📸: Supplied
The 2026 Joburg Film Festival wrapped its awards gala on Saturday at Theater on the Square. The Swiss World War II drama Silent Rebellion took home Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography, outperforming around 700 submissions. Variations On A Theme secured Best African Film, highlighting a diverse program that celebrated both global cinema and regional African storytelling.
Key Highlights
- Event: 2026 Joburg Film Festival Awards Gala
- Date: Saturday, 7 March 2026
- Location: Theater on the Square
“Silent Rebellion” Claims Top Honors At The 2026 Joburg Film Festival Awards
The Joburg Film Festival hosted its gala awarding its top Nguni Horn for Best Feature Film to Silent Rebellion (À bras-le-corps). Directed by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo, the World War II-era drama about a young woman carving her own path in 1943 Switzerland outperformed around 700 global submissions. Festival founder and executive director Tim Mangwedi noted that the film “reflects the perfect pairing of an engaging narrative with striking cinematography.”
While the European historical drama took the overarching top honor and won Best Cinematography, the festival also celebrated regional narratives by awarding Variations On A Theme the prize for Best African Film. Juror Sia Stewart emphasized the importance of this balance, stating, “Festivals like this play a critical role in highlighting the depth and beauty of African storytelling, while creating a platform for artists from all over the world to share stories that reflect culture, spirit, and imagination.”
Supported by MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, the festival recognized technical craftsmanship across a program of over 100 films. Other Nguni Horn recipients included Broken Voices for Best Edit, Let Them Be Seen for Best Documentary, Stero for Best Short Film, and The Silent Inheritance for Best Student Film. Umxoxiso won the Young Voices Competition, while Harriet Gavshon received a Special Recognition award. The festival officially wraps on 8 March with the premiere of The Trek.
Here are all the Joburg Film Festival category winners:
- Best Feature Film – Silent Rebellion
- Best African Film – Variations On A Theme
- Best Cinematography – Silent Rebellion
- Best Edit – Broken Voices
- Best Documentary – Let Them Be Seen
- Best Short Film – Stero
- Best Student Film – The Silent Inheritance
- Young Voices Competition Winner – Umxoxiso
- Special Mention – Lila Gueneau (Silent Rebellion)
- Special Recognition – Harriet Gavshon
The Joburg Film Festival wraps on 8 March with the premiere of The Trek, a horror western by Meekaeel Adam – ending a programme that featured over 100 films with support from MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ Company.
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