The 28th edition of the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival will run from 4 to 14 June, transforming cinemas in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria into hubs for storytelling, conversation and cultural exchange, Cape {town} Etc reports
South Africa’s biggest documentary festival is back, and this year’s programme is bringing everything from succulent poaching syndicates and Johannesburg street poets to Cuban blackouts and emotional stories of grief, healing and resilience.
According to festival organisers, it is the short films stealing the spotlight this year.
Festival director Mandisa Zitha says audiences are increasingly gravitating towards shorter documentaries because of how experimental, emotional and immediate they feel. Short documentaries have evolved into one of the most exciting spaces in global cinema, rather than simply serving as stepping stones for young filmmakers.
That energy is reflected across this year’s programme, which features acclaimed African filmmakers alongside award-winning international productions that have already generated buzz on the global festival circuit.
One of the standout South African films this year is Vet vannie Land, which follows botanist Pieter van Wyk’s battle to protect the Richtersveld and Succulent Karoo from illegal succulent trafficking networks. The documentary already picked up three awards at Silwerskermfees, including Best Short Documentary.
Another deeply personal entry is Inyembezi Zendoda, where artist Lwanda Dlamini turns to painting as a form of healing after surviving a brutal attack that nearly claimed his life. Meanwhile, Just Because I’m a Street Kid introduces audiences to Shorty the Melville Poet, a Johannesburg-based writer who has managed to publish poetry collections while living on the streets.
Food, culture and community also feature strongly in this year’s line-up. The Hands That Feed pays tribute to a beloved Stellenbosch restaurant, while Taste of the Land explores how urban growers are reviving indigenous African food traditions in Johannesburg.
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The festival also takes audiences beyond South Africa’s borders. Films this year travel from the streets of Lagos to communist-led towns in Brazil, and from the Iranian Green Movement protests to power crisis-hit Cuba.
One of the more visually striking documentaries, The Spectacle, examines the strange modern obsession with photographing beautiful destinations for social media, often at the expense of actually experiencing them.
Another highly praised entry, Mama Micra, tells the story of a woman who lived everywhere from palaces to bridges and even her own car. The stop-motion documentary has already earned international recognition, including awards at major documentary festivals overseas.
The City of Cape Town has again thrown its support behind the festival, with Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith praising the role documentaries play in connecting communities and amplifying important voices.
‘This festival creates a powerful platform for voices that matter, both at home and across the globe. It is through this space that we celebrate the art of film, while building meaningful connections between communities, storytellers, and audiences alike.’
– Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security
Cape Town has increasingly positioned itself as one of Africa’s leading creative and film destinations, with events like Encounters helping to spotlight both emerging and established storytellers.
For many local film fans, the festival has become more than just a cinema outing. It’s a chance to engage with real-world issues, hear directly from filmmakers during Q&As, and experience stories that often don’t make it into mainstream theatres.
Festival screenings will take place at several venues across the country. In Cape Town, audiences can catch films at:
- The Labia Theatre
- Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront
- Bertha House in Mowbray
- Bertha Movie House in Khayelitsha
Johannesburg and Pretoria screenings will be hosted at:
- The Bioscope
- Rosebank Nouveau
- Ster-Kinekor Sandton
- Ster-Kinekor Southgate
- Ster-Kinekor Brooklyn
The programme also includes panel discussions, masterclasses and filmmaker Q&As throughout the festival.
Tickets and the full programme are available via the festival’s official website.
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Picture: Supplied
