As the curtain fell on the 28th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, filmmakers from South Africa, across the African continent and around the world were recognised for exceptional achievement in documentary filmmaking. This year’s Encounters Awards celebrated bold storytelling, artistic excellence, editorial craft and emerging talent, honouring films that challenge perspectives, preserve memory and illuminate the human experience.
Presented under this year’s theme, “Bound by a Simple Truth: Love, in All Its Forms, Endures,” the awards recognised documentaries that demonstrate the enduring power of documentary storytelling to connect communities, provoke dialogue and inspire change.
The 2026 Encounters Award for Best African Feature Documentary was awarded to Notes from the Underground, directed by Adrian Van Wyk and Chris Kets. The jury described the film as “an extraordinary documentary essay” that transforms Cape Town’s underground hip hop movement into a powerful exploration of collective memory, identity and resistance. Through music, dance, graffiti and spoken word, the film creates what the jury called “a monumental collective character,” celebrating hip hop itself as a living archive of South African history.
The Runner Up award went to The Woman Who Poked the Leopard, directed by Patience Nitumwesiga. The jury praised the intimate portrait of Ugandan academic and activist Stella Nyanzi, noting its remarkable ability to capture the tension between political resistance and family life. Through years of observation, the film reveals both the personal cost of activism and the enduring bonds between a mother and her children.
The 2026 Encounters Award for Best International Feature Documentary was presented to Amílcar, directed by Miguel Eek. The jury unanimously selected the film for its transportive and poetic portrayal of African liberation leader Amílcar Cabral, commending its seamless weaving together of archive, personal writings and contemporary filmmaking into a deeply human portrait. They praised the film for moving beyond a conventional biography to reveal the complexities of one of Africa’s most significant historical figures with sensitivity and artistic integrity.
The Runner Up in the international category, American Doctor, directed by Poh Si Teng, was recognised as an uncompromising work of documentary journalism that bears witness to the realities of Gaza through the experiences of volunteer doctors. The jury commended the filmmaker’s thoughtful engagement with the ethics of documentation and her unwavering commitment to centring care, humanity and truth.
The Best Edited South African Documentary in Memory of Ronelle Loots recognised excellence in documentary editing across both feature and short formats. In the feature category, Mama-Demic, edited by Nicholas Costaras and Nicole Schafer, received top honours for transforming the rhythms of everyday life into immersive and emotionally resonant cinema. The jury applauded the editors’ confident narrative construction, balancing intimate observational moments with a powerful emotional arc.
A Special Mention was awarded to Robots, edited by Andrew Sean, for its beautifully modulated structure that challenges stereotypes through a layered portrait of South Africans working at traffic intersections. The jury praised its ability to reveal dignity, humour and humanity through thoughtful editorial storytelling.
In the short film category, Sonder, edited by Catherine Meyburgh, received the award for its innovative and sophisticated editing that seamlessly combines interviews, movement, dance and sound into a bold reimagining of documentary form. The jury described the work as emotionally resonant and formally groundbreaking.
A Special Mention was presented to Dear Sikhonkwane, edited by Khule Mayisa and Makhomotho Ngwasheng, recognising its elegant audiovisual storytelling that brings together literature, memory and cultural identity with remarkable clarity, rhythm and grace.
The Encounters Central Film School Emerging Filmmaker Award celebrated the next generation of South African documentary voices. Sonder, directed by Thuthuka Sibisi, was named the overall winner for its striking exploration of masculinity through exceptional cinematography, layered storytelling and a distinctive directorial voice. The jury commended the film’s ability to shift perspectives while remaining emotionally compelling.
Second place was awarded to Her Khaltsha, directed by Robyn Phillips, for its empowering portrait of young women challenging gender norms through cycling in Khayelitsha. The jury praised the film’s confident visual language and its celebration of determination, resilience and possibility.
