South African Cinema
latest news & developments
How ‘Sebata’ found the beast within
Filmmakers Norman Maake and Princess Zinzi Mhlongo reveal how their award-winning supernatural crime thriller, Sebata: The Beast, captures authentic African horror on the streets…
South African cinema is embracing stories that don't fit into one box
If there is one thing this month's line-up of South African films proves, it's that local cinema has stopped trying to be one thing. For years, South African films were often…
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…
Rewriting Winnie Madikizela-Mandela through the eyes of her grandchildren
Refusing neat conclusions, The Trials of Winnie Mandela invites viewers into an uncomfortable but necessary confrontation with history, legacy, and generational trauma
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
Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni Shines in Sierra’s Gold, Wins Best Actress
In a triumphant comeback, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni captivates audiences and critics alike, winning Best Actress for her raw and magnetic performance in Sierra’s Gold
‘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
From Los Angeles to London, Cape Town keeps calling
Meet Mannequin’s dynamic duo, Delon Bakker and Kyle Ambrose, South Africa’s rising film production company turning Cape Town into Los Angeles — and London
A political animal who played the jungle
The Bengal Tiger’s life is retold on screen, revisiting the populism, opportunism and contradictions that made Amichand Rajbansi unforgettable
Mashika tracks spiritual sounds
Zethu Mashika crafts soundtracks that stir the soul, and it all began with one lucky night
Rewriting the South African cinema script
Movie theatres are empty but South African stories are abundant — what’s the disconnect?
Four films are low on romance and responsibility
A new film franchise explores modern love but fumbles the chemistry and connection
South African black rom-coms are thriving with local audiences
Local movie Lobola Man is the latest offering on Netflix from Burnt Onion Productions