On 7 March 2026, at the Joburg Film Festival Awards, filmmaker Khaya Dube was announced as the winner of the prestigious Young Voices Award. The accolade marked a defining moment in his career, placing him among the most promising storytellers of his generation. His film Umxoxiso stood out for its originality, cultural resonance, and emotional depth, earning recognition from both audiences and industry peers.
For Dube, the award represents the culmination of a journey that began with an idea and grew into a film that speaks to the heart of South African youth. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of cinema to preserve memory while shaping the future.
The Intimacy of Storytelling
Directing Umxoxiso was, as Dube describes, an intimate process that demanded vulnerability and reflection. The film draws inspiration from indigenous storytelling games, traditions like Ukwota, that shaped childhood experiences and continue to hold cultural weight.
“The process of directing this project was a very intimate one. I think the story explores deep themes about the social issues that the youth faces, and we tell this story through the blanket of indigenous storytelling games that we would play in our childhood,” he explains.
By weaving these games into the narrative, Dube situates Umxoxiso within a lineage of oral traditions, reminding audiences that the stories we tell as children often carry profound truths about identity, community, and resilience.
Mining Gold From Memory
At the heart of Umxoxiso lies a belief in the richness of cultural memory. Dube sees storytelling not only as a way to preserve the past but also as a tool to shape the future.
“This is a film that explores those specific experiences to highlight how the youth has gold in the way that we tell our stories and the way that we recall our past, and also how we can inform our futures to care now.”
This philosophy positions memory as a form of wealth, a resource that can guide young people through contemporary challenges. By revisiting childhood games and traditions, Dube suggests that the youth can reclaim agency, grounding themselves in heritage while imagining new possibilities.
Behind the Frame
The making of Umxoxiso was a collaborative effort, blending technical precision with emotional depth. From conceptualisation to post-production, Dube and his team navigated the complexities of translating intimate themes into cinematic language. The process demanded patience, creativity, and a willingness to experiment.
The film’s visual rhythm mirrors the cadence of oral storytelling. Pauses, repetitions, and crescendos echo the way stories are passed down in communities. This stylistic choice not only honours tradition but also creates a cinematic experience that feels both familiar and innovative. The camera lingers on moments of silence, allowing the audience to breathe with the characters, and then moves with urgency when the narrative demands it. This balance between stillness and movement reflects the dual nature of memory, both fragile and powerful.
Winning the Young Voices Award places Dube among a cohort of filmmakers who are redefining South African cinema. These emerging voices are not content with surface-level narratives. They are digging into the textures of lived experience, exploring themes of identity, memory, and social justice.
For Dube, being part of this collective is both humbling and energising. It situates Umxoxiso within a broader movement of films that challenge audiences to think critically about the present while honouring the past. The Young Voices platform is about creating a space where filmmakers can learn from one another, share their struggles, and celebrate their triumphs.
The Johannesburg Film Festival has long been a space where established and emerging filmmakers converge.
As Umxoxiso takes its place among the award-winning films of 2026, Dube’s journey reminds us that storytelling is about preservation, reflection, and transformation. His film underscores the idea that the youth of South Africa carry within them a treasure trove of narratives, stories that can heal, inspire, and reimagine the future.
WATCH: Khaya Dube After Winning
As audiences encounter Umxoxiso at JFF, they are invited not only to watch but to remember, to recall the games, the stories, and the voices that shaped them.
