By Alice Johnson
Documentary films are often the quiet revolutionaries of cinema; less glitz, more grit. But in South Africa, one festival has built a powerful stage for this genre to thrive. The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, now in its 27th year, continues to set the bar for nonfiction storytelling on the continent. In a recent conversation made possible through my participation in the Durban FilmMart Talent Press program, I had the honour of speaking with the festival’s director, Mandisa Zitha, about what it means to sustain and evolve a festival dedicated to truth-telling in a fast-shifting cinematic world.
Zitha’s leadership is grounded in clarity and openness. She explained that each year, rather than beginning with a fixed theme, the festival lets the films guide the conversation. “We don’t coin a theme and work towards it. The films find their way. They speak to each other,” she said. It’s an approach that allows the programming to reflect timely concerns organically. Over the years, recurring issues like identity, land, memory, queerness, displacement, and environmental crises have surfaced naturally, showing just how deeply connected filmmakers are to the world around them.
Zitha’s journey in the documentary world began with academic foundations. She completed her BA in Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town in 2005, majoring in documentary. Just two years later, she took over as head of the Encounters Festival, a position she held until 2012. Her passion for the genre remained unwavering, and in 2019, she returned to lead the festival once again as its Festival Director, a role in which she continues to leave an indelible mark.
Beyond South Africa, Zitha is a global ambassador for the country’s film industry. She has represented Encounters at major festivals and markets around the world, including IDFA in Amsterdam, Thessaloniki in Greece, GZDOC in China, Cinema du Réel in France, Dok.fest in Germany, and Cannes Docs. Her presence on international funding selection committees has positioned her as a critical voice in global documentary discourse. In recognition of her work, Zitha was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Top 100 Women for the Arts and Culture Sector in 2011 and received the Mbokodo Award for Women in Media in 2020. Most recently, she was awarded The Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government—a distinguished honour that reflects her contribution to global culture and the arts.
The festival’s reach may be anchored in Johannesburg and Cape Town, but its scope is continental and increasingly global. According to Zitha, ensuring that African voices from outside South Africa are represented is a true necessity. “We don’t want it to feel like a South African-only platform. It’s important to get films from the rest of the continent—Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya—and beyond.” However, participation from regions like West Africa, as we both noted, could be stronger. “We’d love to see more submissions from West Africa. Sometimes it’s a matter of awareness, other times it’s just access,” she said.
These barriers to access extend beyond visibility. Filmmakers across the continent continue to face real mobility challenges. Zitha reflected on the logistical and emotional cost of these limitations. “It’s heartbreaking. It shouldn’t be that hard to travel within Africa, but it is. We need better funding mechanisms, more support for African creatives who are doing vital work.”
Despite these challenges, Encounters remains a deeply supportive platform. Zitha was quick to emphasize the developmental aspect of the festival. Beyond screenings, Encounters offers panels, masterclasses, labs, and networking events for filmmakers at every stage of their journey. “We’re a very tight team, but we work closely together to ensure a wide range of voices are represented,” she said. Strategic collaborations, both local and international help sustain these offerings, and Zitha sees those partnerships as integral to the festival’s longevity.
Of particular interest is how the festival is reaching younger audiences. Documentary is often perceived as a slower, more serious form, which doesn’t always appeal to the digital-native generation. But Encounters is rethinking that. “Documentary isn’t always the most glamorous format, but it’s evolving. We are looking at things like AI, digital storytelling, even social media formats that speak to Gen Z. The storytelling potential is immense,” she explained. Panels this year explore the future of documentary in a world increasingly shaped by new technologies and fragmented attention spans. It’s an exciting shift that reflects not only where the world is going, but where African cinema can lead.
Throughout the conversation, what stood out most was Zitha’s steady belief in the genre and its purpose. “It’s not about the box office. It’s about truth. It’s about relevance,” she said. In a time when documentaries are often overshadowed by fiction, her words serve as a reminder of the genre’s unique ability to provoke, inform, and transform.
To those considering submitting their work to Encounters, Zitha’s message was simple: “Just do it. If you have a story to tell, tell it. Get on our mailing list, follow our socials. Don’t wait for perfection. There’s space for authenticity.”
After 27 years, Encounters is more than a festival. It’s a cultural force that nurtures independent voices, expands the boundaries of documentary cinema, and builds community across borders. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a student, a critic, or simply someone who values stories that challenge and connect, Encounters offers a rare and vital space.
The 2025 edition of the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival runs from June 19 to 29 in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It promises screenings, conversations, and moments that will inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. You can watch the full interview with Mandisa Zitha here: [https://youtu.be/5NJqusDrNhI This is an unlisted link]
If you’ve ever questioned the power of documentaries or wondered where to begin this is your invitation to engage. The stories are here. The platform is ready. All that’s left is for you to show up.
Catch Mandisa Zitha at the film at the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival: http://encounters.co.za/
This review emanates from the Talent Press programme, an initiative of Talents Durban in collaboration with the Durban FilmMart Institute and FIPRESCI. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author Alice Johnson and cannot be considered as constituting an official position of the organisers.
