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REEL TO REALITY FILM FESTIVAL

@reeltorealityfest

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A short film festival celebrating the boldest stories by African & African diasporic filmmakers, where the past, present, and future converge. 🇿🇦

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Cape Town, thank you for showing up for our edition of Reel to Reality Film Festival 2026! 🎬

To our filmmakers, programming team, audiences, facilitators, partners, crew and everyone who has contributed to bringing this edition to life, thank you for being part of the journey.

#ReelToRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Cape Town, thank you for showing up for our edition of Reel to Reality Film Festival 2026! 🎬

To our filmmakers, programming team, audiences, facilitators, partners, crew and everyone who has contributed to bringing this edition to life, thank you for being part of the journey.

#ReelToRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Highlights from our first edition of Script Studio, in collaboration with The Emotional Club.

Our screenwriter cohort submitted scripts from works in progress, for peer and mentor review, creating space for constructive feedback, shared learning and the development of new stories.

Thank you to our mentors, reviewers, readers and every screenwriter who took the leap with their work and contributed to making this first edition so impactful.

#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Introducing the 2026 Script Studio Cohort, presented by Reel to Reality Film Festival and The Emotional Club ✍🏽🎬

These selected screenwriters formed a part of the first co-hort, where they received mentor feedback and peer review. Writers introduced their work through this workshop, and got the experience to have actors as script readers, bringing their stories to life through a table read.

A collaborative and insightful first edition, and we’re excited to see how these stories continue to develop into films.

Introducing Sinovuyo Nqwili

Sinovuyo Nqwili is a South African scriptwriter, director and producer with professional experience across television, film and theatre. She has written multiple 52-minute Mzansi Magic movies and have worked professionally as a writer on several South African television productions, including Umkhokha, My Brother’s Keeper, Uzalo, Genesis and KwaBaba. She has also expanded into producing, having produced one movie, which is set to TX later this year. A director and founder of Bread Productions, a female-led production company focused on developing and producing authentic African stories. Through Bread Productions, she has produced a 52 Movie made for television and is currently in development on a short film funded by the NFVF. Her work is rooted in authentic South African storytelling, with a particular interest in stories that explore human experiences, social issues and the complexities of identity and relationships.

#ReeltoRealityFest

Introducing Andile Gumbo

Andile J. Gumbo is a Johannesburg-based screenwriter, producer, and novelist. He graduated cum laude from AFDA Johannesburg (BA) in 2021 before embarking on his career as an indie short filmmaker, producing such projects as ‘Cat.Fisch’ a dark romantic thriller which won the Critic’s Choice Award at the Garden Route International Film Festival (2022) along with ‘Go For The Head’ a post-apocalyptic comedy which won Best Diaspora Film at the European Film Festival Zimbabwe (2025).

He is a founder of the Yardang Film Group and a development co-ordinator at Mannequin Films where he generates high-concept film and television projects for local and international au by @reeltorealityfest

Stories That Stick: Crafting Character and Worlds with Amanda Lane | Highlights ✍🏽

As part of our festival alumni programme, we hosted a workshop with award-winning writer and director Amanda Lane, bringing together filmmakers currently developing long-form projects.

Drawing on case studies from Is’Thunzi and Netflix’s Love and Wine, Amanda shared insights into her approach to character development, performance, world-building and the importance of cultural specificity in storytelling.

A special thank you to Amanda Lane for sharing her knowledge and experience with our alumni community. We look forward to seeing the stories and projects that continue to emerge from this space.

#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Highlights from the Who Belongs Here? film session | Q&A | Dread 🎞️ | CPT

Film in focus: Dread
Joined by directors @loren_loubser , @gabe4gabriel producer @dominiquejossie

The film follows a Black transmasculine Uber driver whose car becomes dangerously possessed after a German hippie passenger offloads her trauma demon during a ride through Cape Town, a city shaped by racial segregation and tourism.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to this insightful conversation on belonging.

#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

REEL TO REALITY FILM FESTIVAL | CAPE TOWN DAY 3 PROGRAMME 📽️

A celebration and introspection of ‘An African City’, through three powerful short film sessions

✨ Be part of an unforgettable celebration of African and African diasporic cinema.

