The longest running multi-genre film festival in the City of Gold is now in its 10th year.

The Jozi Film Festival began in 2012 and was initially created to provide a platform for local filmmakers and reach audiences under serviced by traditional cinemas. The Johannesburg-based festival began accepting entries from around the world in 2014 and is now firmly established as one of the sub-continent's leading film festivals. The Jozi Film Festival is proudly independent, and a supporter of independent films.

The 2021 festival opens on 1 October.

Awards & Prizes

Trophies are awarded to winning films in each of JFF's categories.

Best South African Director and Best South African Young Director: PLEASE ENTER YOUR FILM INTO A RELEVANT CATEGORY. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN OUT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JOZI FILM FESTIVAL. The winner is drawn from across all South African entries - you therefore do not need to enter yourself into this category. Your film entry into the festival qualifies you for consideration.

Rules & Terms

GENERAL JOZI FILM FESTIVAL RULES:

All entries must be submitted online via FilmFreeway. Your application will not be considered complete until all entry requirements are met.

Successful entrants will be asked to send us an online link to download the film in high res for screening purposes or to courier us a Bluray or DCP file.

More than one entry may be submitted.

Films must be produced (completed) no earlier than January 1, 2020.

FILM ENTRY RULES:

The filmmaker will assume material costs and shipping costs of materials to JFF although a download link is preferred.

Entrants must assume all responsibility for clearing materials through customs.

Audio is STEREO only.

Titles produced in languages other than English must have legible English subtitles.

BLURAYs and DCP's will be returned to the successful entrants at JFF's cost.

Each BLU RAY for projection must be labeled with name, filmmaker, contact info, running time and aspect ratio (4*3 or 16*9).

Upon acceptance, filmmakers must agree to send no less than two high resolution digital stills to be used at the JFF's discretion. We also require a short synopsis of your film (up to 300 words). If you have an EPK or digital posters, please send these too.

Not all invited films officially selected will be eligible for competition. The selection committees' and juries' decisions are final.

JFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or festival scheduling.

By entering the Jozi Film Festival, you grant JFF permission to screen your film at the film festival, to use your marketing materials to promote your film at our festival, (and on social media and in traditional media spaces) and use your trailer (if available) for promotional purposes.

Best South African Director and Best South African Young Director categories: PLEASE ENTER YOUR FILM INTO A RELEVANT CATEGORY. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN OUT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JOZI FILM FESTIVAL. The winner is drawn from across all South African entries - you therefore do not need to enter yourself into this category. Your film entry into the festival qualifies you for consideration.
24 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sebastian Tuinder

    The team at The Jozi Film Festival are really great! We were beyond proud to have our film selected. But I think it's bizarre to host a predominantly virtual film festival and not allow people around the world to view the films. Our country (the USA) was not permitted to access the festival's 60+ films, which is quite sad really. We felt far removed from the festival and excluded from what could have been a celebratory experience... Hopefully next year brings a more inclusive event.

    October 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Seb! We wish we could open it up to the world - some of our free nightly screenings were open worldwide but some filmmakers have agreements with different countries and territories for premiere status...Plus music rights are becoming a thing now too...But we were super proud to have Mudlarker in our lineup this year - the world needs more filmmakers like you two with both heart and smarts.

  • Grant Sissons

    Thank you to Jozi Film Festival for a wonderful festival! It was amazing to have our film included amongst such a high calibre of officially selected films.

    October 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Grant! We love the work Infinity Pictures does.

  • Minenhle Luthuli

    I loved the communication and Zoom screenings. I loved the communication of the festival. Even though I couldn't make it for my screening, thank you for the opportunity to screen live for the first time.

    October 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Minenhle - and thank you for sharing your film with us.

  • Eric Miller

    We were delighted that Jozi Film Fest was the first festival to accept our film 'Hutchinson:SHUNTED' for official screening on their festival. They were communicative, informative and supportive, especially useful given that we were first time film makers and unfamiliar with this environment. Wish we'd had more time to view more fo their offering at the festival... there were some excellent films show there.

    October 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for submitting your film to us. Proud to have it on our 2020 lineup!

  • Preston Chase

    I was so thrilled to be part of this year’s Jozi Film Festival. Due to the pandemic, things were not normal this year but congratulations to your team for pulling it off. I really appreciated being an official selection considering Mr. Emancipation is my first film. Also, all my communications with the festival were so positive. Thank you Jozi Film Festival for including me this year.

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for submitting your labour of love to us, and for documenting something we knew nothing about. We wish you every success with Mr. Emancipation.