The 8th Joburg Film Festival 2026 is almost here, and if there’s one thing that still makes me feel like a wide-eyed film student again, it’s festival season. There’s a particular kind of magic that hangs in the air when a city prepares to celebrate cinema, the kind that reminds you why stories matter, why dark rooms and big screens still hold power, and why film festivals are sacred spaces for discovery.
This one hits differently for me as I covered the festival back in 2019, still figuring out my voice, still carving out space in the industry. I remember sitting in those cinemas watching Letters of Hope by Vusi Africa, Knuckle City by X.T. Jahmil X.T Qubeka, and Flatland by Jenna Bass. These films shifted something in me and expanded my understanding of what African cinema could be. That year wasn’t just another festival; it was a formative chapter in my career. So stepping into the 2026 edition feels full circle. The festival has grown. I’ve grown. And the excitement is still very real.
After spending time combing through this year’s programme, I can confidently say: we’re in for something special. From the opening film Laundry by Zamo Mkhwanazi to the documentary And She Didn’t Die by Khethiwe Ngcobo, Dear Skhonkwane by Sihle Hlophe, HumDrum by Elelwani Netshifhire, and Ubani Lore by Nqanawe Shangase, the lineup already feels bold and deeply rooted in powerful storytelling. And these are just a few of the titles I’ve got my eye on.
Here are 15 films you absolutely need to look out for at this year’s Joburg Film Festival.
Laundry|Directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi
Johannesburg, 1968. Khuthala hates his father’s laundry and doesn’t want to take over the family business. But the apartheid government is cracking down on black business ownership. Khuthala is torn between pursuing his own dreams of becoming a musician and fighting against the injustice that threatens the business, his only means of subsistence and the glue that holds their family together.
Directed by the critically acclaimed filmmaker Zamo Mkhwanazi, who made waves when her short film Sadla premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, earning a Grand Jury Prize nomination for Best Short Film, before heading to the Toronto International Film Festival where it received a nod for the Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film. Laundry (Uhlanjululo) stars Ntobeko Sishi, Siyabonga Shibe, Bukamina Cebekhulu, Zekhethelo Zondi and Tracy September.
Dear Sikhonkwane|Directed by Sihle Hlophe
A intimate portrait of one of the first SiSwati authors who wrote, co-wrote, and edited over 40 books in less than 20 years. The documentary is told through the eyes of someone who deeply admired him, the film is a love letter to his legacy, exploring his passion for his mother tongue, his eventful life, and the enduring impact of his work. Directed by award-winning Sihle Hlophe of Passion Seed Communications.
The Heart Is A Muscle|Directed by Imran Hamdulay
In Cape Town, a group of friends are having a barbecue. The day is disrupted when Ryan’s son goes missing. Taking place over one weekend, this sparks a series of incidents which puts a strain on Ryan, his friendships, and his marriage. Ryan’s destructive actions while desperately searching for his son spark more arguments and unknown events from the past are revealed, while Ryan continues to find himself in difficult situations, despite his best intentions.
Directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Imran Hamdulay, the film premiered to critical praise at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, winning the Panorama Ecumenical Jury Prize. It later screened at the Sydney Film Festival and the Cairo International Film Festival, and was selected as the country’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards.
HumDrum|Directed by Elelwani Netshifhire
Nakisani “Naki” Lalumbe is a functionally depressed young woman trying to balance work, life and love. When a surprise promotion and the chance to run again disrupt her routine, she’s pushed into an unexpected journey of reckoning, resilience and connection.
Humdrum is an intimate drama about depression, healing and the courage to begin again, directed by Elelwani Netshifhire, whose writing credits include the hit series Diep City. The film stars Shonisani Masutha, SAFTA winner Fulu Mugovhani, Nehemiah Tjatji and Mishumo Madima.
And She Didn’t Die|Directed by Khethiwe Ngcobo
The documentary tells the life story of South African writer and resistance fighter Lauretta Ngcobo, as seen through the eyes of her daughter, film director Kethiwe Ngcobo. Lauretta grew up in KwaZulu-Natal, became involved in the struggle against apartheid through her husband AB Ngcobo, leader of the Pan African Congress, and eventually fled to London.
The director interweaves home videos, archival material, interviews, passages from books, and re-enacted scenes into a richly layered portrait blending the personal and the political. Kitchen table conversations about hairstyles and cultural traditions counterpoint reflections on the role of rural women in the anti-apartheid struggle. The oral storytelling tradition, in which her mother’s books are also rooted, has a central role. Kethiwe Ngcobo continues this theme through the medium of cinema. The result is a portrait not only of Lauretta, but also of the many other women who co-wrote history. A tribute to the power of stories as a form of resistance, healing, and cultural transmission.
Ubani Lore?|Directed by Nqanawe Shangase
Three odd friends drive to a bookstore, in search of a book that doesn’t exist. Ubani Lore? is a significant new work in the South African film scene, emphasizing national pride and cultural expression. The film celebrates South African icons, mythologising our legends while learning how we reference and archive ourselves. Directed by the most exciting filmmaker Nqanawe Shangase. The film stars Sechaba Ramphele, Tshepo Jeme, Tadeus Mbatha, Sekese Rasephei and Camilla Waldman.
