STAFF REPORTER
SOUTH Africa will host the inaugural Fraud Film Festival on 19 November 2025, bringing together investigators, filmmakers, and policymakers to tackle the growing threat of corruption and financial crime across the continent.
The festival, launching at Bertha House in Mowbray, will debut with a screening of the award-winning documentary Jozi Gold, which investigates Johannesburg’s controversial gold mining legacy and its environmental and social impacts.
Organisers say the event responds to the mounting toll of fraud, corruption and cybercrime on African economies and societies. The festival aims to use film as a tool to raise awareness, spark public dialogue and mobilise collective action against financial crimes that drain public resources and deepen inequality.
“Film transforms difficult conversations into collective awareness and action,” said Ria Tabak, Chairperson of the South African Board. “South Africa is ready for this dialogue and this festival is here to spark it.”
Jozi Gold, directed by Sylvina Yoliswa Bongwana, explores questions of environmental responsibility, justice and wealth through the lens of Johannesburg’s gold mining industry. The filmmaker, an Mbokodo Award winner, will participate in a post-screening panel discussion and audience Q&A session.
The 19 November event runs from 17:00 to 20:00 at Bertha House, with RSVPs required to [email protected].
Call for Collaboration
The festival is seeking partnerships with financial institutions, regulators, academic institutions, civil society organisations and media houses. Participation opportunities include sponsorships, knowledge-sharing initiatives and attendance at film screenings and panel discussions.
Festival organisers emphasise that confronting fraud requires collaboration across sectors to strengthen integrity and accountability systems throughout South Africa and the broader African region.
The festival is founded by Amsterdam-based Fraud Film Festival 2014, which has previously screened documentaries examining corruption, cybercrime, financial deception and related social issues in European cities.
Fraud Film Festival South Africa
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/fraud-film-festival-south-africa/
