Joburg Film Festival 2025: A Celebration of Cinema and Legacy

The 7th edition of the Joburg Film Festival in partnership with MultiChoice Group, is set to kick off next month, featuring the world premiere of the highly-anticipated documentary Ernest Cole: Lost and Found.

This breathtaking film, which had its World Premiere at the renowned Cannes Film Festival in France and won the award for Best Documentary, highlights the life and work of one of South Africa’s most prominent and pioneering photographers, Ernest Cole. It promises to leave audiences captivated and inspired. Don’t miss your chance to witness the profound story of a man whose work transcended borders and whose spirit is now being honoured in his own homeland.

From March 11-16, 2025, Johannesburg will be transformed into a buzzing cinematic playground, from dazzling red-carpet premieres to exclusive industry networking. The festival is set to deliver an unforgettable immersive experience for film lovers and professionals alike, showcasing over 100 films from across the globe. Whether you’re into thought-provoking storytelling or heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat narratives, JFF 2025 is the place to be.

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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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2023 Joburg Film Festival Announces Opening Film

The Joburg Film Festival powered by Multichoice, taking place in the heart of Egoli from 31 January to 5 February 2023, is excited to announce the opening film, the Moussa Sene Absa directed masterpiece “XALE”. 

Tickets for the 60+ films being screened across Gauteng are now on sale via the JFF website, www.joburgfilmfestival.co.za.

The festival will showcase some of the finest films from over 35 countries across the globe, including 20 African premieres and 27 South African premieres, and will run until Sunday, 5th February 2023 at various locations across the city.

The opening film XALE follows the life of Awa, a 15-year-old  African schoolgirl who is happily living her teenage years alongside her twin brother Adama, who dreams of Europe. This beautiful Senegalese feature immerses the viewer into a storyline of family values, love, life and betrayal.

The Joburg Film Festival line-up includes films from South Africa, Tunisia, Brazil, Seoul, USA, Japan, Morocco and more, with a mix of feature films and documentaries showcasing stories that cross cultural boundaries.

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Joburg Film Festival Youth and Audience Development Programme

With just a few weeks to go before the prestigious Joburg Film Festival takes place in Sandton, the JFF Youth and Audience Development programme continues in the Ekurhuleni and Tshwane regions this month.

Following the successful programmes in Sedibeng and the Westrand last month, the next series of workshops has now been announced with the Ekurhuleni edition set to take place at the Rhoo Hlatswayo Art Centre on 19-20 November, followed by the Tshwane programme confirmed to take place on the 26-27 November at the Women’s Living Heritage Museum.

Developed to prioritise growth and upskilling of young upcoming local filmmakers in underdeveloped areas within the province, the JFF Youth and Audience Development programme is an integral pillar of the festival. For the past few years, this event has provided life changing experiences for emerging film talent, with over 200 aspiring local young creatives / filmmakers attending the programme thus far. 

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Joburg Film Festival

jff

The inaugural Joburg Film Festival will kick off on Friday 28 October and run to Saturday 5 November 2016 at multiple venues across the city, where over 60 South African, African and international films will be screened.

As a truly urban festival, the screenings will be taking place at a host of venues – and not just at traditional cinema chain venues. Whilst the Joburg Film Festival and its partner, Ster Kinekor, will host screenings at The Zone at Rosebank, Maponya Mall, and Newton Junction, additional venues across the city will also be utilized.

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