Joburg Film Festival Encourages All Filmmakers to Express Their Views: ‘A Space Where Politics and Artistry Meet’

Following the brouhaha around whether art should be divorced from politics at the Berlinale, the organizers of the 8th Joburg Film Festival at Tuesday night’s opener were adamant that all voices and viewpoints are welcome, noting that African filmmaking is inherently political. Hundreds of filmmakers, TV and film executives, distributors, actors and media converged on […] Home Film Global Mar 4, 2026 12:33pm PT Joburg Film Festival Encourages All Filmmakers to Express Their Views: ‘A Space Where Politics and Artistry Meet’ By Thinus Ferreira Plus Icon Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor Latest Magical-Realist Comedy ‘The Fisherman’ Literally Tells a Fish-Out-of-Water Story: ‘I Want People to See the Ghanaian Sense of Humor Shine’ 2 days ago Canal+ Faces Challenges With Africa’s MultiChoice as Pay-TV Company Ordered to Shutter in Ghana Over Subscription Rates 7 months ago Rural Community Thriller ‘Snake’ Shows How Streamer Support Makes Smaller South African Stories Possible 2 years ago See All Courtesy of Thinus Ferreira Following the brouhaha around whether art should be divorced from politics at the Berlinale, the organizers of the 8th Joburg Film Festival at Tuesday night’s opener were adamant that all voices and viewpoints are welcome, noting that African filmmaking is inherently political. Hundreds of filmmakers, TV and film executives, distributors, actors and media converged on the Theatre on the Square to watch the sold-out festival opener “Laundry,” written and directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi as a searing Apartheid-era drama. Related Stories NAACP Image Awards: Michael B. Jordan Named Entertainer of the Year and Dedicates Lead Actor Trophy to Chadwick Boseman, 'Sinners' Dominates with 13 Wins