By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Johannesburg – Entertainment & Film
South African cinema will take a bold, deeply human turn at the Joburg Film Festival 2026 with the official selection of KABELO, a moving Sesotho-language debut feature by writer-director Carl Houston McMillan. The film will screen on 5 March 2026 at the Theatre on the Square, placing an intimate African story of identity, longing and survival on one of the country’s most prestigious cinematic platforms.
Set against the stark beauty of the Lesotho highlands, KABELO follows a young shepherd yearning to escape a life shaped by limitation, and a South African fugitive hiding in plain sight. When their paths cross, an unlikely bond forms—one that exposes shared vulnerability, fractured identities and the universal hunger for freedom. It is a story that speaks powerfully to young Africans, migrants, rural dreamers and anyone who has ever wrestled with the cost of wanting more.
A cast of rare depth and authenticity
The film is anchored by an exceptional performance from Warren Masemola, whose portrayal of “Master”—a man on the run from both the law and himself—adds emotional complexity and quiet intensity. A four-time SAFTA winner, Masemola brings gravitas and nuance to a character haunted by belonging and betrayal.
Opposite him, Mosotho actor Lebohang Ntsane delivers a remarkable performance in the title role. Ntsane embodies Kabelo with restraint and emotional honesty, carrying the soul of the film through silence as much as dialogue. His long-standing creative collaboration with McMillan—spanning nearly a decade—lends the character an authenticity rarely achieved on screen.
The film’s emotional texture is further enriched through collaboration with celebrated Basotho musician Morena Leraba, whose cultural insight into shepherd life helped ground the story in lived experience. Their earlier short film, Sir and Kabelo (Two Shepherds), laid the creative foundation for this feature-length work.
A cinematic love letter to lived African experience
Shot over four weeks across remote mountain passes, rural villages and urban spaces, KABELO is performed entirely in Sesotho and features a predominantly local cast. The result is a visually striking yet emotionally intimate film that balances stark realism with moments of humour, tenderness and quiet hope.
The production’s cinematic ambition is reinforced through technical partnerships with Canon South Africa and Aputure Lighting, ensuring the film’s visual language matches the depth of its storytelling.
A debut with continental resonance
KABELO’s selection for Joburg Film Festival 2026 positions it as one of the most compelling African films to watch this year. While deeply rooted in a specific cultural and linguistic context, its themes—identity, belonging, false hope and the fragile courage to dream—are profoundly universal.
As African cinema continues to claim its space on global stages, KABELO arrives as a quiet yet powerful reminder that some of the most resonant stories are those told with honesty, patience and deep respect for where they come from.
Screening details
Film: KABELO
Festival: Joburg Film Festival 2026
Date: 5 March 2026
Venue: Theatre on the Square, Sandton
Website: www.kabelofilm.com
Media & PR contact:
Tebogo Mbau – Publicist
065 685 7247
tebogo@thekreativesagency.com
