The seventh Joburg Film Festival (JFF), set to take place from March 11-16, 2025, will transform Johannesburg, a city rich with history and culture, into a hub of cinematic exploration. With the theme “The Golden Thread – Connected Through Stories,” the festival aims to connect audiences to a diverse range of global perspectives, showcasing the universal power of storytelling.
Tim Mangwedi, the founder of the JFF, highlights the significance of stories as a unifying force. He describes them as “invisible threads that weave humanity together,” transcending cultural and geographic boundaries. This year’s festival lineup reflects this belief, with over 60 films representing a wide array of experiences from around the world.
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The selection includes films like Sebata, a South African detective thriller, and Rauol Peck’s documentary about Ernest Cole, a trailblazing black photographer during apartheid. These films, along with others such as To a Land Unknown by Lebanese director Mahdi Fleifel and Under the Volcano—which delves into the experiences of a Ukrainian during Russia’s invasion—demonstrate the festival’s dedication to offering a broad spectrum of human narratives.
Beyond just screenings, the festival offers the JBX (Joburg Xchange) programme, which supports emerging filmmakers. The JBX Youth initiative, aimed at filmmakers aged 18-35, provides mentorship, workshops, and a Young Voices Competition, celebrating this year’s theme: “The Power of Sports in Film.” Through these efforts, the festival encourages the next generation of storytellers to make their mark on the world.