AFDA is proud to celebrate the selection of two AFDA Johannesburg Honours graduation films for the official student programme of the 47th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026, one of Africa’s most prestigious film festivals. The festival will take place from 23 July to 2 August 2026 and continues to serve as an important platform for emerging filmmakers from South Africa and around the world.
The two AFDA films selected for the festival’s Student Film Competition are:
Melusi
Directed by Ntokozo Lwazi Mlaba
Directed by Ntokozo Lwazi Mlaba
Mine of Blood (Moepo wa Madi)
Directed by Thabang Mogoane Mhlabane and Olwethu Kuhle Dumzela
Directed by Thabang Mogoane Mhlabane and Olwethu Kuhle Dumzela
The films form part of the official DIFF 2026 Student Selection under the South African Showcases category, alongside work from leading film schools and institutions across the country. The programme highlights the next generation of filmmakers whose stories demonstrate artistic excellence, technical skill and bold creative vision.
This latest achievement further reinforces the strength of AFDA Johannesburg’s postgraduate film programme and the calibre of storytelling emerging from its Honours cohort.
Melusi, which was also selected earlier this year for the Joburg Film Festival, is a rural South African drama set against the backdrop of Ingoma, a traditional cultural song and dance competition. The film follows a young shepherd whose desperate attempt to secure a future beyond his village leads him to challenge societal expectations and confront difficult choices about love, identity and belonging.
Mine of Blood, directed by Thabang Mogoane Mhlabane and Olwethu Kuhle Dumzela, continues AFDA’s tradition of producing powerful, socially relevant stories that engage audiences through compelling cinematic storytelling. Its selection for DIFF places it among an outstanding group of student films chosen from across South Africa and around the world.
The Durban International Film Festival, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, is recognised as the oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa. The festival’s student programme is regarded as a vital launchpad for emerging filmmakers, providing young directors with the opportunity to showcase their work on a respected international platform.
AFDA congratulates Ntokozo Lwazi Mlaba, Thabang Mogoane Mhlabane, Olwethu Kuhle Dumzela and their respective cast and crew members on this outstanding achievement. Their selection reflects the creativity, dedication and storytelling excellence that continue to distinguish AFDA filmmakers on both local and international stages.
As these films prepare to screen at DIFF 2026, they join a growing list of AFDA productions earning recognition at major festivals and contributing to the future of African cinema.
Congratulations to the filmmakers and the AFDA Johannesburg postgraduate team on this significant festival achievement.