The South African Independent Film Festival Cape Town

Festival Pitching Competition Shortlist Announcement
Time: 11:30 - 11:40
Venue: Cinema 1, Labia Theatre

Film Discussion: Genre Films From Script to Screen
Time: 11:45 - 13:00
Speakers: Speakers: Clive Will, Ryan Kruger, Antonio Munoz De Mesa, Jenna Bass,
Schölermann Marc - Moderated by Keenan Arrison
Presented by the South African Independent Film Festival (SAIFF)

Join some of South Africa’s most visionary filmmakers for an unfiltered discussion on crafting genre cinema in a uniquely South African context. From horror and sci-fi to action and thrillers, this session dives into the creative, technical, and financial challenges of making bold, boundary-pushing films outside the mai

Time: 12:30 - 14:15
Location: Labia Cinema 3
Filmmakers in Attendance + Live Q&As

Discover the next generation of South African filmmakers in this inspiring showcase of student short films from top film schools. From bold visual experiments to deeply personal stories, these shorts highlight the creativity, curiosity, and passion of a new wave of cinematic voices.

Stay after the screening for a Q&A session with the filmmakers, where they’ll discuss their process, inspirations, and the challenges of creating work on the edge of discovery.

- VIBRATIONS
- KICK,PUSH
- THE HELP
- WHITE CUSTARD
- BOOMERANG
- CHROMA
- BALEKA
- A FATHER'S LOVE

Before we kick off the opening feature, join us for the RED CARPET & DRINKS - SPONSORED BY BANG BROEK
Time: 13:00 – 16:00
Location: Labia Courtyard

OPENING FEATURE
Thus Spake Zolani
Director: Clive Will
Filmmaker in Attendance + Live Q&A
Time: 13:15 - 16:00
Venue: Labia Theatre, Cinema 1

Kick off the 2025 edition of SAIFF with the highly anticipated feature film Thus Spake Zolani, a bold and unsettling vision from South African filmmaker Clive Will.

Join us for this special opening screening, followed by an in-person Q&A with director Clive Will, as he discusses the film’s creation, inspirations, and the evolving landscape of genre cinema in South Africa.

SHORTS PACKAGE #1: DRAMAS
Time: 14:30 - 16:00
Location: Labia Cinema 3
Filmmakers in Attendance + Live Q&As

An emotionally charged selection of dramatic short films. From raw human emotion to poetic realism, crafted by directors unafraid to confront the complexities of life.

Meet the filmmakers afterward in a post-screening Q&A, as they unpack their creative journeys.

- KIDS SEE GHOSTS (France)
- THE DEW BEFORE DAWN (SA)
- LARGO (UK)
- WATCHING OVER YOU (SA)
- MORE MONEY
- OEMMIE (SA)
- FOREVER YOURS (GERMANY)
- BETWEEN US AND SILENCE (GERMANY)

SHORTS PACKAGE #2: GENRE FILMS
Time: 16:15 - 17:30
Location: Labia Cinema 3
Filmmakers in Attendance + Live Q&As

Expect the unexpected in this thrilling collection of genre-bending short films. from horror and sci-fi to fantasy. These filmmakers push the boundaries of imagination, merging bold ideas with striking visual style to redefine what genre cinema can be.

Stick around for a Q&A with the directors and teams as they discuss creating genre work on local soil and breaking new ground in independent storytelling.

- THE PEARL COMB (UK)
- FACTORY DROP (GERMANY)
- SNACKTIME (France)
- HIER (SA)
- DOOR (USA)
- AMINALS (SA)

SHORTS PACKAGE #4: HORROR COMEDIES
Time: 18:00 - 19:45
Location: Labia Cinema 3
Filmmakers in Attendance + Live Q&As

Laugh, scream, and squirm in your seat with this wild selection of horror-comedy short films — where blood, guts, and dark humour collide.

After the screening, join the filmmakers for a Q&A session that’s guaranteed to be as entertaining as the films themselves.

- MOST SPECIAL HOSTAGE (CANADA)
- MY HAIRY SHADOW & I (NetherLands)
- BLOODY BLOODY (USA)
- CUT ME IF YOU CAN (USA)
- IN OUT! (NORWAY)
- KAREN AAN & AAN (SA)
- SET MENU (SPAIN)
- NERVOUS ELLIE (UK)
- PULL UP (MUSIC VIDEO) (SA)

Time: 18:30 - 00:00
Location: Unclaimed Bar, Kloof Street
Presented by the South African Independent Film Festival (SAIFF)

After the red carpet and opening film, the celebration continues at Unclaimed Bar, one of Cape Town’s most vibrant venues, for the SAIFF 2025 Opening Night Film Party!

Join filmmakers, artists, and festival guests for an unforgettable evening of music, drinks, and networking as we toast the launch of this year’s festival.

FEATURE FILM + DRINKING GAME: FRIED BARRY
Time: 20:00 - 21:45
Location: Labia Cinema 3
Director: Ryan Kruger
Director in Attendance + Live Q&A

Close out the night with one of South Africa’s most talked-about cult hits: Ryan Kruger’s Fried Barry.
An alien abduction, a human vessel, and a chaotic journey through Cape Town’s underbelly, this outrageous, genre-defying film has become a global sensation for its originality and madness.

Join us for a special screening featuring a live “Fried Barry Drinking Game”, where audience members can play along as the insanity unfolds. Director Ryan Kruger will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A, sharing stories from behind the madness.