2016 Call for Entries

The organisers of Encounters South African International Documentary Festival are calling for entries from South African and international filmmakers for the Festival. Due to the extraordinary number of entries Encounters has decided to charge a nominal submission fee of USD15. African filmmakers are exempt.

Awards:

Audience Award for Best South African Film
Audience Award for Best International Film

Please note that we will be pleased to consider works in progress / rough cuts if your film will be ready in time for the Festival itself (02^nd – 12^th June 2016).

The deadline for the 2016 festival is March 27, 2016.

Submit your documentary

Want to submit a film? African or South African documentaries, click here. International documentaries, click here. Be sure to read the Regulations for Submission.

Best regards,
The Encounters Team
Tel: +27 21 465 4686
Fax: +27 21 461 6964

The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival announces appointment of new Director.

On behalf of the Board – Adv. Dumisa Ntsebeza, Mandisa Zitha, Dr. Susan Levine, Dr. Ciraj Rassool, Nodi Murphy and Steven Markovitz – Encounters is pleased to announce the appointment of Darryl Els as the Director of the Documentary Festival.

The Shore Break, Virunga win Backsberg Audience Choice Award at Encounters

The Shore Break has won the Backsberg Audience Choice Award at Encounters South African International Documentary Festival for Best South African Film, while Virunga was voted Best International Film. Best South African Film: The Shore Break Directed by Ryley Grunenwald, The Shore Break is the disturbing story of two Pondo cousins on opposing sides of […]

Encounters 2015 Trailer

See what’s showing this year in our Festival trailer

Al Jazeera Pitching Forum Call

Encounters, in partnership with Al Jazeera, is calling African filmmakers to submit proposals for the Al Jazeera Pitching Forum taking place in Johannesburg during the 17th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival on 10th June 2015.

Full Lineup Revealed For Africa’s Top Documentary Festival

Late additions include:

Oscar and BAFTA nominee Virunga, an eco-thriller set in the DRC
Tribeca winner Democrats, an inside look at politics in Zimbabwe
That Sugar Film – sure to create as many dietary debates as Tim Noakes
World premiere of festival favorite Steve Kwena Mokwena’s Jazz Heart
Biopics on South African architect Norman Eaton, Rivonia trialist Andrew Mlangeni and Ethiopian diva Asnaketch Worku

Africa’s top documentary festival announces first films

Oscar-winning Edward Snowden doc to open Encounters
Featuring festival winners from Cannes, SXSW, Toronto, and Venice
Featuring some of the most talked-about international documentaries, including Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Award-winning South African documentaries from Francois Verster & Ryley Grunenwald, and world premières

2015 Call for entries deadline extended

The organisers of Encounters South African International Documentary Festival are calling for entries from South African and international filmmakers for the 17th edition of the festival, which will run from 4-14 June 2015 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Due to the extraordinary number of entries Encounters has decided to charge a nominal submission fee of USD15. African filmmakers are exempt.

news

Awards:

The deadline for the 2016 festival is March 27, 2016.

Submit your documentary