Celebrating the power of youth storytelling through screenings, discussions, and workshops.
See What Happened.The Mbawula Youth Film Festival is a pioneering, community-focused film event based in Galeshewe, Kimberley, in South Africa's Northern Cape province. Its name, "Mbawula," is an isiXhosa word meaning "brazier" or "portable fireplace"—a powerful symbol of gathering, warmth, storytelling, and the sharing of knowledge and ideas from generation to generation.
Founded in 2012, the festival was born from a need to create a platform for the youth of Kimberley and the broader Northern Cape, a region often underrepresented in the mainstream South African film industry. Its core mission is to democratize filmmaking, providing young, aspiring filmmakers—especially from townships and disadvantaged backgrounds—with the skills, tools, and audience to tell their own authentic stories.