Cape Town & Johannesburg’s Premier Documentary Event Returns for Its 27th Edition

• Engaging Events: Every screening is paired with insightful Q&As and community conversations. Don’t miss panel sessions unpacking pressing issues, hosted by filmmakers, activists, and leaders.

• Industry Inclusion: The festival strengthens documentary as a force for change. Over 70 South African and international industry professionals will lead workshops and mentoring sessions to help local voices reach global audiences .

Festival Venues & Cities
Experience Encounters across key cinemas:

• Cape Town: Labia Theatre (Gardens) and Ster‑Kinekor, V&A Waterfront

• Johannesburg: Bioscope Independent Cinema (Milpark) and The Zone @ Rosebank 

All venues are wheelchair accessible and equipped for English-subtitled screenings.

Educational & Networking Opportunities
Emerging filmmakers can join the Close Encounters Laboratory, an incubator for fresh voices that has produced 48 films and launched the careers of many notable South African directors

Additionally, a robust industry programme—hosted in collaboration with Wesgro, FNB, the City of Cape Town, and DocFilmmakers Association—offers masterclasses and panels on financing, distribution, and strategic storytelling.

How to Attend
Tickets are available now at local box offices and online:

• Labia Theatre: 68 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town

• Ster‑Kinekor, V&A Waterfront: Dock Rd, Cape Town

• Bioscope Milpark and The Zone @ Rosebank: Johannesburg
  Scan the schedule on the festival website to plan your itinerary

Whether you’re a passionate cinephile, budding documentarian, advocate, or curious soul, Encounters promises a transformative cinematic journey. Engage with global ideas, amplify untold African narratives, and shape the conversation on documentary’s evolving role in culture and change.

The opening party is hosted by KAMVA Collective. Lineup: Grant Jurius x Garth Erasmus (LIVE), Michael Bhatch, Athi Maq (+ Surprise B2B!) 8 – LATE (R50 entry) One Park Road, Gardens. On 21 June. See Instagram post.

Let’s go #BackTogether, building bridges through the power of documentary storytelling.

Website: encounters.co.za