St Stithians has just become the first South African school to earn an official selection at the world’s biggest film festival for high school filmmakers, and the boys behind the camera are now heading to New York!
Johannesburg, South Africa (03 August 2026) – A group of young filmmakers from St Stithians College are getting ready for a moment many aspiring directors only dream about. Their film has been officially selected for the 2026 All-American High School Film Festival, making St Stithians the first South African school to reach the prestigious international event.
The achievement is even more impressive considering many members of the school’s Film Club had never even made a film before.
“Faced with uncertainty, our students embraced the opportunity with remarkable enthusiasm and commitment, driven by determination, creativity, and a shared passion for storytelling. Their hard work and resilience ultimately culminated in an extraordinary achievement.” shared the school.
The project began at the start of the second term when the club set themselves an ambitious goal to create a film and submit it to the world’s largest film festival dedicated to high school filmmakers. With more than 2500 submissions from over 40 countries, earning an official selection would not be easy.
Still, the students embraced the challenge and secured their spot! Their mockumentary, The Play (or the Failure Thereof), has been selected in the Comedy category and will be screened in New York City this October.
Directed by Grade 10 learner Landilani Chinkanda, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Grade 11 learner Shakeel Karumia, the film follows the increasingly chaotic production of a school play.
“…The mockumentary follows the production of a school play as it unravels in increasingly entertaining fashion, offering both humour and insight into the creative process.” shares the school.
Adding to the weight of the achievement, the film was all student-led! The acting, cinematography, editing and production, and every other part of the project was planned and brought to life by members of the Film Club.
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“This milestone represents not only a remarkable accomplishment for the Film Club but also a proud moment for the Boys’ College, as our students showcase their talent on a global stage. We congratulate everyone involved in bringing this project to life and wish them every success as the festival’s nominations and awards process unfolds.” the school shared.
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