The seventh edition of the Joburg Film Festival, hosted by MultiChoice, reached its pinnacle with an exciting awards ceremony held at the Sandton Convention Centre. The festival, which has showcased a diverse lineup of local and international films, celebrated the art of storytelling while highlighting the rich spectrum of human experiences.
The festival’s prestigious awards recognized outstanding cinematic achievements:
- Best Short Film: Why the Cattle Wait by Phumi Morare, an African folklore tale exploring unrequited love against a vibrant backdrop.
- Best Edit: Sugar Land by Johanne Gomez Terrero, a Dominican feature delving into identity and belonging in sugarcane fields.
- Best Documentary: Ernest Cole: Lost and Found by Raoul Peck, honoring the life of South African photographer Ernest Cole and his powerful apartheid-era images.
- Best African Feature Film: HAPPY: The Real Happy Sindane Story by Vusi Africa, a moving exploration of identity and race in post-apartheid South Africa.
- Best Feature Film: Blind Love by Julian Chou, a coming-of-age drama about family secrets and self-discovery.
The festival honored South African icon Mfundi Vundla with a Special Recipient Award for his transformative contributions to film and television. The Jury Special Mention went to The Shadow Scholar by Eloise King, while the Young Voices Award celebrated CheckMate, a youth-driven story of ambition and resilience.
With over 60 films screened across Johannesburg venues, including Hyde Park’s Nu-Metro Cinemas and Theatre on the Square, the festival brought together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences to celebrate cinematic excellence. Esteemed jury members included South African actress Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Egyptian film critic Ahmed Shawky, and Nigerian scholar Dr. Victor Okhai.
The festival concludes with Timmy The Kid, a South African family comedy directed by Gray and Ziggy Hofmeyr, offering audiences one last chance to enjoy the magic of storytelling at its finest.
