MANDELA BAY FILM FESTIVAL 2026 SET TO CELEBRATE FILM, TALENT AND THE FUTURE OF THE EASTERN CAPE CREATIVE INDUSTRY
MANDELA BAY FILM FESTIVAL 2026 SET TO CELEBRATE FILM, TALENT AND THE FUTURE OF THE EASTERN CAPE CREATIVE INDUSTRY
Filmmakers, actors, producers, directors – register now to participate in the Nelson Mandela Bay Film Festival!
The Mandela Bay Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from 18–20 September 2026 at The Athenaeum and Happy Valley in Gqeberha, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, students, creatives, audiences and key institutions for three days of film screenings, industry engagement, skills development and networking.
Now in its continued effort to strengthen the film ecosystem in the Eastern Cape, the Mandela Bay Film Festival aims to provide a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their work, engage with industry leaders and explore opportunities across the film and television value chain.
THREE DAYS OF FILM AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
The 2026 Festival programme will feature a selection of films from filmmakers and emerging creatives, alongside a range of workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, industry presentations and networking opportunities.
The programme has been designed to address not only the creative side of filmmaking, but also the practical realities faced by filmmakers in developing, financing, producing, distributing and commercialising their work.
Among the key programme areas are:
- Film Screenings featuring selected from international, local and emerging filmmakers;
- My Future My Film Career, a film-industry career and education programme aimed at high school learners;
- Workshops and Masterclasses covering various aspects of filmmaking and the creative industries;
- Funding Institutions Panel focusing on opportunities available to filmmakers and emerging creatives;
- Distribution Institutions Panel exploring pathways for films to reach audiences locally and internationally;
- Industry Networking Sessions connecting filmmakers with institutions, practitioners and potential partners.
INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION
A key component of the 2026 Festival is the My Future My Film Career programme, which seeks to introduce high school learners to career opportunities within the film and television industry.
The initiative brings together film training institutions, industry professionals and educational stakeholders to expose young people to the wide range of careers available beyond acting and directing, including producing, writing, cinematography, editing, sound, production design, post-production, distribution and other technical and creative disciplines.
The Festival believes that creating awareness of these opportunities at school level is critical to developing the next generation of Eastern Cape filmmakers and creative-industry professionals.
CONNECTING FILMMAKERS WITH FUNDING AND DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES
The Festival will also provide a platform for filmmakers to engage directly with institutions involved in film funding, development and distribution.
The Funding Institutions programme will create an opportunity for filmmakers to better understand funding mechanisms, application requirements, project development and the expectations of funding institutions.
The Distribution Institutions programme will focus on the important question of how filmmakers can move their completed projects from production to audiences, including opportunities within television, streaming, broadcasting and other distribution platforms.
These engagements are intended to help filmmakers understand the complete film value chain and develop projects that are not only creatively strong, but also commercially and strategically viable.
BUILDING THE EASTERN CAPE FILM INDUSTRY
Mandela Bay Film Festival Curator is committed to creating a sustainable platform that contributes to the growth of the Eastern Cape’s film and creative industries.
“The Mandela Bay Film Festival is more than a celebration of films. It is a platform for filmmakers to connect, learn, develop their projects and access opportunities. We want to create meaningful conversations between filmmakers, training institutions, funders, broadcasters, distributors and audiences.”
The Festival’s focus on young people and industry development is particularly important.
We want young people in the Eastern Cape to see the film industry as a real career and economic opportunity. There are hundreds of careers behind every film, and our responsibility is to expose young people to those possibilities and help build pathways into the industry.
INDUSTRY AND INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION
The Festival continues to engage with key stakeholders across the film, television, education, government and creative sectors.
Participating and invited stakeholders include organisations such as the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), ECPACC, DEDEAT, EDTA, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency/Arts and Culture stakeholders, Nelson Mandela University, AFDA, Mpuma Kapa TV Academy, ECDC and other industry and funding institutions.
The Festival also seeks to strengthen collaboration between training institutions and the professional film industry, creating opportunities for students and emerging creatives to gain exposure to real-world industry practices.
A PLATFORM FOR EASTERN CAPE STORYTELLING
The Mandela Bay Film Festival recognises the rich storytelling traditions and diverse creative talent of the Eastern Cape.
Through film screenings and industry conversations, the Festival seeks to create greater visibility for stories and filmmakers from the province while connecting local talent to national and international opportunities.
The Festival encourages filmmakers, students, industry practitioners, creative entrepreneurs and members of the public to participate in the three-day programme.
FESTIVAL DETAILS
Event: Mandela Bay Film Festival 2026
Dates: 18–20 September 2026
Venue: The Athenaeum, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
Duration: 3 Days
Focus: Film Screenings , Training , Workshops, Masterclasses, Industry Panels, Funding, Distribution, Networking
SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THE FESTIVAL!
