Encounters South African International Documentary Festival

Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is going on 27 years and has a solid reputation locally and globally, as well as the trust of distributors, filmmakers and audiences. The Festival has built strong networks over the years and is the launchpad of African documentaries to the world. Encounters is in a perfect position to expand.

The Festival is well-known for its expert curation of African and international documentaries and brings a selection of the best titles worldwide to local audiences every year. Encounters continues to play an integral role in building the documentary industry and documentary culture in South Africa. The hundreds of documentaries screened at Encounters have challenged audiences and filmmakers alike. The Festival has also created a safe and important space for debate in our democracy.

In addition to the annual Festival, The Encounters Training and Development Institute also secures funding to run year-round programs, transfer skills in festival management and curation, youth film literacy, and support emerging filmmakers from under-serviced communities. Over the years, Encounters has been able to build a strong network of supporting expertise, international relationships, community partnerships, and media relations, and key to its success, a passionate and committed team.