Joburg Film Festival 2024

The much-anticipated Joburg Film Festival in partnership with MultiChoice, is set to return in the first quarter of 2024, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinema enthusiasts for a celebration of storytelling through the art of film.

With a rich tapestry of diverse cultures and narratives, the festival promises to captivate audiences not just in Joburg, but across the African diaspora and beyond. Born out of the desire to create an exciting, independent platform that not only tells Africa’s stories, but also rewards local and international excellence in film, the premiere festival will take place from the 27th February to the 3rd March 2024.

The festival is renowned as a prominent platform for showcasing local and international talent and is gearing up for a sixth edition of an extraordinary presentation of cinematic excellence. Scheduled to take place in Sandton, the heart of South Africa’s vibrant business scene, the event will feature a captivating lineup of screenings, discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities.

The Joburg Film Festival stands as a grand celebration honouring the art of storytelling while embracing the legacy of cinematic legends. With its central theme focused on inspiring storytellers who captivate audiences across the globe, the festival will further celebrate these legends in film. It serves as a platform that not only showcases groundbreaking narratives from emerging voices but also pays homage to the trailblazers and luminaries whose works have left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. From thought-provoking panel discussions to mesmerizing screenings, the festival reverberates with the energy of passionate storytellers, eager to inspire and be inspired. It’s a harmonious blend where the past meets the present, fostering an environment that honors the established whilst propelling the next generation of filmmakers toward greatness.

       “In the dynamic landscape of ‘Glocalisation’ of media & entertainment, the Joburg Film Festival is a pivotal platform at the heart of Africa’s cultural and creative revolution. This sub Saharan African premier film festival & content market trade fair is set against the back drop of the continent’s rich stories and talent. It embodies the spirit of new Africa, one that is eager to showcase its creative prowess and engage in dialogue with the global community” stated Joburg Film Festival Executive Director Tim Mangwedi. ” Now in its 6th year, the Joburg Film Festival continues to celebrate the art of filmmaking. It brings together the best of African cinema, offering a window into the soul of a continent bursting with inspiring stories waiting to be told and heard on the international stage by Africans”.
 
Building on its legacy of promoting diverse perspectives and voices, the festival also aims to spotlight emerging talent alongside established filmmakers, offering a platform for creative expression and storytelling that reflects the richness of Africa’s cinematic landscape.

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Gimme, Gimme, Gimme “Mamma Mia”

“Honey, honey!” It’s time to party!  Island style!  The new look production of MAMMA MIA! opens at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre Centre on Wednesday, 06 March 2024 for a limited season ending on Sunday, 07 April 2024. Thereafter the show moves to Montecasino’s Teatro, Johannesburg opening on Friday, 12 April 2024. Tickets are on sale at www.showtime.co.za and www.ticketmaster.co.za

Featuring a full South African cast, crew and band headed by the Award-winning South African creative team MAMMA MIA! combines the finest talent this country has to offer both on and off stage. “It’s the name of the game”. Produced by leading SA promoter Showtime Management, this major international “guaranteed feel-good musical” features the timeless ABBA songs composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, including Knowing me, Knowing You; Dancing Queen; I have a Dream;  Voulez Vous and many more.

Written by Catherine Johnson, MAMMA MIA! is the enchanting tale of family and friendship that unfolds on a Greek island paradise. “Lay All Your Love on Me!” On the evening of her wedding, daughter and bride-to-be Sophie invites three men from her mother’s past back to the island they visited 20 years ago in the hope of discovering which one is her father.  “Does Your Mother Know?” MAMMA MIA! is a story of love laughter and friendship – it’s a wedding, it’s a  party. Come celebrate with the ultimate guaranteed feel-good musical. “I Do, I Do, I Do!”

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Queen Rock Montreal at IMAX Theatres

IMAX and Pathé Live in partnership with Mercury Studios and Queen Films has announced that, for the very first time, one of the world’s biggest bands will perform on cinema’s biggest screens with the global release of “QUEEN ROCK MONTREAL,” exclusively in IMAX® beginning 18 January 2024. This exhilarating live concert from 1981 is a window into Queen in its most unalloyed form, giving audiences a larger-than-life, front-row immersive experience.

The film was digitally re-mastered for the first time into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®, including 12-channel surround sound, crystal-clear images, and IMAX’s customised theatre geometry.

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Disney Africa Brings Festive Cheer for Lift Travellers

The Walt Disney Company Africa’s #MayYourWishesComeTrue campaign continued the festive celebrations this December with a special surprise-and-delight activation aboard the Disney-inspired LIFT airplane.

Over 150 passengers, travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town were welcomed by “Wish Agents” at their boarding gate at OR Tambo International Airport on 1 December, with each child being asked what their wish for Christmas was. With their wishes adorning a special Disney-inspired Christmas tree, the young passengers boarded flight GE123, unaware that a mere two hours later those wishes would be fulfilled.

Behind the scenes the requests were communicated to Disney’s Wish Agents, on standby at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town, who swung into action to shop up a storm, wrap the gifts and transport them to Cape Town International Airport in time for the passengers to disembark.

From bicycles, “Disney Princess The Little Mermaid” figurines, Lego® sets to even Spider-man Sony PlayStation 5’s, all the requested wishes came true as passengers disembarked the plane and entered the specially-branded walkway to meet the Wish Agents. In addition, each traveler was gifted a Disney Mickey plush toy and a subscription to Disney+.

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RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ

Copyright: Renaissance Tour

Ster-Kinekor has announced that RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ, the theatrical release chronicling Beyoncé’s record-setting global RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, will play at its movie theatres beginning 1 December. Tickets are officially on sale now at www.sterkinekor.com and at all its participating locations.


RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ accentuates the journey of the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR – a record-setting worldwide concert tour that spanned 56 shows, 39 cities and 12 countries – from its inception to the opening show in Stockholm, Sweden, to the grand finale in Kansas City, Missouri. It is about Beyoncé’s intention, hard work and involvement in every aspect of the production, her creative mind and purpose to create her legacy and master her craft.

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