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This year, Alma’s family breaks away from their tradition. Her mother, yearning for change, books a holiday at a new beach destination against her husband’s wishes, while 12-year-old Alma remains fixated on capturing the entire trip with her video camera. When it becomes clear that the new holiday spot isn’t suited to their needs, Alma tells a white lie – one her mother backs up. A series of disappointments follows, and as tensions between her parents reach breaking point, Alma must decide what to hold onto and what to let go. A tender film about growing up, denial, and the quiet sacrifices we make for love.

Noa and Mira are in a spacecraft bound for Mars, bearing a heavy responsibility on their shoulders: the survival of humanity depends on them. Cooperation is therefore crucial, but being trapped together in a ship hurtling through outer space puts heavy strain on any relationship. And there’s a lot of baggage one carries on the journey to a new beginning. Will Noa and Mira complete their mission? Or is there no hope for this duo – and, by extension, the rest of us?

Through the eyes and lens of the renowned photojournalist, Felix Dlangamandla this film offers a personal retelling of the Marikana massacre. Felix talks candidly about the tension, trauma, violence and loss often associated with news photography. Through intimate conversations the documentary explores the complex motivations which compel Felix to continue his quest to “bear witness to truth” despite the myriad perils involved. Joined by former colleagues the film offers a glimpse into Felix’s distinctive approach to capturing photographs which have had a profound impact on South African press freedom and contributed greatly to international photojournalism.

Life has dealt Roger Wilters a few tough blows. Things aren’t going well in his personal life, and the house that was once buzzing with family life is now quiet. In the rough-and-tumble of all-in-wrestling, Roger could lose himself and forget his problems, but now the only wrestling club in Bothaville has closed its doors. Quitting wrestling isn’t an option, he decides. But can he really succeed in becoming a recognised wrestler in a small-town community? Will the town support his wrestling ambitions, or will this remain just a dream?

An intimate portrait of beloved drag artist Alfredo April’s life and legacy, told through the voices of his mother, friends, and Cape Town’s queer community in the wake of his tragic murder in Malmesbury.

Brasse Vannie Kaap is a captivating and moving documentary film about the iconic South African hip-hop group Brasse Vannie Kaap (BVK) who exploded onto the music scene during the pivotal early years of the new South Africa.

Erica Wessels stars as a sleep-deprived, struggling mother who grapples with the harsh reality of motherhood and the needs of her colicky baby. Throughout its ten-minute running time, the film gives voice to the often unspoken challenges of new parents who struggle to cope with the physical, emotional and mental demands of their role as caregivers.

In Liminale, a film with Hanneke Schutte as screenwriter and director, Inge Beckmann portrays Mia, a depressed woman afflicted by distressing memories. Hoping to deal with her trauma, Mia is subjected to radical futuristic therapy in an institution set in the future. But while she experiences the surrealist liminal space during therapy, she discovers the surprising origins of the treatment and must gather energy to face her demons and seek forgiveness.

After a dramatic evening, Jana (Kotze) and Chris (Wilhelm van der Walt) face a new day, each occupied by their own thoughts. Something serious and unspoken hangs in the air between them. As they follow their morning routine, the events of the previous night are gradually revealed. Emma and Philip developed the story and concept together, and Philip wrote the screenplay. He also directed the film with its intimate exploration of how life proceeds unabatedly, despite tragedy, pain and joy. They answered some questions about the film.

A little boy’s tears bring a tiny man, made of modelling clay, to life in Paul Crafford’s short film, Die boodskapper, this year in the Shotgun Shorts category of the Silwerskerm Festival. Single frame animation is combined with traditional filmmaking in this 12-minute movie that tells the story of a young boy, Jake (Liam Kruger), who finds himself caught in the middle of a ferocious conflict between his parents, Susan (Izaan du Toit) and Frank (Emile Hager).

Deuntjie examines that little voice residing in every person’s head. In the case of Deuntjie (Anja Taljaard), a shy, conscientious girl, the voice has a name: Vera (Daneel van der Walt), a larger-than-life diva, accompanied by two flamboyant backing vocals, Moses and Jacob. They perform and cause commotion in poor Deuntjie’s head. When Deuntjie has trouble to distinguish between reality and the voices in her head, matters get out of hand.

In Jaco van Bosch and Jacqueline Viljoen’s Steek vir steek, a group of knitting circle ladies find themselves on the verge of being kicked out of their old age home. When the receptionist, Koekie (also played by Viljoen), and Rita (Susan Coetzer) create a dating app for their knitting comrades to meet older men – at a fee! – to raise funds for renting a house, the young owner Gertjie puts a spoke in the wheel. Not only is the roof over Rita’s head in jeopardy, but also her romance with Gertjie’s grandfather …

In O, Griet! Sy’s droog, the actors Char Carrie from Suidooster fame, Karin van der Laag, Letolo Sekano and Ronel Stander draw viewers into a new dimension. In this short film, the characters find themselves captives in framed paintings, each depicting a different version of society’s ideas on women. To escape from the confines of the frames seem impossible … Until a girl with a pearl earring arrives with new perspectives on their situation.

In Marie se laaste dag, written by Lourensa in collaboration with author and theatre maker Mercy Kannemeyer, we meet Marie (Mandri Sutherland), the trusted secretary of the Minister of Mineral Resources, Hendrik van der Merwe (Deon Lotz). On the first day of the newly formed government of national unity (GNU), Marie is tasked to arrange a meeting for her boss with newly appointed Defence Minister, Mayihlome Khumalo (Dumisani Mbebe). Marie is ready to embrace the ideals of the New South Africa, with a helping hand from Thandi (Rozanne McKenzie), Minister Khumalo’s secretary who wears hot-red lipstick.

Arriving late at the low-cost spa in Pretoria where she works, bubbly beauty therapist Dudu is confronted with chaos when she discovers a dead client on one of the treatment beds. With time running out before the spa’s annual inspection later that morning, Dudu enlists her best friend, Lerato, to move the body. But then she discovers their boss, Nina, had allowed her undertaker boyfriend, Lappies, to store the body with them temporarily. The spa girls must work together to conceal the body and get everything shipshape before the taciturn inspector’s arrival.

The psychological thriller Die skynwerper has a sterling cast that includes veterans like Dawid Minnaar and Antoinette Kellermann, as well as the Donkerbos and Dinge van ’n kind actor Ben Albertyn in the lead role. The story, written by Linsen Loots and Dewet van Rooyen, with Van Rooyen as the director, focuses on Nelis (Albertyn) who lives in seclusion with his paralysed father, portrayed by Minnaar. When Nelis loses his job, he considers participating in a reality series Die skynwerper, but when his audition fails, he becomes suspicious of the series’ presenter, whom he believes is manipulating his life from the shadows …

South African Film