Isio Africa’s Provocative Anthology ‘A Moment in Time’ to Screen at Joburg Film Festival 2026

Isio Africa has announced that three short films from its bold new anthology series, A Moment in Time (AMIT), have been selected for the 8th annual Joburg Film Festival.

The films — The Night Before Elections, The Patriarchy, and Mother — will screen back-to-back on 6 March 2026 at The Artistry in Sandton, Johannesburg.

A Powerful African Storytelling Vision

Created and written by media and entertainment entrepreneur Mudzithe Phiri, A Moment in Time is an independently funded anthology of six short films that confront some of the most pressing societal issues facing modern Africa.

The series delivers a raw and uncompromising examination of themes such as:

• Patriarchal violence

• Political corruption

• The lingering trauma of colonialism

Phiri’s vision is to provoke reflection and spark urgent dialogue about Africa’s future.

“Africans need to be snapped out of it,” says Phiri. “My films are raw because I feel that maybe if the truth is shown in its stark crudeness, people will understand why it’s so important that we stop with the political correctness and face reality head on.”

She adds that the films also explore the ways institutions such as religion and politics continue to reinforce oppressive systems long after colonial rule formally ended.

A Celebration of African Collaboration

Despite the heavy themes explored in the films, the production process itself reflected a powerful spirit of African collaboration.

Phiri highlights the dedication and professionalism of the production team, which consisted almost entirely of African creatives.

“Everybody who worked on this film — all Black crew but one, shout out to Ziggy who brought them together — they were all on time every day and gave their best. It was amazing to have Africans working together with a work ethic on 100. It’s literally the dream.”

Stories That Challenge and Inspire

The three films selected for the festival each tackle powerful themes:

• The Night Before Elections – explores political corruption and ancestral reckoning

• The Patriarchy – examines the oppressive violence of patriarchal systems

• Mother – reflects on humanity’s destructive relationship with nature

The festival selection marks a significant milestone for the project. Phiri spent three years raising funds to bring the anthology to life, supported by co-executive producer Kassim Suleiman, the award-winning executive producer behind Big Brother Nigeria and Nigerian Idol, as well as Nigerian investment firm Optiva Capital Partners.

Building a New African Film Economy

Phiri hopes that A Moment in Time will eventually grow into an ongoing series and is currently seeking a global streaming partner to bring the project to international audiences.

Beyond the series itself, she is also passionate about helping build a self-sustaining African film economy.

“Storytelling is African at its core. Our culture has always been rooted in stories,” she says.
“We need systems and models that are unique to our people, our environment and our market. When we try to build the industry through a Western lens, we limit ourselves before we even begin.”

Her vision is to encourage African creatives to develop content that speaks authentically to African audiences while still reaching the global stage.

About A Moment in Time

A Moment in Time (AMIT) is an anthology series of six short films written and created by Mudzithe Phiri. Each film captures a pivotal moment reflecting the challenges and aspirations of contemporary Africa, exploring themes ranging from political corruption and patriarchal violence to the search for a new and authentic African narrative.

About Isio Africa

Isio Africa is a media and entertainment company founded by Mudzithe Phiri. The company focuses on aligning culture, content and community to build powerful African brands and creative businesses for the next generation of African consumers.