south african cinemalatest news & developments

‘Laundry’ finds resistance in the music

Zamo Mkhwanazi’s striking debut film blends family drama, apartheid oppression and blistering music into a defiant film that refuses to lower its volume

  • Eyaaz
4 min read

South African cinema takes centre stage at Joburg Film Festival 2026

This year’s festival begins and ends with powerful local films confronting apartheid, colonialism and memory through confident, world-class craft

  • Eyaaz
2 min read
Close-up: Joburg Film Festival curator Nhlanhla Ndaba. Photos: Supplied

Why craft matters: Curating the Joburg Film Festival 2026

As the Joburg Film Festival returns in 2026, curator Nhlanhla Ndaba explains why craft, care and unseen labour are taking centre stage

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
Location, location: Josh Duhamel in a scene from the American action-comedy London Calling, which was shot in Cape Town. Photo: Julia Hansson

From Los Angeles to London, Cape Town keeps calling

Meet Mannequin’s dynamic duo, Delon Bakker and Kyle Ambrose, South Africa’s rising film production company turning Cape Town into Los Angeles — and London

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
Burning bright: A new documentary, titled The Bengal Tiger: The Rajbansi Story, is directed by Arish Sirkissoon and co-written by Rajbansi’s wife Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi. What part of the colourful and controversial South African politician Amichand Rajbansi’s story will it foreground?

A political animal who played the jungle

The Bengal Tiger’s life is retold on screen, revisiting the populism, opportunism and contradictions that made Amichand Rajbansi unforgettable

  • Eyaaz
7 min read
Emotional depth: Composer Zethu Mashika is exactly where he wants to be – painting a picture with his music for films that strengthen the frames and dialogue

Mashika tracks spiritual sounds

Zethu Mashika crafts soundtracks that stir the soul, and it all began with one lucky night

  • Busi Lethole
5 min read
Deep-seated desire: Radical changes are needed to get local audiences back into cinemas and supporting South African productions.

Rewriting the South African cinema script

Movie theatres are empty but South African stories are abundant — what’s the disconnect?

  • Umamah Bakharia
7 min read
Mixed messages: Andile (Kay Sibiya) and Jessica (Trix Vivier) in the second film in the series Umjolo: Day Ones. Photo: Netflix

Four films are low on romance and responsibility

A new film franchise explores modern love but fumbles the chemistry and connection

  • Eyaaz
6 min read
True love: Lawrence Maleka plays lobola negotiator Ace. Photos: Supplied

South African black rom-coms are thriving with local audiences

Local movie Lobola Man is the latest offering on Netflix from Burnt Onion Productions

  • Eyaaz
7 min read