Joburg Film Festival Announces Dates and Venues

The Youth and Audience Programme of the Joburg Film Festival has confirmed its dates and venues, including the opening submission for the Young Voices Competition.

The festival is scheduled to run from Tuesday, 27th February to Sunday, 3rd March. It aims to unite filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinema enthusiasts in a celebration of storytelling through the art of film.

Sixth Edition Highlights

The sixth edition of the festival’s Film Programme will showcase over 60 feature titles. It will encompass a diverse array of audience and industry initiatives and conversations, including:

• Industry Programme
• Youth and Audience Development Programme
• Joburg Film Society
• JBX B2B Content Market

Youth and Audience Programme

Continuing its commitment to fostering the growth and development of young South African filmmakers, the Youth and Audience Programme will organize skills development/empowerment workshops for young film creatives and content creators in the province.

The outreach program will primarily target young filmmakers without formal film and television education, training, and background. The comprehensive two-day format workshop will provide insights into various disciplines of filmmaking. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry leaders who will present and facilitate these sessions. The programme will culminate with a free screening of Four Walls at the end of the second day.

Session topics include:

• Scriptwriting
• Acting Workshop
• Story and Conceptualisation
• Content Creation (on social media)
• DOP master class
• Directing Master class

Youth and Audience Programme Empowerment Workshops

The workshops will kick off at The Peoples Theatre @ Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein on the 27th – 28th January, followed by the second leg at the Gauteng Archives Centre in Kagiso, Mogale City – on the 10th -11th February.

JFF Young Voices Competition

The exciting and highly anticipated JFF Young Voice Competition also makes a return. This competition celebrates the natural creative talent of young filmmakers and is open to all young aspiring African filmmakers based in South Africa between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Filmmakers are asked to create and submit their own 5-minute short film using the theme ‘The South Africa You Want to See – 30 Years on’. 

In the initial phase, an esteemed panel of expert judges will shortlist three entries, and the ultimate winner will be announced at the festival’s awards gala night on Saturday, 2nd March. The recipient of the overall winner title will not only receive a scholarship but also a myriad of other remarkable sponsored prizes. Additionally, the recognition comes with various valuable rewards.

Submissions for the Young Voices Competition is currently open.