Film clubs to explore in and around Johannesburg

If you have a keen interest in Mzansi culture, you’ll feel at home as the film club sometimes spotlights local short films. However, they do have a broader offering of occasional full-length films and documentaries, so the film club is very accommodating. The club is an extension of the Joburg Film Festival and sometimes hosts international diplomatic film exchanges.

They meet at the Artistry Theatre in Sandton and, once the credits have rolled, members and guests engage in post-screening discussions and networking sessions. Their next gathering is set to take place on 3 November for a screening of Phambili NgweGwijo. 

Tickets start from R200 on Webtickets.

The Trouble Film Club usually convenes at Egrek Cinema in Parkhurst twice a month, on the first Wednesday and Thursday, so if you miss day one you don’t have to wait an entire month. Guest moderators select the movie, provide context and lead the post-screening discussions.

If you have a diverse palate for film, you’ll love this club because they consume anything from psychological dramas to supernatural thrillers and dystopia. The club usually prioritises thought-provoking cinema over commercial blockbusters. There’s no membership fee, but tickets to join the screening and discussions can be purchased on Quicket.

Founded by Sisters Working in Film & Television (SWIFT), Sisterhood Cinema’s main objective is to shine the spotlight on women in film.

Women and gender-fluid individuals get to showcase their work and network in a safe space that advocates for gender equality, race parity and their economic empowerment. Kindred spirits get to view feature films, documentaries and short films that are specifically directed, produced or shot by these marginalised groups.

Screenings are paid for and the club often collaborates with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) for activism campaigns. They also partner with like-minded organisations, such as the African Women Filmmakers Hub (Kenya), and guests get to interact with industry experts.

The membership fee is R400 for professional women and R200 for students (valid student card required), and screenings are R130 per film for members and R180 for non-members. Announcements are usually made on the club's Instagram page  @sisterhoodcinema. 

Every last Wednesday of the month, The Long Take Film Club gathers at The Bioscope Independent Cinema at 44 Stanley. The Long Take’s usual screenings feature mostly alternative or non-fiction cinema.

Once the movie is finished, a structured group discussion ensues inside the theatre with film lovers giving their honest take on what they loved, enjoyed and even hated about the movie of the day. The discussions don’t necessarily end there but are taken into the theatre’s courtyard, where people continue to engage over pizza and a few cold ones.

No membership fees are applicable, but you do need to book through The Bioscope’s platform to see the films.

This initiative by the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies (WiCDS) is open to the public, bridging the gap between academic research and regular citizens. The club was launched in September to a fully sold-out audience.

The club screens award-winning, independent and socially relevant productions from across Africa in WiCDS’s efforts to foster public dialogue and dismantle elitism. The screenings do not take place at the university but are presented at The Bioscope Independent Cinema at 44 Stanley, giving members of the public direct access to filmmakers and academics who partake in the post-screening discussions. At just R20 per person, this is one of the most affordable film-based events in Johannesburg, and tickets include free popcorn, pizza and coffee. Dates, film titles and other announcements can be accessed via WiCDS.

The Johannesburg edition of these community-led cinema initiatives takes place in Kwa-Thema. In collaboration with Lindiwe Nobesuthu Renolda Productions (LNR), the initiative hosts movie screenings and community film sessions, operating as independent, grassroots film clubs.

These activations primarily focus on African-inspired, locally produced productions, with human interest and social realism being the club’s core genres. Themes around peer pressure, classism, systemic poverty and youth-focused edutainment dominate the screenings, with indie shorts and community micro-budget films being part of the equation. The activations don’t happen at a fixed venue but operate as pop-ups with free access to the film screenings and post-film discussions. Information can be found on the LNR Facebook page.

Launched in 2004, the First Wednesday Film Club prides itself on being Johannesburg’s longest-standing film club. It emerged as a relaxed gathering organised by local filmmakers John Barker and Ziggy Hofmeyr, caught the attention of the internationally acclaimed Akin Omotoso, and the rest is history.

The film community gathers at Atlas Studios, Milpark, on the first Wednesday of every month to indulge in screenings of local and global non-mainstream films, documentaries and South African features that don’t usually make it into the mainstream. The post-screening discussions usually feature some of the directors, cast members and production teams from the film of the day. Admission is free but seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Screening info can be found on the club’s Facebook page.

Launched in August 2026, this is one of the new kids on the block for Johannesburg’s film community. Founded by women for women, Her Cinema Club celebrates women who are taking up space in filmmaking, allowing them to grow their personal networks. 

The hybrid community first proposes films online before arranging in-person screenings where they can enjoy the films together. Feminist cinema, queer storytelling and works that seek to dismantle patriarchal norms take centre stage, followed by discussions where the guests debate and unpack the films. The club currently operates as a monthly pop-up at the Bioscope Independent Cinema and the next gathering is on 29 October where members will dissect the European and US collaboration titled The Substance. Tickets can be purchased on Tixsa for R100.