A total of 24 short films are lined up to compete for the Best Short Film (Oscar-qualifying award) and the Best South African Short Film Award at DIFF 2026.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
The 47th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) has unveiled its official selection of short films for the latest edition, set to take place from 23rd July to 2nd August, 2026. The presentation was done by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
A total of 24 short films are lined up to compete for the Best Short Film (Oscar-qualifying award) and the Best South African Short Film Award at DIFF 2026. All short films are expected to present themes bordering on authentic cultural perspectives, systemic struggles and human advancement.
10 of the total selection are South African productions, while the remaining 14 are either Pan-African or Diaspora titles. Dian Weys’s Vultures (2025) is the only South African co-production (in partnership with France) selected, having previously premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d’Or Best Short Film and also won the Unifrance Short Film Grand Prix.
The other African countries that make it to the spotlight are Uganda and Senegal through Jonathan Curtiss’ Boy No Fear (2025) and Aida Captijn’s Dëmm (2025), respectively.
Commenting on the development, Sakhile Gumede, DIFF Festival Manager, described short films as the vanguard of cinema.
“They are a materialised embodiment of risk-taking, technical success and the true telling of its reality, respectfully; this is beautifully captured or translated in every frame,” Gumede said. “This year’s curated shorts offer an extraordinary global dialogue, bridging deeply moving local South African realities with visionary narratives from across the world.”
See below the full lineup of short films (with their directors) that will be screening at the 47th Durban International Film Festival:
South African Films:
- A Nation’s Fight for Identity and Justice – Pretty Mothata (South Africa)
- Colour of Dreams – Peter Smuts (South Africa)
- Fracture – Alex Fynn (South Africa)
- One Day at a Time – Mehita Iqani (South Africa)
- Perception – Miselwa “Missy” Ngamlana (South Africa)
- Runner – Mmathabo Johanna Bopape (South Africa)
- The Break-In – Sizwe Kubeka (South Africa)
- Verses My Brother Taught Me – Thomo Tshipinyane (South Africa)
- Vimba 2 – Monde Gumede (South Africa)
- Vultures – Dian Weys (South Africa / France)
Pan-African & International Films:
- Boy No Fear – Jonathan Curtiss (Uganda)
- Braza – Diane Maia (Brazil)
- Buah (Fruit) – Jen Nee Lim (Singapore)
- Butty – Liz Cartwright (United Kingdom)
- Café? – Bamar Kane (France)
- Close Your Eyes Hind – Amir Zaza (Netherlands)
- Dëmm – Aida Captijn (Senegal)
- Flock – Mac Nixon (United Kingdom)
- Hope Is Lost – Eno Enefiok (North Macedonia / United Kingdom)
- Mari Lewyd – Charlie Grayson (United Kingdom)
- My Brother Lyosha and I – Lena Tronina (Kazakhstan)
- Nelson Mandela: The Man Behind the Legend – Alex Strizhevskii (Russia)
- Please Hold – Solal Bouloudnine (France)
- This Is Your Captain Speaking – Nienke Deutz, Digna Van Der Put (Belgium / Netherlands)