Joburg Film Festival 2027 submissions open

Joburg Film Festival opens 2027 call for entries

By Xabiso Ngqabe
August 26, 2026

Filmmakers from across Africa and the African diaspora are being invited to submit their work for the ninth edition of the Joburg Film Festival, with entries now open for consideration for the 2027 festival line-up. The Joburg Film Festival (JFF) has officially opened its call for entries for its 2027 edition, inviting filmmakers to submit films that challenge conventions, spotlight untold stories and offer audiences fresh perspectives.

As the festival prepares for its ninth edition, JFF is looking across Africa, the African diaspora and beyond for a diverse selection of bold feature films, compelling documentaries, innovative animation and thought-provoking shorts that move audiences and leave a lasting impression. The call for entries closes at midnight on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, with selected filmmakers expected to be notified between 1st and 10th December 2026.

What filmmakers need to know

The call for entries is officially open and closes at midnight on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. Selected filmmakers will be notified between 1-10 December 2026. All submissions must be made via FilmFreeway.

To be eligible, films must:

  • Have been completed after September 2025.
  • Be submitted by eligible African or African diaspora filmmakers.
  • Be submitted via FilmFreeway before the closing date.
  • Be a feature film (75 minutes or longer) or a short film (5–30 minutes). Submissions may be fiction, documentary or animation.
  • Be available as a completed film or a picture-locked rough cut. Films still in post-production will be considered, provided they have reached picture lock and will be completed in time for the festival.

World premieres eligible for JFF awards

The 2027 edition will also place a particular focus on competition titles, with only World Premieres eligible for festival awards. All competition-eligible submissions will first be scored and shortlisted by JFF’s curation team. The shortlisted films will then be considered by an independent jury comprising acclaimed filmmakers, performers, educators and other industry professionals, who will select the final award winners.

The festival’s award categories include:

  • Best Feature Film
  • Best African Feature Film
  • Best Documentary
  • Best Edit Feature Film
  • Best Short Film
  • Best Cinematography

For filmmakers looking to put their work before a major South African festival audience, the call represents an opportunity to have new work considered alongside a broader programme celebrating African and diaspora cinema.

JFF continues to champion African cinema

The Joburg Film Festival is a six-day annual event that showcases African films within a global cinema context. The festival presents over 60 expertly curated films from around the world, including South Africa, Africa, and the diaspora. Presented in partnership with MultiChoice, a Canal+ Company, JFF has established itself as an independent platform that not only celebrates African stories but also rewards excellence in film.

The Trek continues its journey beyond JFF

The Trek is the closing film for the 8th Joburg Film Festival 2026

Following its world premiere at the Joburg Film Festival, The Trek (the feature directorial debut of acclaimed cinematographer Meekaaeel Adam) is now showing at selected Ster-Kinekor cinemas. Set against the stark beauty of the Kalahari in 1846, The Trek is a South African horror-western that reimagines the western genre through an African lens. Drawing on local folklore and supernatural suspense, the film tells a haunting story of survival in the brutal desert. Since premiering at JFF, the film has travelled the international festival circuit, with screenings in New York, Shanghai, London and South Korea, while also picking up awards in Portugal and Brazil.

If you missed it at JFF, now’s your chance to experience it on the big screen.

How to submit to JFF 2027

Filmmakers interested in submitting their work can find the official submission information and eligibility requirements through the Joburg Film Festival‘s submission process. The deadline is 30 September 2026 at midnight.

For submission-related queries, filmmakers can contact info@joburgfilmfestival.co.za.

As the countdown to the ninth Joburg Film Festival begins, the search is now on for the films and filmmakers that will help shape the festival’s 2027 programme and for stories that continue to expand the conversation around African cinema.

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