AFDA is proud to announce that the AFDA Johannesburg 2025 graduation film Hitman Error 404 has been officially selected to screen in competition at the Mpumalanga International Film Festival, one of South Africa’s growing platforms for African and international cinema.
Created by AFDA Johannesburg third-year students under the banner of The Ethereal Collective, Hitman Error 404 is a sharp satirical black comedy set in a bizarre world where contract killing has become commercialised and popularity ratings determine a hitman’s value. The film follows Dex Doyle, an ambitious but hopelessly incompetent hitman desperate to improve his ranking, whose latest assignment spirals into chaos when he encounters a far more dangerous assassin pursuing the same target.
Blending absurd humour, action, and social commentary, the film cleverly critiques society’s obsession with image, validation, and status in the digital age. With its unique visual style and fast-paced storytelling, Hitman Error 404 stood out as one of the memorable productions from the 2025 AFDA Graduation Festival, which annually showcases the creative work of AFDA’s final-year students across the country.
“We are so excited to showcase our film at MIFF. This film was such a pleasure to create and was the greatest form of a bonding experience for us. We always knew that this project would turn into something special, and we are so grateful to all of the AFDA Johannesburg 3rd year staff that helped us get to this moment,” said The Ethereal Collective.
The selection of Hitman Error 404 for MIFF continues AFDA’s strong presence on both local and international festival circuits, further highlighting the institution’s commitment to developing industry-ready filmmakers whose work resonates with contemporary audiences. AFDA productions continue to gain recognition for their originality, technical excellence, and culturally relevant storytelling, with many student films travelling to prestigious festivals around the world.
The AFDA community congratulates the entire cast and crew of Hitman Error 404 on this achievement and looks forward to seeing the film screen alongside some of the continent’s exciting emerging cinematic voices at MIFF.