Kabelo|Directed by Carl Houston McMillan
In the mountains of Lesotho KABELO a shepherd determined to escape the shepherd life, meets MASTER a fugitive from South Africa hiding out in the village. Master cons Kabelo promising that he will take him to Johannesburg and mentor him in his many businesses.
A desperate companionship forms and we realise that these are just two people from different walks of life both seeking freedom. The film invites you to journey through the realms of identity, where a shepherd’s humble existence intertwines with the fleeting shadows of a fugitive. Each frame captures the essence of longing and belonging, painting a vivid portrait of two souls searching for their place in a world that often feels too vast and unwelcoming. Directed Carl Houston Mc Millan and stars four times SAFTA winner Warren Masemola and AMAA winner Lebohang Ntsane.
The Trek|Directed by Meekaaeel Adam
In 1846, a Dutch-Afrikaans family and their British benefactor make the perilous journey across the Kalahari Desert to assert their claim on a plot of land. This fateful expedition will force an encounter with two shapeshifting spirits, who place a grisly wager on the party’s lives. As hunger, thirst and fatigue set in, the lost trekkers are persuaded to accept the help of Atshumao – a mysterious Khoen man who emerges from the desert.
Misfortune and tragedy dog the party’s footsteps. Preyed upon by the harsh desert, beset by mistrust and desperation, unearthly shadows circle around them as they are stalked by an unseen presence. As paranoia strangles the group and their attackers close in, what measures will they take to ensure their survival? Directed by award-winning Meekaaeel Adam and stars Morné Visser, well-known comedian Rob van Vuuren, Trix Vivier, Maurice Carpede, Camilla Borghesani and newcomer Leah Lindeque.
Dust To Dreams|Directed by Edris Elba
In Lagos’ pulsating heart, a dying nightclub owner entrusts her legacy to her shy daughter. A long-lost soldier father ignites family drama, but music becomes their redemption. A soulful duet heals them all, uniting the family and breathing life back into the legendary club.
Directed by Golden Globe winning actor and filmmaker Idris Elba and starring Grammy Award winner Seal, AMAA winner Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Atlanta Bridget Johnson. The movie earned a 2025 Short Cuts Award nomination for Best Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
I Have Your Delivery|Directed by Ntshepe Nkosi
In this movie, filmmaker Ntshepe Nkosi tells the story of a delivery gone wrong. As the situation stalls and eyes begin to linger, the film reveals how quickly suspicion can reshape an ordinary moment. Starring Chris Djuma and Camilla Waldman, with Allegra Nunes.
Rearview|Directed by Chris Djuma
When a refugee e-hailing driver helps a desperate child in danger, his act of kindness leads him to becoming Johannesburg’s most wanted man with a deadly target on his back, as he is mistakenly accused to be the kidnapper of the Mayor’s son. The film is directed by Chris Djuma and stars Phoenix Baaitse, Tendaiishe Chitima and Ndumiso Nkosi.
I Think I Should Say Something | Directed by Mbali Mashaba
When a young woman’s hair appointment starts to take an unexpected turn, she has to summon the courage to speak up to her over confident hairdresser in the salon’s bustling environment. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Mbali Mashaba. Starring Botlhale Boikanyo and Zukiswa Ngodwane.
Keletso|Directed by Fezile Goba
A former athlete projects her unfulfilled dreams onto her daughter, forcing her into competitive running – until the girl defies her mother to pursue her true passion for dance. Directed by Fezile Goba and stars
Lil_Ith|Directed by Robin De Jager
Lilith is rooted in a digital, modern Johannesburg, set within a contemporary African metropolis where culture, history, myth, and technology intersect. The film follows a cam model whose late-night encounter spirals into a tense psychological power play, set against the raw and often unseen world of the city’s adult entertainment underground. Flipping the script on power, myth, and the female gaze, Lil ith is not a GBV trauma- forward narrative, but a psychological exploration of the shadows women have learned to navigate. Deliberately raw, atmospheric, and intentional, the film engages its audience with themes of autonomy and reframes the character Lilith–not as a villain, but as a symbol. Its world is distinctly Johannesburg: electric, gritty, glamorous, inventive, and unfiltered echoing a
global Africa that is both digital and deeply historic.
Directed by Robin De Jager and stars SAFTA nominee Siphesihle Ndaba, Cara Roberts, and Paul Rabenowitz.
The Sharpest Edge|Directed by Vuyani Bila
Mojabeng’s fragile peace with her fifteen-year-old sister, Joalane, is violently disrupted when her ex-husband, Phiri, reappears to collect an unpaid dowry. Desperate to settle his debt, Phiri plans to marry Joalane off to a suitor in exchange for three cows. Haunted by her own past as a child bride, Mojabeng refuses to let history repeat itself. As the deadline looms, she fights to protect her sister only to uncover long-buried secrets that threaten to destroy everything she’s trying to save. Directed by Vuyani Bila, and starring Mathabo Bila, Itumeleng Mofokeng, Silas Monyatsi, and SAFTA winner Lilian Dube.
