This 2025 Film Festival Showcases Vibrant & Diverse South African Stories
Image: Old Righteous Blues.
The South African Film Festival returns for its 7th presentation, promising to delight audiences with a program consisting of the finest films produced in South Africa in the past year.
This film festival was launched in Sydney in 2019 and since then 72 South African feature films and 14 shorts have graced the screen to an audience of over 30,000. This will also be screening in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Auckland (NZ) which highlights its growth in popularity.
“Growing film festival audiences have become increasingly difficult in a competitive space with many other live events,” explained Festival Director Ricky Human. “Audience growth is essential for the survival of most film festivals. Each year, as competition increases, we must think outside the box to attract more viewers.”
Having an online program is a viewing platform which has proved quite popular and continues to build an audience.
“As one of the first festivals to offer an immersive online program, though not mainstream, this shift helped us grow our audience across regional Australia and New Zealand, and we continued to transform the festival into a fully hybrid program.”
This year the in-cinema program includes a total of nine feature films, eleven documentaries and 13 shorts and the on-line platform offers nine feature-length films that would provide greater entertainment value to individuals who aren’t fans of short films and documentaries.
When asked whether there has been a noticeable increase in the production values of these films Human was quick to respond.
“With the help of gifted and up-and-coming filmmakers, the production quality has undoubtedly evolved throughout the years into more authentic storytelling, exhibiting the vibrant and very diverse South African cultures and indigenous languages, and garnering greater prominence on global stages.”
The Opening Night Film Old Righteous Blues was chosen as South Africa’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.
“The story’s plot centres on two brothers who have put aside their differences to save the town’s Christmas Choir Band, in an already divided Cape Malay community that faces destitution. This traditional choir with authentic storytelling honours family and real Cape Malay traditional music,” enthused Human.
The afterparty should be quite an event with a taste of traditional South African snacks and live performances in true ‘Ubuntu’ spirit.
The in-cinema films screen days apart and not consecutively which Human believes should be quite beneficial for audiences.
“With a completely hybrid festival, a loyal audience following, and a few films showing in cinemas, we want to make sure that our festival patrons have the chance to see as many of these screenings as they can.”
Human said that this film festival is known as the Festival With A Conscience as all proceeds aid the South African Charity Education Without Borders (EwB), which is a non-governmental and nonprofit organisation for underprivileged students in elementary and high school.
“It provides students with the chance to take part in extracurricular activities and after-school programs in Maths, English and early childhood education. It takes care of the “whole child”, including psychosocial activities for boosting confidence like surfing, choir participation, and attending holiday programs.”
And who should this this film festival appeal to?
“Expat South Africans wanting to give back to their country of birth, engaged and socially conscious film/art lovers in Australia & New Zealand, and members of the African diaspora,” concluded Human.
Hot picks for the 2025 South African Film Festival
THE LAST RANGER
Oscar-nominated short film at the 97th Academy Awards that will be showcased alongside OLD RIGHTEOUS BLUES on the opening night. This emotional story shows how rangers in South Africa put their lives at risk every day to protect the majestic animal, The Rhino, from becoming extinct.
NIER, NA
An exclusive online feature film. With a limited budget, the producer and writer of this film, who is also a well-known actress, has brought to life an engaging and authentic story about a culturally blended family in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. The family must set aside years of discord to practice a Muslim custom.
THE SHOWERHEAD
Closing Night Film exclusive to select cinemas only. This is one of our most engaging and thought-provoking documentaries. It features Jonathan Zapiro, an internationally recognised cartoonist and anti-apartheid struggle artist from South Africa, known for his progressive commentary on politics.
The South African Film Festival is on from May 4 – 31 – learn more here.
You May Also Like
Leave a Reply