Fresh from its triumph at the Berlin International Film Festival—where it took home the prestigious Peace Film Prize – the feature documentary TUTU is coming home for its African premiere at the 28th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival this June.
A Portrait of a Rebel
Directed by the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI), TUTU is far from a standard historical retrospective. It is an intimate, visceral portrait of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the “rebel cleric” whose moral conviction helped dismantle Apartheid.
Director Sam Pollard, recipient of the IDA’s 2020 Career Achievement Award, explains his vision:
“I wanted Tutu’s voice to be the heartbeat of the story, to let his humanity, humour and moral conviction lead us through his world.”
The film draws its power from extraordinary archival footage captured over twenty years by journalist Roger Friedman and photographer Benny Gool. This “Jew and Muslim” pairing – a duo Tutu famously called his “party trick” – brings a unique closeness to the footage. Viewers will see the Arch in moments of startling intensity:
Stopping a mob from “necklacing” an alleged informant.
Telling the West to “go to hell” over their refusal to back sanctions.
Weeping openly at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Sharing tender, quiet moments while renewing his wedding vows.
The Global Conscience
The documentary extends its lens beyond 1994, tracing Tutu’s global activism and his status as “South Africa’s conscience” well into his retirement. Executive produced by Trevor Noah and Richard Branson, the film has been hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as a portrait so personal that by the end, “you will feel as if you’ve truly come to know him.”
Where and When to Watch
Encounters is Africa’s longest-running documentary festival, running from 4–14 June 2026.
Cape Town Screenings
Sunday, 7 June @ 12:30 – Labia Theatre
Sunday, 7 June @ 16:30 – V&A Waterfront Ster-Kinekor
Johannesburg Screenings
Tuesday, 9 June @ 17:00 – Ster-Kinekor Sandton
Wednesday, 10 June @ 18:30 – Ster-Kinekor Southgate
Masterclasses & Legacy Panels
In addition to the screenings, director Sam Pollard and editor Paul Trewartha (who collaborated on Spike Lee classics like Jungle Fever) will host exclusive editing masterclasses sponsored by Clinix.
Cape Town: Monday, 8 June 2026
Johannesburg: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
For more information on the festival and venues (including The Bioscope, Rosebank Nouveau, and Brooklyn Commercial), visit the Encounters website.