Early-Bird Passes On Sale 19 December
Africa’s premier celebration of film, creativity, and culture, the Joburg Film Festival (JFF), presented by MultiChoice Group (a CANAL+ company), returns for its 8th edition from 3–8 March 2026 under the bold and immersive theme “Feel the Frame.”
Early-bird festival passes go on sale 19 December, offering exclusive discounts and first access to the continent’s biggest cinematic event where the stars, crafts people and deal makers gather to celebrate the best in African cinema, attracting more than 10 000 local and international participants.
Celebrating bold storytelling, exceptional talent, and filmmaker excellence, JFF has become a beacon for African and global cinema, merging art, business, and culture into a significant six-day festival experience.
Explaining this year’s theme, Festival Manager, Taryn Joffe said: “Feel the Frame invites us to explore cinema as a sensory and deeply collaborative art form. A film is never only the image before us, it carries the fingerprints of many hands: writers, directors, performers, cinematographers, editors, designers, sound artists, and the countless others whose decisions give a story form. Their collective work is felt in a single instant as images of love, grief, joy, loss, violence, and history unfold.”
Since its inception in 2016, the Joburg Film Festival has grown into one of the continent’s most influential film and cultural events. With over 100 screenings across the city, including 60+ titles that are country, continental, or world premieres. The 8th edition will continue its deep commitment to storytelling excellence, which culminates in the awards gala evening. An international six-member jury of globally respected film and television experts will review and adjudicate films in competition across seven major categories honouring winners with an exclusive NGUNI HORN award.
Running concurrently with the film screenings isJoburg Exchange (JBX), the festival’s industry programme, which brings together filmmakers, producers, creatives, industry stakeholders and emerging voices for three days of meaningful exchange that focuses on driving trade & investment, industry dialogue and empowering talent and growth across the continent in JBX Talks & JBX Youth.
Nomsa Philiso, Director Content, General Entertainment, English & Portuguese-speaking Africa at MultiChoice Group, the festival’s principal partner and the largest producer of film and television content in Africa noted: “The festival champions Africa in the global festival circuit and creative industries, positioning itself not just as a meeting point, but as a driving force behind the evolution of Africa’s film and television landscape.”
Growing the next generation of African storytellers is a significant component of the festival taking place under its Young Voices Programme, which includes the Young Voices Film Competition (mobile film, 5 minutes), Young Voices Workshop and JBX Youth, which this year focuses on New Media, Cinematography, Podcasting, and Screenwriting.
Festival Founder Tim Mangwedi added: “Joburg Film Festival is more than a festival, it’s a Joburg cultural moment, which in itself is an African cultural moment.”
Early bird passes to the festival go on sale from Friday 19 December and are expected to sell out quickly with the following options available:
INDUSTRY PASS – R1 500 (early bird special until 31 December) – R1 800 from 1 January and includes: 3-Day JBX Access; 5 Red Carpet Premieres; 10 Additional Screenings
FESTIVAL PASS — R1 000 which includes: 5 Red Carpet Premieres; 10 Additional Screenings
STUDENT PASS — R500 which includes: 3-Day JBX Access; 3 Red Carpet Premieres; 10 Additional Screenings
DAY PASS — R800 including: Unlimited Screenings for the Day; 1-Day JBX Access
For more information please go tohttps://joburgfilmfestival.co.za/ and follow us on @joburg_film_festival on Instagram, Joburg Film Festival on Facebook, and @JoburgFilmFest on X and TikTok using #JFF20206.