Festival Schedule

Day 1 - Thursday, 4 September | Blue Lagoon

  • 18:00 | Opening Ceremony
    Welcome by Festival Director & Founder, followed by an address from the MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.
  • 19:00 | Uhadi – Opening Night Film
    Screening followed by Q&A with the filmmaker, moderated by Simon Makwela.
  • 20:00 | Sonic Session: Performances by Loyolo & Qhawe
    An evening of music celebrating the spirit of homegrown artistry.
Day 1 Visual

Day 2 - Friday, 5 September | Blue Lagoon

Morning Shorts Programme –

  • 09:00 | Lakutshona Ilanga (14 min)
  • 09:15 | Why Cattle Wait (21 min)
  • 09:35 | iLobola (10 min)
  • 09:45 | The Passage (10 min)
  • 09:55 | A Cult Called Expression (6 min)
  • 10:05 | Fathers Day (26 min)
  • 10:35 | What Did You Dream? (16 min)
  • 11:00 | Filmmaker in Focus: Karabo Lediga in Conversation
    From Short to Long Form: The Journey to Theatrical Release. A conversation with Simon Makwela unpacking Karabo’s evolution as an independent filmmaker.

Venue B

  • 11:00 | Masterclass: The Craft of Acting with Vuyo Dubula
  • 12:00 – 13:30 | Fireside Networking & Screening Film
    An informal conversation space for creatives to connect.
  • 12:00 – 13:30 | Mia & I
  • 13:30 | Panel: Marketing, PR & Distribution in Film –
    Panelists: Neo Moretlwe, Milton Reddy, Thanduxolo Ian Jindela, Boitshoko Mfolo & Matshepo Khumalo
    Moderator: Simon Makwela
    Exploring how publicity, branding, and distribution strategies can elevate African films to local and global audiences.

Afternoon Features –

  • 13:30 | Matwetwe (84 min)
  • 15:30 | Barakat (103 min)
  • 17:00 | Sons of the Sea (82 min) + Q&A with producer Khosie Dali (moderated by Simon Makwela)

Evening Special – House of 87

  • 19:00 | Chosi Ntsomi - Dumza Maswana Documentary (49 min) + Q&A (moderator TBC)
    Followed by live indigenous instrumental music performance.
Day 2 Visual

Day 3 - Saturday, 6 September | Blue Lagoon

Venue B

  • 09:00 | Masterclass: The Actor’s Journey with Zandile Msutwana
  • 11:00 | Producing Masterclass with Khosie Dali

Morning Short Films –

  • 09:00 | The Whisper of Change (17 min)
  • 09:15 | The Wait (14 min)
  • 09:35 | Mma Moeketsi (25 min)
  • 10:10 | TAB (13 min)
  • 10:25 | The Last Ranger (28 min)
  • 11:00 | Spotlight Session: Animating Africa –
    A series of talks on building visual worlds in African animation.

Animation & Design Conversations –

  • 13:00 | Annika Botha on Creating Visual Worlds
  • 15:00 | Francesco Catarinolo on The Technicality of Animation
  • 16:00 | Tshepo Moche on Writing & Directing for Animation
  • 12:00 – 13:00 | Fireside Networking Session & Screening Film
  • 12:00 – 13:00 |Kukude Emsamo (Feature Legnth)

    • Parallel Screening – House of 87

    • 12:00 | Mandoza Documentary + Q&A

    Documentary Shorts –

    • 13:30 | Springfield Solid Waste (24 min)
    • 14:00 | Project Ava Hostel (25 min)
    • 14:30 | The Pellet Dr (23 min) + Q&A with filmmaker

    Afternoon Features –

    • 15:00 | Pride (48 min)
    • 15:50 | Indwe (~60 min)
    • 17:30 | Celebrating Winnie Through Song + Q&A with Sihle Hlophe
    • 18:00 | Denis Goldberg (3 min) + A New Country (60 min)

    Closing Night Special – The Legends

    • 20:00 | MXO Documentary + Live performance by MXO
    Day 3 Visual

    Day 4 - Sunday, 7 September | Blue Lagoon

    Morning Workshops

    • 09:00 | Technical Workshop: Camera & Lighting for Film
    • 10:00 | Writing Masterclass with Sichaba Morojele
    • 10:00 | Stage to Screen with Mzwanele Gijima
    • 11:00 | Director’s Masterclass with Adze Ugah (Shaka Ilembe)
    • 11:00 | Director’s Masterclass with Sihle Hlophe

    Screenings

    • 11:00 | Umhlaba Wokhokho (17 min)
    • 11:30 | Sela (23 min)
    • 12:00 | The Whistle – Sithembile Xhaso (45 min)
    • 13:00 | Womxn: Working (64 min) + Q&A with Shanelle Jewnarain
    • 15:00 | Mothers of Chibok (94 min) + Q&A with Motheo Moeng (DOP)

    Panels

    • 16:00 | Panel: Directing Fiction in SA
      With Zolani Phakade, Zuko Nodada, Rafieka Davis, Stephan Nagel
      Directors discuss the challenges and triumphs of shaping narratives in South African cinema.
    • 17:30 | Closing Panel: Documentary Filmmaking Today
      Panelists: Sihle Hlophe, Shanelle Jewnarain, Motheo Moeng, Nondumiso Masache, Nomakhomasi Dewavrin, Simon Makwela
      Exploring broadcasting opportunities, distribution, and crafting compelling African stories for global audiences.
    • 18:30 | Festival Sundowners @ Highlanders
      Closing toast to celebrate the inaugural Cultured Roots Film Festival.
    Day 4 Visual
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