Highlights from the Johannesburg Film Festival

The sixth edition of the Johannesburg Film Festival ran across Johannesburg from February 28 – March 3.

The festival on March 2, hosted an awards ceremony highlighting an enthralling variety of films crafted by both local and international filmmakers, the festival unfolded against the vibrant canvas extending from Sandton to Milpark.

This year’s instalment of the Joburg film festival held audiences spellbound with thought-provoking documentaries, gripping dramas and inspiring narratives delivered through traditional screenings and virtual reality platforms.

This festival explored the power of storytelling and the myriad hues of human experiences.

At the awards, the coveted title of best film has been bestowed on Yellow Bus. This gripping feature immersed viewers in its intense narrative against the backdrop of a sand-swept city nestled in the heart of the Arabian Gulf.

London Recruits, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Gordan Main and brought to life by producers Jacinta De Nobrega and Robyn Slovo, claimed the prestigious best documentary award of the evening. This captivating documentary guided audiences through the turbulent landscape of the 1960s in South Africa.

A special mention was made to the multi-award-winning documentary film Who I Am Not, directed by Tünde Skovrán. This taboo-breaking film set in Joburg follows the lives of two intersex South Africans – one a beauty queen, the other an activist. Who I am Not gives a voice to underrepresented communities in both English and Sesotho.

Aspiring filmmakers from across the country were invited to submit a short film as part of the Young Voices film competition. Ultimately the super-talented Ntokozo Mlaba took the Young Voice Award for the short film Everything Nothing.

Festival partner Absa pledged to assist him with an additional cash injection of R150 000 to complete his project.

The Joburg Film Festival concluded on March 3 with a poignant finale: the South African drama SNAKE, directed by veteran filmmaker Meg Rickards, was screened at the Theatre of the Square in Nelson Mandela Square.

Related articles: The time a water goddess mesmerised Sandton

Comedy in vernacular electrifies Sandton