MBABANE – The Mpumalanga International Film Festival (MIFF) has announced an open call for filmmakers to submit their films in preparation for next year’s event.
This opportunity is extended to all countries within southern Africa, following Eswatini’s recent participation in this year’s festival, which was held last Saturday. Eswatini was represented by the locally acclaimed film ‘Baka Ngwane’.
The film ‘Baka Ngwane’ celebrates the vibrant culture, rich heritage and remarkable birth of the Kingdom of Eswatini, stemming from the Bantu-speaking Nguni people. It premiered on September 6 last year, during Independence Day at Julio’s Cinelux, Manzini Lifestyle.
The film is a brainchild of Tribe Studios alongside Executive Producer Pholile Shakantu. Worth mentioning, this is not the first time the film garnered recognition abroad. Last year, it was screened at the European Film Festival, at the Alliance Française de Maseru on November 22.
The European Union Film Festival made a grand return to Lesotho from November 14 to 30 last year, with an exhilarating programme. In collaboration with the Alliance Française de Maseru, the festival was supported by the European Union (EU) in Lesotho, along with the embassies and cultural institutes of EU member states based in the region.
Last year’s festival was themed ‘Inclusivity, Diversity and Human Rights’, making it a significant celebration of both cinema and culture. A total of 30 films will be showcased throughout the festival. After its successful screening at this year’s MIFF, the film saw a lot of demand from people who attended the festival, according to the Film Director Sibusiso ‘Sparks’ Dlamini.
“People flocked to the venue when the film was being showcased. Some ended up not getting space to watch the film and they were standing outside. We were also humbled to see that some of emaSwati actually travelled to Mpumalanga to witness the festival. We want to thank them and encourage such spirit as this shows the interest they have in local craft. We are grateful for their support,” Dlamini said.
The theme for the 2026 MIFF is ‘Stories That Belong, Voices That Matter’, emphasising the importance of authentic storytelling rooted in culture, innovation and meaningful narratives. The festival aims to bring together filmmakers from around the world to showcase stories that inspire and contribute to the growth of the global film industry.
Michelle Anele, the festival’s Communication Officer, explained that MIFF is dedicated to supporting the development of the industry in Mpumalanga. She highlighted the festival’s commitment to fostering collaboration between local and international creatives.
“We are committed to industry development in Mpumalanga, while fostering meaningful collaboration between local and international creatives. Through our valued partnership with Ster-Kinekor, all MIFF 2026 films will be screened exclusively in cinemas, allowing filmmakers to showcase their work on the big screen with world-class projection and sound,” Anele stated.
Since its inception in 2013, Mpumalanga Film Festival has provided a platform for filmmakers to showcase their craft in an enabling environment. To date, the festival has shown 139 films, of which 89 were international.
Full article available in our paper.
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