7 South African short films to watch on the fly

From a minute to 14 hours and 33 minutes, there’s technically no rule when it comes to how long a movie can be. While filmmakers enjoy this creative freedom to some degree, their efforts can seem like a lifetime if their stories overstay their welcome. 

Our daily routine may involve many different screens but it’s getting comfy and kicking back in front of that one screen that we really desire. If you’re not wanting to commit to starting a new series or don’t have two hours to spare for a feature film, just watch a short film. Conveniently packaged into the space of a single episode, here are 7 vivid short films to airdrop you in another world. 

1. Nuwejaar

Depending on your expectations, New Year’s Eve can be the best or worst day of the year. When Nina’s grounded by her overbearing mother, the angst-filled youth decides to throw caution to the wind by defying her parents and living it up at a beach camp New Year’s party. 

Directed by Edwin van der Walt and starring Minke Marais and Ira Blanckenberg, this vivid short film captures the rollicking drama and emotional devastation of a young woman at a crossroads in her life. Struggling to navigate a haze of reckless and debauched decision-making, she stumbles her way through tricky friendships to arrive at the life-changing aftermath on New Year’s Day.  

2. Uxolo

Brother or mother, you can’t pick your family. Uxolo explores the deep-seated rivalry between two brothers following the death of their beloved mother. Always competitive, her dying wish and the impending funeral plans become a game of one-upmanship as the boys wage war with their status and wallets.  

Directed by Charlie Samson, Uxolo co-stars Sive Matiwane and Unathi Platyi as brothers whose fortunes land them on either side of the tracks. From getting the right marquee to dubious business dealings, they lock horns over pride and family matters as things spiral out of control. 

3. Daar’s Bloed

Celebrity is a funny thing, giving strangers unprecedented access and unearned familiarity. This is Cassandra Roothman’s dilemma, the star of a long-running soapie who discovers she may have a stalker when racy photos emerge. Trying to dial back her privacy with the sense she may be getting replaced on the show, Cassandra retreats to the safety of her home as everyone becomes a suspect. 

Written and directed by Christo Davids, Daar’s Bloed stars 7de Laan’s Hildegardt Silkiewicz with the one-and-only Bouwer Bosch as her garden-loving partner, Benji. Tapping into a dark comedy thriller dimension, this is a wild and wacky movie that escalates as prize-winning flower beds threaten to become overcrowded. 

4. Die Geval van Gideon 

What happens at IT conferences stays at IT conferences. For the unlikely hero and clunky presenter Gideon, an awkward hotel arrival melts away as his stay transforms into a business-and-pleasure trip. After Gideon matches with three women on a dating app, any thought of star-crossed romance begins to fade when he wakes up to discover their cruel true intentions.  

Die Geval van Gideon stars the ever-charming Francois Jacobs, whose knack for poking fun at himself makes him likeable and entertaining as the happy-go-lucky goofball, Gideon. An IT professional and amateur when it comes to love, Gideon contends with not one but three femme fatales played by Carla Classen, Christel van den Bergh and Robyn Rossouw.  

5. Meisiekind

Dating can be a battlefield and unstepping on mines isn’t for the faint-hearted. In the spirit of Bridget Jones’s Diary comes Meisiekind, a passion-fuelled romance comedy drama about an unlucky-in-love young lawyer whose boyfriend sends her packing after three years of blissful… ignorance. 

Directed by Nina Conradie, Meisiekind stars Izette Blignaut and Mila Guy as awkward new besties who find a reason to get even with a narcissist with political aspirations. A glitzy cast steer this character-driven short film as it toys with offbeat comedy and suspense. A lively and fun-filled escapade, it centres on girlfriends, libidos and the dangerous pitfalls of the dating game. 

6. The Secret Weapon 

Set against the high stakes environment of a fierce cooking competition, a talented chef must stand up to bullies, prove her worth and step out on her own. Coming from a foodie family, Bongi strives to up her game in the kitchen after her family’s catering business faces ruin when their food truck is stripped by thieves. 

A cutthroat kitchen love affair, The Secret Weapon is written and directed by filmmaker, musician and teacher Omen the Chef. The short film stars Luyolo Mngonyama in a promising role as the beautiful and gentle Bongi opposite Phumzile Kubheka and Diana Maseko. 

7. Lindelwa 

A carefree young woman is forced to reflect on her life’s decisions when a one-night stand with an old friend leads her to discover she’s about to become a mother. Free-wheeling and gorgeous, Lindelwa has her whole life ahead of her until she’s forced to grow up and take responsibility… and quickly. 

Directed by Dominique Black and Ranga Chikwene, this elegant, spirited and stylish comedy romance drama stars Sibusiswe Kondleka as the defiant and foolhardy Lindelwa.