KwaZulu-Natal’s film industry is stepping into the global spotlight as the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority launches its 2025 Film Season – a vibrant two-month celebration of creativity, enterprise, and storytelling that stretches from township screens to international red carpets.

This year’s film season reflects an investment of over R2.5 million across KwaZulu-Natal’s festival circuit through KZN Tourism & Film’s Markets and Festivals Support Programme, combining financial, technical and capacity-building support to strengthen local film ecosystems.

The upcoming Film Season (October–November 2025) brings together a series of locally supported festivals – Umlazi, uMgungundlovu, and Amajuba – as a unified provincial showcase celebrating inclusivity, storytelling, and creative growth. This coordinated campaign demonstrates KZN Tourism & Film’s investment in building a sustainable film ecosystem across KwaZulu-Natal, from township and rural filmmakers to international screens.

KZN Tourism & Film Interim Chief Executive Officer, Sibusiso Gumbi said: “Film is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most powerful economic assets. Through the film season, we’re deliberately connecting local creativity to business opportunities. These district festivals bring film to where people live, while our international partnerships take KwaZulu-Natal stories to the world. Together, they build a sustainable film ecosystem that supports SMMEs, inspires youth, and strengthens our province’s global identity. This also allows us to build a strong audience for KZN films and create an even greater appetite for KZN films which in turn will create a sustainable film sector for filmmakers in KZN.”

From local to international

The global component of the film season extends KZN’s reach abroad, with international screenings in Finland, India and Netherlands under the banner “KZN Films on Global Stages”. The documentary 6SENSE – a KZN Tourism & Film-funded production, supported by Africa No Filter (an independent African funding organisation) and the British Council – will be screened at the Womex Film Screening in Tampere, Finland, on 24 October 2025.

6SENSE is a 27-minute hybrid documentary directed by Chris Kets and Amílcar Patel. It follows the groundbreaking Gqom music producer Mxshi Mo (Nkanyiso Shoba) – a visually impaired artist from Mpophomeni, KwaZulu-Natal – whose journey from aspirant producer to international performer redefines how disability, technology and creativity intersect.

After premiering at Encounters 2024, 6SENSE quickly gained global traction. It was selected for the British Film Institute’s “We Are Crips” Festival at London’s Southbank – marking 30 years of the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act – where it was hailed as a fearless celebration of disabled creativity and power.

The project’s resonance demonstrates how a KZN Tourism & Film-funded story can drive both creative excellence and social innovation – amplifying KwaZulu-Natal’s presence in the global conversation on inclusive art and accessible design.

In the same month, the documentary And She Didn’t Die will feature at the prestigious International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) from 13-23 November 2025, while several KZN filmmakers will represent the province at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa from 20-28 November 2025.

Festivals are an economy in motion

These three headline festivals are part of a growing provincial circuit that also includes the Harry Gwala, Kwasukasukela, and KZN African Film Festivals – all supported under KZN Tourism & Film’s Markets and Festivals Programme to extend reach across the province.

Each of the three district festivals is designed as both a cultural celebration and an economic catalyst.

• Umlazi International Film Festival – Hosted at the Mangosuthu University of Technology – it showcases short films, documentaries and student projects while introducing first-time audiences to the magic of cinema.
• uMgungundlovu Film Festival – Staged in Pietermaritzburg, this inclusive festival champions women, youth and persons with disabilities in film. Screenings at public venues such as libraries and museums attract new audiences.
• Amajuba Film Festival – Now in its fifth year, the Newcastle-based festival partners with the Friends of Entertainment Foundation NPO and KZNTAFA to deliver screenings, masterclasses and community outreach programmes.

Collectively, these festivals are expected to employ dozens of young people in event, security, technical and hospitality roles, while injecting direct spend into local SMMEs supplying décor, catering, sound and transport.

“Every festival is a small economy in motion,” Gumbi explains. “For a week, it activates township businesses, gives freelance crew work, and introduces new audiences to proudly South African and KZN films. It’s exactly how we convert creativity into commerce.”

Audience development

In addition, festival organisers benefit from mentorship and residency programmes designed by KZN Tourism & Film to professionalise festival management and ensure sustainable operations.

Beyond economic upliftment, the film season is about growing audiences for locally produced content. KZN Tourism & Film Production and Development Unit works with schools, community centres and local radio stations to extend film appreciation beyond the festival period. Youth outreach programmes and free community screenings help spark a long-term appetite for isiZulu-language dramas, documentaries and heritage stories.

Festival workshops and panel discussions bring seasoned producers and cinematographers into direct conversation with emerging filmmakers, building a skills pipeline that aligns with the province’s creative-industry strategy.

A major pillar of that strategy is the 1KZN Made-for-TV Educational Series, broadcast to an audience of more than three million viewers. Since airing, it has led to a measurable rise in both the number and quality of funding applications submitted to KZN Tourism & Film. The programme has exposed more aspiring filmmakers and boosted confidence among first-time applicants.

“Our educational series and film festivals work hand-in-hand,” adds Gumbi. “The series teaches how to make a film; the festivals provide the stage to showcase it. It’s a complete value chain that ensures opportunities just don’t stop at Durban – it reaches more KZN communities that have a huge appetite for KZN film and are hubs of storytelling.”

The entity’s long-term goal is to formalise a provincial network of film festivals that feed into both tourism and international markets, ensuring that KwaZulu-Natal remains a pipeline for fresh African narratives and investment-ready talent. 

Furthermore, the entity’s long-term vision is to build a connected provincial network of festivals that position KwaZulu-Natal as Africa’s leading destination for authentic storytelling, production talent and film-tourism investment. 

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in screenings, workshops and masterclasses where these film festivals will be hosted. Most events are free, making it easy for communities to experience the excitement of film first-hand.

For full schedules and festival updates, visit www.visitkznsa.com or follow KZN Tourism & Film’s social channels.