JBX Talks 2026 Returns To The 8th Joburg Film Festival

JBX Talks 2026: Africa’s Creative Xchange Hub in the Heart of Johannesburg

JBX Talks 2026 returns as a central pillar of the 8th edition of the Joburg Film Festival, taking place from 3 – 8 March 2026 in Johannesburg under the theme ‘Feel the Frame‘. Hosted from 4 – 6 March at the Sandton Convention Centre, JBX – The Joburg Xchange – continues to operate as the festival’s creative and commercial engine: a space where storytelling craft, industry knowledge and future-facing business ideas converge, and where African cinema is actively positioned within global conversations.

JBX Talks has evolved into a truly collaborative platform, opening its doors to filmmakers, students, creatives and engaged audiences seeking deeper insight into how the screen industries operate in practice. Through a series of panels, masterclasses, and in-conversation sessions, JBX Talks unpacks the realities of making work in and from Africa, global opportunities and the complexities of the craft.

Festival Manager Taryn Joffe, says:

“JBX Talks is deliberately positioned at the intersection of the film and television industry, creativity and visual culture. Aligned with Feel the Frame, it operates as a vibrant knowledge and exchange hub within Johannesburg’s fast-paced screen ecosystem, a place where ideas circulate freely, where audiences and practitioners engage with leading filmmakers and representatives from diverse festivals, production and post-production companies, and where the artistic and technical decisions behind powerful storytelling are considered in an open and reflective environment.”

This year’s programme brings together a compelling mix of African and international voices, reflecting JBX’s accelerating global relevance. Highlights include Frames of the Future: Africa’s Must-Know Filmmakers, featuring award-winning director Imran Hamdulay in conversation around his Academy-nominated work; The Heart is a Muscle, with filmmakers Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Zoey Martinson and Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese sharing the career-defining moments that propelled their work onto the global stage; and Behind the Legend: Inside South Africa’s Biggest Series, Shaka iLembe, where series producer Desiree Markgraaff unpacks the creative vision, cultural responsibility and production scale behind one of Africa’s most ambitious historical dramas.

Craft-focused sessions include Cutting the Impossible: The Craft of Editing with Eddie Hamilton, supported through JFF’s partnership with the British High Commission, featuring Academy Award–nominated editor Eddie Hamilton (Mission: Impossible, Top Gun) in conversation about rhythm, tension and emotional architecture in large-scale storytelling. His participation forms part of a broader collaboration with the British High Commission focused on skills exchange and professional development.

That partnership is further reflected in the panel Bridging Markets: Co-Productions, Incentives & Creative Collaboration, which includes South African co-producer Mqondisi “MQ” Ngubane, whose recent work includes the upcoming Poachers Moon, a UK–South Africa co-production. The session offers grounded insight into international collaboration, incentive structures and navigating multiple markets.

“Partnerships like the one with the British High Commission allow us to move beyond dialogue into tangible exchange,” Joffe adds. “By supporting talent mobility and co-production conversations, these collaborations strengthen the pathways through which African stories can travel and sustained connection.”

JBX Talks 2026 also spotlights the shifting geography of production through The New Studio System: African Cities as Production Powerhouses, featuring Tshepiso Phiri, Group CEO of the Known Associates group, Farhad Omar, Founder of Media Valley, and Kene Okwuosa, Co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s Filmhouse Group. The session examines how cities such as Lagos, Johannesburg and Cape Town are emerging as interconnected production ecosystems, attracting international investment while strengthening local capacity and positioning film and television as key drivers of economic and cultural content across the continent.

By facilitating dialogue, access and professional connections, JBX Talks delivers both immediate insight and lasting value for Africa’s screen industries.

Passes to the festival are on sale and are expected to sell out quickly with the following options available:

Industry Pass – 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
Passes availabe via Webtickets

Find out more about the Joburg Film Festival here.

About Joburg Film Festival
The Joburg Film Festival is Africa’s premier film event, dedicated to showcasing exceptional cinematic works while nurturing the growth of the African film industry. With a focus on diverse storytelling and fostering dialogue, the festival brings together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences for an enriching cultural experience.