Africa’s movie future set to take centre stage at Joburg Film Festival

Lights, camera, action!

The Joburg Film Festival returns next month (3–8 March), transforming Sandton into a buzzing creative and commercial hub.

Screenings will be taking place across Joburg, including at Artistry @Blackbrick, Nu Metro Hyde Park, Égrek Cinema, The Bioscope Independent Cinema, The Forge, and Theatre on the Square.

But the festival isn't just about film screenings; there'll be plenty of opportunities for those wanting to break into the film biz to hear from industry insiders, too.

The Joburg Xchange (JBX), launched in 2019, is the industry hub of the festival and brings together over 1,000 local, African, and international participants.

It’s designed as a space where production deals are signed and where conversations turn into collaborations, says JBX Talks coordinator Ara Bhabha.

"TBX Talks serve as the industry platform for the festival. It brings together local and international industry leaders for panels, conversations, masterclasses and special events."

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There is also a youth-focused programme, designed to nurture emerging talent and amplify young voices.

"It is a curated selection of programmes, masterclasses and conversations geared towards 18-35 year olds, emerging creatives and giving them access to the space."

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Bhabha promises that there'll be no shortage of some of the best in the business.

"One of them being Eddie Hamilton, who is an Academy Award-nominated editor behind some of Hollywood's biggest franchises, including X-Men, Top Gun and Mission Impossible."

With cities like Johannesburg and Lagos positioning themselves as global production hubs, the conversations are expected to tackle representation, funding gaps, industry access, and the future of African storytelling.

Bhabha says the appetite for African content is growing.

"In recent years alone, we had Bad Influencer on Netflix taking over the screens, being in the Top 10 globally. There's also a massive appetite for the economic hub we've built around film in Africa. Look at Lagos, look at Joburg, look at Cape Town, where we function as an ecosystem for international films to produce on the Continent."

To listen to Bhabha in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: