoussis’s students. The M&G caught up with him.
Filmmakers must wise up to reality
Nobody wants to see a South African thriller with two unknowns in it — movie stars attract audiences.
A car chase too far: What SA film can’t learn from Hollywood
A scriptwriting system named Sediba has scuppered creativity in cinema in South Africa.