Joburg Film Festival 2024: What to See and Do

The annual Joburg Film Festival prepares to once again display a diverse array of films made by storytellers from the African diaspora right here in Johannesburg. For six years now, the film festival has provided a platform for local and international film talents to share their creative visions with an audience of film enthusiasts and experts alike.

The Joburg Film Festival viewing experience is different from traditional film-going. Storytellers who may not typically get the opportunity to debut their work in traditional mainstream theatres get an alternative screening solution for the underrepresented voices of filmmakers from all over the world, including – and especially – African voices.

The festival also hosts workshops and discussion panels to encourage networking and critical film engagement, and to reward some of the talented filmmakers they showcase.

The 2024 screening selection boasts over 60 films from South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and more. See the full programme here.

Five films to look out for at the Joburg Film Festival

Though many of the showcased films display a keen focus on the African and Middle Eastern experience, the selection this year still manages to tackle a wide range of stories, so there is something for everyone.

Here are five films to look out for during the festival, each of which deals with various themes such as displacement, self-discovery, identity, forbidden love, friendship and family.

Mirror Mirror

Directed by: Sandulela Asanda | South Africa | 2022 | 9 min
Genre: Short Film

In Mirror Mirror, a 16-year-old girl and her best friend attempt to navigate the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Together, they help each other discover themselves whilst growing to understand and define their own perspectives around self-pleasure and what it means to them to be a woman.

All the colours of the world are between black and white

Directed by: Babatunde Apalowo | Nigeria | 2023 | 93 min
Genre: Drama/Romance

All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White is a story of forbidden love. In the city of Lagos, Nigeria, where homosexuality is forbidden by law, two men meet and form an intimate bond. As they navigate the city, their mutual affection continues to grow forcing them to contend with their own feelings and the societal expectations lodged against them.

Orah

Directed by: Lonzo Nzekwe | Canada/Nigeria | 2023 | 95 min
Genre: Crime/Thriller

Orah follows the story of a Nigerian immigrant living in Toronto, Canada named Orah. She makes her living as a taxi driver but yearns for her son to be brought over from Nigeria to finally live with her. In order to get her son passage into Canada, she agrees to work for a high-profile Nigerian criminal. However, when one of their operations goes wrong, Orah’s son is left dead, sending her on a dangerous path for revenge.

Mandoob/Night Rider

Directed by: Ali Kalthami | Saudi Arabia | 2023 | 110 min
Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama

Mandoob, alternatively titled Night Rider in English, is a film that considers the lengths people would go to for the ones they love. A slightly unstable customer service worker named Fahad is forced to come up with a large sum of money in order to aid his sick father. He resorts to criminal means to do so, initiating a great deal of chaos.

Augure/Omen

Directed by: Baloji | Belgium/Democratic Republic of Congo | 2023 | 90 min

Genre: Drama/Thriller

In Augure, or Omen as it is known in English, a Congolese man finally returns to his home city of Kinshasa after spending 18 years in Belgium. During his visit, he is forced to confront his relationship with his family, his culture and his Belgian partner. The film places Westernisation against cultural spirituality in its storytelling.

Where to catch the Joburg Film Festival screenings

Joburg Film Festival takes place in various venues across Sandton, Johannesburg including Theatre on the Square, The Bioscope, Artistry and Ster Kinekor Sandton and Rosebank.

Cost: From R85pp per screening. Book via Quicket for showings at The Bioscope Independent Cinema at 44 Stanley, Sandton City Convention Centre, Theatre on the Square at Nelson Mandela Square, and Artistry and BlackBrick in Sandton