The 7th Joburg Film Festival is set to take place from March 11 to March 16 in Johannesburg, South Africa, showcasing an impressive lineup of 100 films. The festival will kick off with the documentary “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found.”
Running alongside the film festival is the 3rd Joburg Xchange (JBX) film market, which will feature a variety of panel discussions related to film and television, all under the theme “The Golden Thread.” Nhlanhla Ndaba serves as the curator for this year’s festival.
Taryn Joffe, the manager of the Joburg Film Festival, states that the festival seeks to uplift African filmmakers by focusing on growth through strategic discussions, business networking opportunities, and youth training.
This year’s festival will present 28 premieres of African films, encompassing a mix of fiction and non-fiction, and 12 world premieres, including two films from South Africa.
Among the highlighted films is “Bos,” a post-apocalyptic thriller that paints a chilling picture of South Africa’s future, where society has crumbled, leaving survivors to navigate moral dilemmas and fight for survival. Another significant entry is “The Man Died,” an autobiographical portrayal of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s experiences during his imprisonment by an oppressive military regime, emphasizing his resilience and defiance.
Additionally, “Happy – The True Story of Happy Sindane” will hold its world premiere, chronicling the journey of a teenage white boy raised by a black family in his quest to find his biological parents.