Cape Town
Date: 25 October 2026
Location: Homecoming Centre
Time: 13:30 - 22:00
🎟️ Ticket Prices R250 (Day Pass)

Registration link is available in our bio.

#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Cape Town | 25 October | 16:00 – 17:15 at Homecoming Centre

Day 1 | Session 2: Through Her Eyes

Through Her Eyes is a film session that examines power through the lens of women lead films. The films in the session depict the ordinary experiences in life in which women negotiate, reconstruct and legitimise their power in society on screen.

Tanglewood - directed by Annmarie Larkins @toannmarie

A girls’ night out spirals out of control when Sloane, a successful radio broadcaster with a biting perspective on relationships, confronts a past lover—and her own unresolved rage.

Dëmm - directed by Aida Captijn @captijnaida_

Haunted by the death of her mother, a young woman drifting through Dakar crosses paths with a secretive sisterhood of soul-eating women — the dëmm — triggering a mysterious metamorphosis that forces her to confront loss and identity.

Sofia - directed by Camila de Ilhéus @camiladeilheus

A quick waxing session turns into a nightmare when a Brazilian accidentally gets a brazilian.

Womanland - directed by Yasmin Yassin @yazziz

Two young Somali sisters in Minneapolis have to balance rebellion with their reputations when their secret matchmaking business attracts a client a little too close to home.

Samra’s Dollhouse - directed by Maissa Lihedheb @classicminoritypresents

Samra (38), a heartbroken Tunisian director finds the perfect male lead for her new romance movie, but during rehearsals, the young actor Hedi (24) begins to suspect that his role may not be a fictitious one.

CT
Date: 25 October
Location: Homecoming Centre Cape Town
Time: 16:00 – 17:15
🎟️ Ticket Prices R250 (Day Pass)

Secure your tickets in the link in bio.

#Reeltoreality #FilmFestival #AnAfricanCity by @reeltorealityfest

Joburg, thank you for showing up for our Johannesburg edition of Reel to Reality Film Festival 2026! 🎬

To our filmmakers, programming team, audiences, facilitators, mentors, partners, crew and everyone who has contributed to bringing this edition to life, thank you for being part of the journey.

Cape Town, you’re next! We look forward to welcoming you on 25 October at Homecoming Centre.

🎟 Ticket link in bio.
📸 @lefaditshego
#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Joburg, thank you for showing up for Reel to Reality Film Festival 2026! 🎬

To our filmmakers, programming team, audiences, facilitators, mentors, partners, crew and everyone who has contributed to bringing this edition to life, thank you for being part of the journey.

Cape Town, you’re next! We look forward to welcoming you on 25 October at Homecoming Centre.

🎟 Ticket link in bio.
📸 @lefaditshego
#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Highlights from our Film Session Q&As | JHB | Artistry

Creating space for African and African diasporic cinema also means creating space for critical engagement of the stories we see on screen. Our Film Session Q&As bring audiences closer to filmmakers and the insight behind shaping their films.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to these sessions. We look forward to welcoming Cape Town into the conversation.

#ReeltoRealityFest by @reeltorealityfest

Meet our host for the Cape Town edition of Reel to Reality Film Festival:

Ntsimedi (she/her) is a South African actress; born in Johannesburg with a BA and Honours in Theatre and Performance from The University of Cape Town. From captivating audiences with her physicality and control in Fake News (2023) by Nelisiwe Xaba and Mocke Jansen Van Veuren and touching audiences with an emotional performance in Eirik Svensson’s Safe House (2025) Ntsimedi brings versatility and focus to her work.

Starring in Black Burns Fast (2026) by Sandulela Asanda, a Black Queer coming of age story set in an all girls private school, Ntsimedi brings authenticity and humility to her character.

With a deep love for South African theatre Ntsimedi continues to work with emerging creatives who values putting African storytelling on a global stage.

Date: 25 October 2026
Location: Homecoming Centre Cape Town
Time: 13:30 - 21:00
Ticket Prices: R250 (Day Pass)

🎟️ Registration link is available in our bio.

#ReeltoRealityFest #AfricanCinema #AfricanCity by @reeltorealityfest