The Joburg Film Festival (JFF), in partnership with MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, has officially unveiled its 2026 programme—a bold, globally curated selection that firmly positions the festival at the crossroads of African storytelling and international cinematic excellence.
Taking place from 3–8 March 2026, the festival will showcase more than 60 carefully selected films, including 40 fiction features, 18 non-fiction features and 65 short films, among them nine student works. The programme was drawn from an impressive 691 submissions spanning Africa, Europe, the USA, South America, the UK, Asia and the Middle East. Screenings will be hosted at multiple cinema venues across Johannesburg.
Garnier Pure Active Welcomes Rugby Star Sacha
Guided by the 2026 theme Feel The Frame, this year’s edition celebrates not only powerful narratives but also the art of filmmaking itself—performance, sound, structure, form and visual language. Beyond film screenings, audiences can expect premieres, red-carpet moments, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, networking sessions and exclusive masterclasses.
Festival Curator Nhlanhla Ndaba notes that the programme reflects the complexity and richness of contemporary cinema. The selection centres human, layered stories that are entertaining, thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, while giving space to both emerging African voices and acclaimed international filmmakers.
The 2026 line-up includes three Academy Award nominees, films from over 30 distributors and stories representing 14 African countries. Audiences can look forward to a diverse mix of magical realism, Afro-futurism, docu-fiction, myth-driven narratives and politically charged cinema.
South African cinema features strongly, with standout titles such as Kabelo, starring Warren Masemola and set in Lesotho; And She Didn’t Die, a revealing documentary on the life of writer and liberation fighter Lauretta Ngcobo; and Laundry (Uhlanjululo), the striking debut by Zamo Mkhwanazi featuring Tracy September, Ntobeko Sishi and Siyabonga Shibe. Films such as Don’t Be Late for My Funeral and Ancestral Visions of the Future engage deeply with South Africa’s historical and contemporary realities.
Brian Temba Returns to His Roots With “Rato Laka”
International highlights include Zoey Martinson’s Ghana-set The Fisherman, Idris Elba’s Lagos-based short film Dust to Dreams, and formally daring works such as RETREAT, 1001 Frames and the Oscar-nominated The Voice of Hind Rajab. Together, these films push cinematic form while remaining emotionally grounded.
MultiChoice Group reaffirmed its commitment to African storytelling, describing the festival as a vital platform that welcomes global collaboration while nurturing the continent’s next generation of filmmakers.
The 8th edition of the Joburg Film Festival promises a week of discovery for film lovers, students and creatives alike, with screenings taking place at The Bioscope, Egrek Cinema, Theatre on the Square, The Forge, Artistry and Nu Metro Hyde Park.
