Hollywood African Cinema Connection Goes To Cape Town, Unveils Official Film Selection

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The Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) is set to host its festival in Cape Town, at two venues in the city: The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation and The District Six Museum Homecoming Centre.

The HACC also announced its official film selection for the 2025 festival, featuring a number of African films. The festival’s opening night will showcase the Moroccan short film Milk Brothers directed by Kenza Tazi, and the South African film Hans Crosses the Rubicon directed by Corne van Rooyen.

This year’s festival, happening from April 11 to 14 features 11 feature films, including projects such as Masinga – The Calling directed by Mark Engels, Sierra’s Gold directed by Adze Ugah, Month End directed by Kagiso Samuel Leburu, Hans Crosses the Rubicon directed by Corne van Royen, and The Return directed by Mark Jeremy Kaplan.

The festival also includes a selection of short and medium-length films, grouped under various themes such as Magic Realism, Horror, Melodrama/Dark Humour, Coming of Age, Manhood, Women Empowerment, and Freedom.

Some of the short films include Milk Brothers directed by Kenza Tazi, Baratani (The Hill of Lovers) directed by Moreetsi Gabang, and T’egbon T’aburo (Siblings) directed by Orire Lucky Nwani.

Documentary shorts also feature films such as Beyond Olympic Glory directed by Shedrack Salami, Fading Footprints directed by Tessa Barlin, and The Illusion of Distance directed by Sapho Wulana.

“I am thrilled to be hosting this year’s event in the East side of the city, in what technically is District Six,” HACC Festival Director Weaam Williams said. “We are bringing glamour and culture back into the area, a place that once embodied the spirit of community and creativity. This festival is a nod to the vibrancy of the old District Six, reimagined for a new generation of filmmakers, artists, and audiences.”

The festival will also host panel discussions on the intersection of film and technology, featuring speakers such as Nicolas Mugisha from AltVest Capital and Yaliwe Mlambo from Stellar Network.

Ticket sales are now open, with standard rates available until March 31. Prices start at R1000 for a 3-day delegate pass and R450 for a single-day pass. Prices will increase after March 31st.

Full list of films selected for the 2025 Hollywood African Cinema Connection festival:

Feature Films 2025

1. Masinga – The Calling (Director: Mark Engels)
2. The Devil’s Driver (Directors: Mohammed Abugeth, Daniel Carsenty) (out of competition)
3. Hans Crosses the Rubicon (Director: Corne van Royen)
4. Sierra’s Gold (Director: Adze Ugah)
5. Month End (Director: Kagiso Samuel Leburu)
6. Defying Gravity: The Johaar Mosavel Story (Director: Charlene Houston) (out of competition)
7. Lottery Love (Director: Mlungisi Mhlanga)
8. Brasse vannie Kaap (Director: Lauren Scholtz)
9. Prime (Director: Thabiso Christopher)
10. Spelonk (Director: Desmond Denton)
11. The Return (Director: Mark Jeremy Kaplan)

Shorts & Medium 2025

1. Magic Realism Theme
2. Baratani (The Hill of Lovers) (Director: Moreetsi Gabang, Botswana)
3. Milk Brothers (Director: Kenza Tazi, Morocco)
4. Why the Cattle Wait (Director: Phumi Morare)
5. The Empire of Kemmet (Director: Kabelo Mokoena Chalatsane, South Africa)

Horror Theme

1. Belinda (Director: Isaac Kasenda, South Africa)
2. Zombie Date night (Director: Moreetsi Gabang, Botswana)

Melodrama/Dark Humour Theme

1. V’s Secret (Director: Bassma Nancy Farah, Egypt)
2. I can smell a rat (Director: Antonious George Bassily, Egypt)
3. Clashoffera (Director: Mary Grace Fatoma)

Coming of Age Theme

1. Totem (Director: Nicole Panashe, Zimbabwe)
2. Sent (Director: Ayanda Halimana, South Africa)
3. The Last Shoemaker (Director: Ali Musoke, Uganda)

Manhood Theme

1. Where’s the Chicken (Director: Jesse Hulley, South Africa)
2. Men Cry Blood (Director: Naledi Molefe, South Africa)
3. Boundary Mwisho : The Last Boundary (Director: Hakim Zziwa, Uganda)

Of Life and Death Theme

1. Bird Trap (Director: Ahmed Khalil, Egypt)
2. Another Light (Director: Anthony Oseyemi, South Africa)
3. Tegbon T’aburo (Siblings) (Director: Orire Lucky Nwani, Nigeria)
4. Fighting Giants (Director: Oluwaseun Babalola, Sierra Leone)

Women Empowerment Theme

1. #Justice4Mbali (Director: Nkosana Kalaote, South Africa)
2. Tina When Will you Marry (Director: Celestina Aleobua, documentary, Nigeria)
3. Balaclava (Director: Naledi Molefe, South Africa)

Freedom Theme

1. Prisoner in my mind (Director: Enver Samuel Samuel, South Africa)
2. Palestine 87 (Director: Bilal Al Khatib, Palestine)

Documentary Shorts

1. Beyond Olympic Glory (Director: Shedrack Salami, Nigeria)
2. Fading Footprints (Director: Tessa Barlin, South Africa)
3. The Illusion of Distance (Director: Sapho Wulana, documentary)
4. Oceanmania (Directors: Alphonce Haule, Gwamaka Mwabuka, Tanzania)
5. Loop (Director: Eslam Ahmed Qotb, Egypt)
6. Yellow Daisy Butterfly (Director: Diek Grobler, South Africa)
7. Flowers of the Partisan (Director: Charles Badenhorst, South Africa)
8. Journey Through The Karoo (Director: Jason Willemse, South Africa)