Third place went to Before They Sold the Sky, directed by Kai Reynolds, recognised for its thoughtful blending of history, autobiography and environmental inquiry. The jury highlighted its careful investigative approach and beautifully crafted cinematography that together create a compelling and deeply relevant documentary.
Presented in partnership with Ster Kinekor, the Encounters Youth Experience (EYE) Award, judged by a Youth Jury, recognised WAT WAS HIE?, directed by Luke De Kock, as this year’s winner. The jury celebrated the film’s creative retelling of Cape Town’s indigenous history through narration, dance, rap and music, describing it as a captivating act of historical reclamation that brings often overlooked stories to the forefront.
The Runner Up award was presented to Her Khaltsha, with the Youth Jury recognising it as a moving celebration of courage, community and young women who continue to defy expectations while pursuing their passion for cycling.
Reflecting on Ster Kinekor’s continued partnership with the Festival, Lynne Wylie, Chief Marketing Officer at Ster Kinekor, said, “At Ster Kinekor, we are deeply committed to championing South African and African storytelling, and nurturing the next generation of creative talent. Sponsoring the Encounters Youth Experience Award allows us to celebrate bold, authentic voices while providing a platform for young filmmakers to share their stories with wider audiences.”
The Festival also celebrated two outstanding contributors to the documentary sector through the 2026 Liezel Vermeulen Award for Service to Documentary, presented by the Documentary Filmmakers Association.
Don Edkins was recognised for more than three decades of extraordinary contribution to African documentary filmmaking. Through landmark initiatives including Steps for the Future, Why Democracy?, Why Poverty? and Generation Africa, alongside his continued investment in documentary infrastructure through projects such as AfriDocs, Edkins has played a defining role in building the documentary landscape across the continent.
Tarha McKenzie was honoured for her longstanding contribution to documentary filmmaking through festival management, distribution, audience development and industry support. Over more than a decade, her work across Encounters, Electric South, the Black Women Disrupt web series competition and Climate Story Lab Southern Africa has helped strengthen South Africa’s documentary ecosystem while supporting filmmakers and building new audiences for African documentary cinema.
The 2026 Encounters Awards once again affirmed the Festival’s commitment to recognising documentary filmmaking that is artistically ambitious, socially relevant and deeply human. Congratulations to every filmmaker, editor, emerging talent and industry leader whose work continues to shape the future of documentary storytelling in South Africa, across Africa and around the world.
Encounters extends its sincere gratitude to the distinguished jurors whose expertise, thoughtful deliberation and commitment to documentary cinema made this year’s awards possible. Thank you to Nyasha Kadandara, Ibee Ndaw and Natasha Craveiro (Best African Feature Documentary Jury); Sarah Dawson, Mitchell Harper and Dhia Jerbi (Best International Feature Documentary Jury); Kastarine (Neo) Kgola, Kutelani Rasikhuthuma and Jacques de Villiers (Best Edited South African Documentary Jury); Zanda Nosenga, Max Fouchee and Rory Curley (Encounters Central Film School Emerging Filmmaker Award Jury); and our Ster-Kinekor Encounters Youth Experience (EYE) Jury, Jaydon Murray, Jessica Shonda Royan and Naledi Mbembele, whose passion and insight brought a fresh perspective to the Festival’s celebration of documentary storytelling.
The Festival also gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its award partners, whose continued investment helps celebrate excellence and nurture the future of documentary filmmaking. Thank you to the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) for supporting the Best African Feature Documentary and Best International Feature Documentary Awards, the South African Guild of Editors and Adobe for sponsoring the Best Edited South African Feature and Short Documentary Awards in memory of Ronelle Loots, Central Film School for championing the Emerging Filmmaker Award, Ster-Kinekor for partnering on the Encounters Youth Experience (EYE) Award, and the Documentary Filmmakers Association (DFA) for presenting the Liezel Vermeulen Award for Service to Documentary. Their collective support continues to strengthen South Africa’s documentary sector and ensure that powerful, courageous stories reach audiences across the continent and beyond.