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Reel to Reality Film Festival is an annual short film festival run by Behind Her Lens Visuals, to spotlight films made by filmmakers of African descent, and within the African diaspora at large, to showcase the past, present and future of storytelling through strong voices in film.
The festival grants visibility and distribution avenues to emerging voices and stories of African descent, across socio-political divides. Every year, the festival focuses on curating a program that brings about a real cultural and social experience, to provide unique cinema-watching experiences that are missing from mainstream media. Reel to reality festival offers networking opportunities and promotes a culture of cinema through storytelling related discussions with filmmakers in a time where cinema is constantly changing and evolving.
The main selection criteria prioritizes films by people of color from South Africa, where the festival originates, as well as the African continent and the African diaspora, to promote pan-africanism and a growth in the industry. This festival aims to accommodate stories and filmmakers across socio-political divides.
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May 1, 2025
Opening Date
May 15, 2025
Early Deadline
June 16, 2025
Extended Late Deadline
August 1, 2025
Notification Date
September 26 – 28, 2025
Event Date
Founder, Director and Head Curator
Mbali Mashaba
Executive Producer
Koketso Matabane
Producer
Chale Darwin
Production Manager
Lilitha Makhawula
Accountant
Slindile Repinga
Art director
Sydney Baloyi
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