Joburg Film Festival Announces Opening and Closing Films

Two landmark Films open and close Joburg Film Festival

Two of the most anticipated South African films of the coming year will bookend the upcoming Joburg Film Festival, presented in partnership with MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, taking place from 3–8 March across cinemas in Johannesburg.

Opening the festival on 3 March is Laundry (Uhlanjululo), the debut feature from acclaimed South African filmmaker Zamo Mkhwanazi, fresh from its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was hailed as “thrilling African cinema” by Film Fatale. Although attendance on the opening night is by invitation, the second screening takes place at 15:15 on 7 March at NuMetro Cine 1, 6th Road, Hyde Park, Sandton and is open to the general public. The festival closes with the South African premiere of The Trek, a bold western-horror by first-time director MeekaeeI Adam, screening at 16:30 on 8 March at Theatre On The Square, Sandton.

Together, these films form a powerful statement: South African filmmakers are telling world-class stories rooted in local history, myth, and memory with global resonance.

Joburg Film Festival Curator Nhlanhla Ndaba, says:

“Both Laundry and The Trek delicately balance texture with technique, and navigate their subject matter with real confidence. These are stories rooted in uniquely South African contexts that invite audiences to think, feel, and actively journey with the characters.”

A Story of Loss, Legacy and Survival

Described by Variety as possessing “the gloss of 1990s historical dramas,” Laundry (Uhlanjululo) is a deeply personal work that confronts the long shadow of apartheid through the lens of family, labour, and stolen inheritance.

Set in 1960s South Africa, the film follows a Black family operating a laundry business under rare and fragile permission to trade in a whites-only district. As patriarch Enoch (played by Siyabonga Shibe) fights to protect his family’s precarious livelihood, tensions arise between survival and self-expression, particularly through his son’s (played by Ntobeko Sishi) artistic dreams. When the threat of imprisonment emerges, the family is forced to reckon with the cost of endurance in a system designed to exclude them. The film features a strong cast including Bukamina Cebekhulu, Tracy September, and Justin Strydom.

Mkhwanazi draws directly from her own family history.

“My grandfather had a laundry and when apartheid came in, he lost his business,” she told Variety. “That loss was always there in the back of my mind as a place where my intergenerational wealth was taken. I knew it had to be my first film.”

Mkhwanazi began her career as a scriptwriter on Isidingo, and her third short film, Gallo Rojo, premiered at Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight in 2016 marking her early arrival on the international stage.

A Mythic Descent into the Kalahari

Closing the festival, The Trek plunges audiences into the vast and unforgiving Kalahari Desert in 1846, following a Dutch-Afrikaans family and their British benefactor on a perilous journey to claim land. Guided by a mysterious Khoen traveller, the expedition slowly fractures under the weight of hunger, exhaustion, and mistrust.

Hovering over the journey are two spectral figures drawn from Southern African folklore silent witnesses as the group’s fragile social order begins to collapse.

Blending historical realism with mythic storytelling, The Trek reimagines the western survival film through a distinctly Southern African lens, challenging colonial narratives while embracing the power of genre cinema. Adam has already earned a nomination for Best First-Time Director at the Directors Guild of South Africa’s Creatives Awards, with a cast that includes Morné Visser, Maurice Carpede, Camilla Borghesani, Trix Vivier, and Rob van Vuuren.

A Festival Statement

Nomsa Philiso, spokesperson for MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, adds:

“These selections and the festival programme as a whole reflect our deep commitment to the audience experience. From the outset, our partnership with the JFF has been about democratising access to bold, meaningful cinema. This year, we are proud to showcase two exceptional South African films that are as entertaining as they are illuminating.”

With Laundry (Uhlanjululo) and The Trek opening and closing the festival, the Joburg Film Festival offers a compelling declaration: South African cinema is not only alive, it is fearless, world-class, and ready to be seen.

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.