Celebrating creativity: Highlights from Khayelitsha’s Raw Film Festival
Joyful Mama Bulelwa Ndibongo has called on young people to use Isivivane to grow their talent.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Khayelitsha creatives and others from around the continent had a good time at the Raw Festival.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Raw Festival co-ordinator Sibongínkosi Ngalwana is excited with what the festival has turned up to be. She believes that the growth of the festival depends of its organising team.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Khayelitsha’s biggest film celebration has officially wrapped up after a week filled with drama, laughter, love, and creativity.
The Raw Film Festival, hosted at the Isivivane Centre, brought together filmmakers, content creators, and storytellers from across Cape Town for an unforgettable week of screenings, workshops, and inspiration.
But the festival was about far more than films. It became a platform for growth, education, and empowerment for aspiring creatives. Throughout the week, attendees participated in a range of workshops covering everything from directing and editing to storytelling and digital content creation. These sessions gave local talent a chance to learn from industry professionals and to network with others who share their passion for film and media.
As the festival came to a close, participants were honoured for their efforts and creativity. The awards night saw filmmakers and content creators receive certificates and accolades in recognition of their hard work and contributions.
Festival co-ordinator Sibongínkosi Ngalwana described the event as successful but acknowledged that there is always room for improvement.
“It was unexpectedly successful. The messages and the feedback we got from people were amazing,” she said.
“The highlight for many was definitely the workshops, especially the content creator sessions. But we learned that planning and marketing must improve - we could have reached an even bigger audience.”
Ms Ngalwana said planning for next year’s festival has already begun.
She also encouraged local residents to get involved, saying that submissions for next year’s festival will open in March 2026.
“Raw is for Khayelitsha people. We had 100 submissions this year, but we want to double that number next year. We’ve also added a music category, so we’re calling on musicians and filmmakers alike to submit their work.”
Isivivane Centre director Bulelwa Ndibongo expressed her joy at seeing the community come together through art and storytelling.
“Young people need to know that this is their space,” she said, adding that the community needs to know this is their place.
"Everyone who submitted their work - thank you. We’re committed to building programmes and initiatives that uplift young creatives who haven’t yet been recognised.”
Festival director Ayanda Msebenzi also praised the dedication of participants, especially first-time filmmakers and facilitators.
“Some people directed a film for the first time, others held a camera for the first time, and some even led workshops,” he said.
“Seeing so many young people find their voice through film has been inspiring.”
Local ward councillor Ryder Mkhutswana applauded the organisers’ efforts and encouraged greater collaboration in future events.
“What I like about Raw is that they’re bringing something new to Khayelitsha. Next year, I’d love to see even more stakeholders involved, including the City of Cape Town,” he said.