The Joburg Film Festival releases exciting line-up of international featured films

Exciting news for film lovers, the Joburg Film Festival is back for its eighth edition.

The festival will take place from 3 to 8 March 2026, and organisers promise an even bigger and better celebration of cinema this year.

Audiences can look forward to 60 curated films, creating an atmosphere filled with excitement, creativity, learning and powerful storytelling. The programme includes 40 fictional feature films, 18 non-fiction features, and 65 short films, as well as nine student works, giving emerging filmmakers a global platform.

Although hosted in Johannesburg, the festival showcases stories from across the world, with films from Africa, Europe, the United States, South America, the United Kingdom, Asia and the Middle East. In total, 14 African countries will be represented, making this a truly international cinematic experience.

Screenings will take place at several venues across the city, including  The Bioscope, Egrek Cinema, Theatre on the Square, The Forge, Artistry and Nu Metro Hyde Park, proof that Johannesburg’s vibrant cinema scene is the perfect home for the festival.

This year’s theme is “Feel the Frame,” celebrating not only storytelling but also the craft of filmmaking. Among the standout selections is a powerful film featuring an entirely deaf cast, told without spoken dialogue, a moving exploration of inclusivity and human connection.

Adding to the excitement, the festival will also screen three Academy Award-nominated films, including The Voice of Hind Rajab, 
It Was Just An Accident, and Kokuho. 

Whether you’re a film student, a film fanatic, or simply looking to unwind with thought-provoking cinema, this is a festival that promises fun for young and old alike.

Tickets have been on sale since 30 January, priced between R50 and R200.

Get ready to be inspired by outstanding artistic work from around the globe, all happening right here in Johannesburg. 

Also check out - Best places to watch a theatre show in Johannesburg. 

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