In Conversatiob with Mandisa Zitha and the Encounters Festival

Now in its 27th year, the Encounters South African
International Documentary Festival continues to stand as a
pillar of truth, creativity, and transformation within African
cinema. Under the visionary leadership of Festival Director
Mandisa Zitha, Encounters has evolved into a vital platform
for independent filmmakers, nurturing bold voices and
authentic narratives that confront the realities of our time.
With screenings in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the 2025
edition once again showcased a powerful selection of films
exploring identity, memory, displacement, queerness, and
environmental justice ,all bound by a shared pursuit of truth.
For Zitha, the festival’s heart lies in its ability to “move
audiences from where they are to somewhere else,” offering
stories that shift perspectives, challenge comfort zones, and
reaffirm the role of documentary filmmaking as an
instrument of change.