Joburg Film Festival
latest news & developments
The pan-African story of South African cinema
Joburg Film Festival curator Nhlanhla Ndaba delves into the profound pan-African influences that have shaped South African cinema, from the era of exile and anti-colonial…
Directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar push creative boundaries with Variations on a Theme
A poetic, genre-blurring film, Variations on a Theme excavates ancestral grief, memory and forgotten histories in a Northern Cape community still waiting for justice
‘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.
Tunisian film highlights the human cost of warmongering Israel
A hybrid of documentary and drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab brings the chilling real recordings of a child trapped in Gaza to the Joburg Film Festival
‘Laundry’ finds resistance in the music
Zamo Mkhwanazi’s striking debut film blends family drama, apartheid oppression and blistering music into a defiant film that refuses to lower its volume
South African cinema takes centre stage at Joburg Film Festival 2026
This year’s festival begins and ends with powerful local films confronting apartheid, colonialism and memory through confident, world-class craft
Why craft matters: Curating the Joburg Film Festival 2026
As the Joburg Film Festival returns in 2026, curator Nhlanhla Ndaba explains why craft, care and unseen labour are taking centre stage
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found — A profound portrait of the artist in exile
Ernest Cole’s untold story comes home — with a revealing documentary premiering at the Joburg Film Festival this week
Joburg Film festival returns after a two-year hiatus
This time, the festival will focus on youth development and empowerment in the film industry