By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Johannesburg – 3 February 2026
The Joburg Film Festival (JFF) has unveiled its most ambitious programme to date, announcing a powerful and globally curated 2026 line-up that places African storytelling firmly at the heart of international cinema. Presented in partnership with MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, the festival returns from 3 to 8 March 2026, transforming Johannesburg into a vibrant hub of cinematic discovery.
Now in its 8th edition, the festival will showcase more than 60 films, including 40 fiction feature films, 18 non-fiction features, and 65 short films — among them nine student works — selected from an impressive 691 submissions spanning Africa, Europe, the United States, South America, the UK, Asia and the Middle East. Screenings will take place at multiple venues across the city, reinforcing JFF’s role as a truly metropolitan cultural event.
Feel the Frame: Cinema as Craft and Experience
Anchored by the 2026 theme “Feel The Frame”, this year’s festival celebrates not only compelling stories, but the artistry behind how those stories are told. From performance and sound design to visual language, structure and form, the programme invites audiences to engage deeply with cinema as both an emotional and technical experience.
Beyond film screenings, festival-goers can expect a dynamic calendar of premieres, red-carpet moments, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, networking events and exclusive masterclasses, making JFF a vital meeting point for audiences, creators and industry professionals alike.
“We always seek to create a platform that reflects the breadth and depth of contemporary filmmaking,” says Nhlanhla Ndaba, Curator of the Joburg Film Festival.
“This year’s programme centres layered, human stories from across the continent and the world — films that are entertaining, challenging and deeply resonant.”
A Line-up That Matters
The 2026 programme reinforces JFF’s reputation as a launchpad for emerging African voices while simultaneously showcasing acclaimed international cinema. Highlights include three Academy Award–nominated films, among them The Voice of Hind Rajab and It Was Just An Accident (Best International Feature nominees), as well as Kokuho, nominated for Best Make-Up and Hair.
The selection represents 14 African countries, with films sourced from over 30 distributors, and spans a wide spectrum of styles and genres — from magical realism and Afro-futurism to docu-fiction, myth-driven narratives and politically charged cinema.
South African Stories in Focus
Local cinema takes centre stage with a compelling slate of South African productions. Standout titles include Kabelo, starring Warren Masemola and set in Lesotho; And She Didn’t Die, a powerful documentary chronicling the life of novelist and liberation fighter Lauretta Ngcobo; and Laundry (Uhlanjululo), the striking debut by Zamo Mkhwanazi, featuring an acclaimed cast including Tracy September, Ntobeko Sishi, Siyabonga Shibe and Zekhethelo Zondi.
Several films engage directly with South Africa’s historical and contemporary realities. Diana Keam’s Don’t Be Late for My Funeral offers an intimate exploration of apartheid-era relationships, while Lemohang Mosese’s Ancestral Visions of the Future delivers a haunting meditation on identity, memory and belonging.
Global Voices, Universal Themes
International highlights promise equal depth and imagination. Zoey Martinson’s The Fisherman, set in Ghana, blends humour and poignancy through a surreal tale involving a talking fish, while Dust to Dreams — a short film directed by Idris Elba — unfolds in Lagos, focusing on a terminally ill nightclub owner attempting to pass on her legacy to her daughter.
In keeping with the festival’s experimental spirit, several films push formal and technical boundaries. These include Ted Evans’ RETREAT, featuring an entirely deaf cast and constructed through sound-driven intimacy; Meekaaeel Adam’s The Trek, an immersive Kalahari-set experience; Mehrnoush Alia’s 1001 Frames, a visceral engagement with abuse and the #MeToo movement; and Ondřej Provaznik’s Broken Voices, a daring fusion of sound, image and emotion.
Among the most anticipated screenings is Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated The Voice of Hind Rajab, a harrowing film built from real emergency call recordings made by a six-year-old Palestinian girl — a stark reminder of cinema’s power to bear witness.
A Shared Vision for African Storytelling
The programme reflects a shared commitment between the Joburg Film Festival and its headline sponsor, MultiChoice Group, to nurturing African creative excellence.
“We’re proud to support a festival that not only showcases Africa’s talent but welcomes the world into our creative ecosystem,” says Nomsa Philiso, Director: Content, General Entertainment, English & Portuguese-speaking Africa at MultiChoice Group.
“The Joburg Film Festival aligns strongly with our commitment to amplifying African voices and supporting the next generation of filmmakers.”
Tickets and Festival Information
Screenings will take place at The Bioscope, Egrek Cinema, Theatre on the Square, The Forge, Artistry and Nu Metro Hyde Park.
Tickets, priced from R50 to R200, went on sale on 30 January 2026, with festival passes available via Webtickets.
With its bold curatorial vision, industry engagement and celebration of storytelling that moves, challenges and connects, the 2026 Joburg Film Festival promises a week where audiences don’t just watch films — they feel the frame.
For more information, visit the Joburg Film Festival online and follow JFF on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X.
