Encounters festival returns to celebrate documentaries that challenge power and promote change

The Star

16-05-2025

The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is making a highly anticipated return to Cape Town and Johannesburg from June 19 to 29, showcasing an impressive selection of over 60 documentaries from more than 40 countries.
Marking its 27th edition, festival manager Tarha McKenzie says the festival continues to be a vital platform for film-makers and audiences, providing a platform for stories that challenge authority, champion social justice, and explore the complexities of the human experience.
McKenzie emphasised the unique strength of Encounters stating, 'Its strength lies in not imposing a fixed theme, but rather in allowing the themes to emerge organically from the films selected. In this way, the festival keeps its finger on the pulse, attuned to global trends and urgent contemporary issues. This year's compelling programme reveals recurring threads of memory, trauma, and identity; shaped by the stark realities of the present and the many ways we attempt to make sense of them. The programme interrogates the role of art as a force for impact, and knowledge as a form of resistance. They give voice to agency; stories that rise, rebel, and challenge power. Through these narratives, we don't merely observe the world; we feel it, question it, and reimagine our place within.'
She also explains that film-makers featured in this year's lineup tackle formidable subjects, while also shedding light on disruptors standing against femicide, defending indigenous territories, and challenging corporate giants.
McKenzie further articulated the urgency for spaces like Encounters, particularly in light of increasing censorship worldwide: 'The inclusion of documentaries from over 40 countries at Encounters is a powerful testament to the festival's relevance on the global stage. It speaks not only to the diversity of stories being told, but also to the vital need for platforms like Encounters; spaces that prioritise dialogue, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. In a world where censorship is on the rise, festivals like this are more essential than ever. They must be protected and nurtured, as spaces where voices can be heard, perspectives can meet, and critical conversations can thrive. Diverse stories from around the world reveal our shared struggles and histories, reinforcing the documentary genre's power to highlight universal themes,' she noted.
The festival has also placed a strong emphasis on outreach, with initiatives designed to expose communities to the transformative power of documentary storytelling. McKenzie reflected, 'It's this grassroots impact that makes my work at Encounters truly meaningful.'
One of the notable events shared is the festival's Iliso Lethu Symposium, focusing on the Pan-African non-fiction landscape, which premiered to resounding success last year, further enhancing its mission to celebrate African voices through cinema.
'This year, we rise! With a sharp eye and a bold heart, we bring the finest in non-fiction; stories that speak, stir, and stand tall,' said McKenzie, inviting audiences to engage with films that usher in a deeper understanding of the complexities of modern life.
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Saturday Star