19 June 2025 @ 10:00 am – 29 June 2025 @ 9:00 pm
The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF) proudly celebrates its continued partnership with Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, now marking its 27th edition. Running from 19 to 29 June 2025, this year’s festival once again unites audiences and creators across Cape Town and Johannesburg in a vibrant celebration of documentary cinema and industry innovation.
Encounters 2025 offers an exceptional selection of 64 must-see documentaries that reflect on urgent global and local issues — from the fight for water and land rights, to the rise of AI, to collective activism shaping our future.
🎬 South African Features: Homegrown Excellence
South Africa’s powerful storytelling is front and centre with standout features such as:
- Albie: A Strange Alchemy (Dir. Sara Gouveia)
- And She Didn’t Die (Dir. Kethiwe Ngcobo)
- Capturing Water (Dir. Rehad Desai)
- Sam Nzima: A Journey Through His Lens (Dir. Nhlanhla Mthethwa)
“documentaries that don’t merely observe the world; they urge us to envision its potential.”
These films embody what Festival Director Mandisa Zitha describes as:
🎥 South African Shorts: Captivating and Bold
The festival’s short film selection amplifies unique voices and bold perspectives. Highlights include:
- Facing Forward (Dir. Eugene Ahlers)
- Spirits of the Land (Dir. Tsogo Kupa)
- Umhlaba Wokhokho – Land of My Ancestors (Dir. Nondumiso Masache)
“Each short provides an intimate yet powerful lens on contemporary life, sparking conversations that resonate long after the credits roll.”
Festival Manager Tarha McKenzie notes:
🎙 Industry Programme: Encounters InFocus
Encounters’ InFocus industry programme invites filmmakers, creatives, and audiences to engage in deeper dialogue. Highlights include:
- Panel discussions, masterclasses, and in-conversations in Cape Town and Johannesburg
- Rough Cut Lab Africa Day (RCLA), supporting works-in-progress
- Focus on climate justice, generational trauma, systemic inequality, and the future of documentary
“Our Industry Programme challenges us to rethink how we exist in a world that’s in flux, in conflict, and ready for change.”
Taryn Joffe, Industry Coordinator
👉 Discover the industry events
🏆 2025 Awards
Encounters will present:
- Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best African Feature Documentary
- Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best International Feature Documentary
- Ster-Kinekor Encounters Youth Experience (EYE) Award for Best African Short Documentary
- Encounters S.A.G.E. Ronelle Loots Award for Best Edited South African Feature and Short Documentary
- The Liezel Vermeulen Award for Service to the Documentary Sector
🎟 Join the Festival
- Cape Town: Buy tickets or apply for in-reach access
- Johannesburg: Free entry, RSVP required
Encounters continues its role as Africa’s leading platform for documentaries, bringing together more than 6,000 attendees annually and fostering a space for underrepresented voices to connect with local and global audiences.
💡 Explore the full film programme: encounters.co.za/films
📢 Stay updated: Subscribe
