"Variations on a Theme" creators Jason Jacobs, Annemarie du Plessis and Devon Delmar are the winners of the Joburg Film Fest Best African Film 2026.
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Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar’s “Variations on a Theme” took home the Best African Film award at the Joburg Film Festival 2026 Gala Awards.
Jacobs explained to IOL that “Variations on a Theme” is a film that speaks about a community that is waiting for the reparations from the forefathers who fought in the Second World War.
“The film follows a group of people in the Kharkamss community, in a state of waiting, a state of loss, but also it chronicles the resilience that they carry within their sports and within their hearts,” said Jacobs.
An elderly goat herder, Hettie, falls victim to a scam promising long-overdue reparations for her father’s WWII service. As she waits for money that will never come, the disruptions of her 80th birthday threaten to strip away the last of her independence.
Delmar added that “Variations on a Theme” is based on the reality of this community.
“Although the film is fictional, it's based on the real experiences of people who are historically been the brunt of a lot of injustices and continue to fall victim to these scams that operate in the Northern Cape, and that cycle just continues.
“Hence the title, in a sort of way, the film is structured ‘variations on a theme’ that this is a continually recurring form of exploitation, that is occurring in real life, and we took that real event, that real story, and turned it into a narrative that was as personal as it is political,” said Delmar.
Films such as “Variations on a Theme” can be described as forms of activism through storytelling, which was a strong theme among the films showcased at the eighth Joburg Film Festival.
Jacobs commented that South Africa has a rich history in the theatre space of using storytelling as a political tool, and in this instance, we were called to respond in a very particular time and way.
“We are the lucky ones to be able to be called to do the work. But we carry the responsibility to continue with the lineage of storytellers who want to make a difference in the political landscape of not only South Africa or Africa, but also the world, shared Jacobs.
The Northern Cape is South Africa's largest and most sparsely populated province, renowned for its dramatic, arid landscapes like the Kalahari Desert, the Augrabies Falls, and the spring wildflowers of Namaqualand
Through film, storytellers get to transport the viewers to places that they have never been to and also get to be educated about places that are not popularised.
Jacobs, who hails from the Northern Cape, expressed that it's an excellent space to explore the untapped possibilities of filmmaking.
“The Northern Cape carries a lot of history, also in terms of migration. A lot of people were pushed, a lot of people moved there out of choice, but also I think the Northern Cape presents itself with this opportunity for a landscape and a people that is not seen in the global space.”
Winning Best African Film at the Joburg Film Festival is a huge achievement for the filmmakers. Producer Annemarie du Plessis reflected that it’s a massive achievement to finish any kind of film.
“For us to be able to travel with the film to Rotterdam, to be able to come home at Joburg Film Festival, we are doing it, but we're taking everyone with us.
“We really want to inspire young people and old people who still have stories to tell. Yes, there are challenges, but there are creative ways to solve those challenges.
“We are very lucky to be working with people and a community of filmmakers, post-production suppliers, and everybody willing to go on their journey with us, and without being, you would not stand here.”
IOL