With over 60 films screened at various venues across Johannesburg during the nine-day festival, audiences had the opportunity to see world premieres and African premieres of some of Africa's best new films.
Twelve films competed in competition at the festival, including documentaries
The Giant is Falling from director Rehad Desai, and William Mbaye’s
Kemtiyu, Cheik Anta. A host of South African films were in competition including
The Whale Caller from Zola Maseko, and
Vaya from director Akin Omotoso.
African filmmakers from across the continent were also featured at the event, including Rahmatou Keita's
The Wedding Ring; Daouda Coulibaly's
Wulu; Licinio de Azevedo’s
The Train of Salt and Sugar; Joseph Adesunyole’s
White Color Black; and Mbithi Masya’s
Kati Kati.
International films such as
Haiti My Love and India’s
Lathe Joshi also competed for the
Best Film Award that is accompanied by a cash prize of R150 000. Winners in the
Best South African and
African categories each won R100 000 on the evening.
Jury members who deliberated on this decision included some of Africa’s top film industry names including South African actress and producer, Terry Pheto; Cameroonian filmmaker and photographer, Osvalde Lewat; filmmaker and regional Secretary of the Federation of Pan-African Filmmakers Asha Lovelace; and Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom, South African theatre and television writer/director.
Joburg Film Festival 2016 winners:
- Special Mention of the Jury: The Wedding Ring by Rahmatou Keita;
- Best SA Film: The Giant is Falling by Rehad Desai;
- Best African Film: The Whale Caller by Zola Maseko; and
- Best Film: The Train Of Salt And Sugar by Licinio Azevedo.
For more information, visit
www.joburgfilmfestival.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on
Facebook or on
Twitter.