Now in its 28th year, the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is Africa’s premier documentary festival, highlighting some of the world’s most pressing issues and celebrating local and international visionaries in the film industry.
Tackling topics such as rural poverty, homophobia, American doctors working in Gaza and the legacy of apartheid, the festival is a crucial point of information for raising awareness around global and local issues. The festival is taking place in both Cape Town and Johannesburg from 4 to 14 June, and highlights the increasingly important role that filmmakers play in the modern world.
The Themes of This Year’s Festival
This year’s Encounters Documentary Festival is screening 50+ documentaries from local and international filmmakers. While many focus on the systemic failings of our modern world, others tell singular stories of people, places, and ideas.
There are over 25 features screening at this year’s edition, including four films from South African teams making their world premiere at Encounters. Other authentically African narratives, such as Tutu and The Eyes of Ghana, are making their long-awaited African homecoming debuts after touring internationally.
There are eight blocks of short documentaries this year, with each film fitting a general theme but exploring these ideas in completely unique ways. Salt of the Earth‘s four documentaries look at intriguing places from Johannesburg to Mexico, while Thank You For Being tells the stories of four uniquely influential people.
To view the full list of shorts blocks and feature films on show at this year’s edition, visit the website.
Finally, Encounters is hosting numerous talks throughout the festival, including many panel discussions featuring creators and important community members, as well as masterclasses by established filmmakers sharing their industry knowledge. The schedule for these special conversations is also available on the website.
How to Book Tickets
Tickets for each screening at the festival are available to book on the Encounters website via the schedule. Feature films are sold separately, while each shorts block requires only one ticket to view all shorts in that category.
When: 4 – 14 June 2026
Where: Labia Cinema, 68 Orange Street, Gardens | Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, Dock Road | Bertha Movie House, 8 Mzala Street, Ekuphumleni, Khayelitsha | Bertha House, 69 Main Rd, Mowbray, Cape Town
Website: encounters.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 074 739 1066
Facebook: Encounters Doc Fest
Instagram: @encountersdoc
More Film Events in Cape Town
