The festival forms part of 76 Hours in Soweto, commemorating 50 years since 16 June 1976. As part of this milestone remembrance, Jozi My Jozi will host a four-day programme of community-led events in Soweto from 13–16 June 2026.
A film takeover across Soweto’s rawest arts and culture spaces , each venue in the BIYO Festival is curated with its own vibe so you have to mission, explore and discover. From hall to gallery to backroom cinema, BIYO turns the township into one big screen from 11am till 9pm on Saturday, 13 June 2026.
On show are films that hit hard on June 16, community struggle, everyday organising and human injustice, followed by unapologetic Q&As with directors, thinkers and cultural troublemakers for those who want to go deeper. Every venue layers in local sound, live performance and visual art to turn each screening into a full-blown cultural experience, not just another sit-down movie night.
One of South Africa’s first Black-owned cinemas was founded in 1969 in the heart of apartheid-era Soweto. A living symbol of Black excellence and storytelling, still telling stories today.
Screening: BEYOND FORGIVING (2013, 28 min) A profound documentary following Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele on a true journey of healing and reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa. A story of tragedy, forgiveness and hope.
Behind the red-brick walls of a historic matchbox home, a world of art, heritage and creativity opens up.
Screening: UBANI LORE? (2025, 10 min) A wildly original South African surrealist comedy, three odd friends on a bizarre quest for a book that doesn’t exist. Celebrated for its grassroots storytelling and national community tour.
NATIVE REBELS – Kadebe St, Jabavu, Soweto, 1809:
An Austrian ski lodge meets Joburg lounge protest posters, reclaimed wood and global flavours in the heart of Soweto.
Closing Ceremony – Philani Brown Retrospective The Closing Ceremony celebrates an established filmmaker whose journey can inspire young storytellers — a reminder that beginnings don’t define the future. Through screenings, conversation and reflection, Philani Brown traces the evolution of his voice from early shorts to a bold, celebrated body of work.