Joburg Film Festival 2026 Jurors
Let The Credits Roll in as Joburg Film Festival Reveals the Top 2026 film and Other Category Winners
Johannesburg, 08 March 2026: Directed by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo, the engrossing World War 2-era drama Silent Rebellion (À bras-le-corps) scooped the Best Feature Film award at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival.
A glittering awards gala – attended by the industry’s finest – took place at Theater on the Square on Saturday 7 March where Silent Rebellion received a coveted Nguni Horn alongside winners from a range of selections.
“Congratulations to the entire Silent Rebellion team and all the category winners,” says Nomsa Philiso Director, Content, General Entertainment: English & Portuguese-speaking Africa at MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company. “We’re proud to have supported what’s been a fantastic advert for masterful storytelling and craftsmanship.”
Chosen by a jury made up of Keith Shiri, Dorothee Wenner, Sia Stewart, Bongiwe Selane and Cait Pansegrouw, this Switzerland-set feature adds to its Best Feature Script gong at the Paris Film Awards. Starring Lila Gueneau, Sasha Gravat Harsch and Cyril Metzgerbout, the film is shaped by the restricted social mobility and female subjugation of Swiss society in 1943.
The story is driven by the fate of Emma, who falls pregnant after a seemingly innocent interaction leads to a violent sexual assault. Unfazed by the patriarchal and religious restrictions placed upon her, Emma carves out a path for herself while confronting the hypocrisy of her rural Swiss village – who support German soldiers while purporting to empathise with war victims. After urgently choosing Paul for a companion and feeling beholden by his traditionalism, Emma – at a crossroads and feeling on her own – must seek direction.
Silent Rebellion’s fearsomeness outperformed around 700 global submissions, with the jury impressed with how well it spoke to the festival’s ‘Feel The Frame’ theme, that they also gave the film a special mention for Best Actress performance.
Commenting on the awards, juror, Sia Stewart said: “It was a privilege to serve as a juror for the Johannesburg Film Festival and witness the extraordinary creativity of the filmmakers whose work was showcased. 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.
I would like to congratulate all of the winners of this year’s festival, and especially the filmmakers behind the Best African Feature Film winner Variations of a Theme, and the Best Feature Film winner Silent Resilience. Their work is a powerful reminder of the impact that thoughtful, courageous storytelling can have on audiences around the world.”
Like Silent Rebellion, the winners of Joburg Film Festival’s other Nguni Horns embodied craftsmanship in a programme that featured immersive drama, comedy, horror and sci-fi all aligned by their fusion of storytelling and cinematic technique.
“Silent Rebellion reflects the perfect pairing of an engaging narrative with striking cinematography,” says festival founder and executive director Tim Mangwedi. “This year our aim was to pay homage to the artisans who shape what audiences experience, and all the winners place a spotlight on the unseen hands that contribute to impactful storytelling.”
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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