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Our online course for screenwriters takes place on Saturdays from 2 PM to 5 PM on July 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your writing skills! Read more
Now Showing in Cinemas
- The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup, an inventive Viking who defies tradition by befriending Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Read more / Review
- A free-spirited surfer is abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer and held captive on his boat in Dangerous Animals. Read more
- Materialists is an upcoming romantic comedy following a woman navigating love and ambition in a world obsessed with wealth and status. Read more
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning picks up after Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, with Ethan Hunt and his IMF team racing against time to locate a Russian submarine that holds the key to destroying a rogue AI known as The Entity. Read more / Review
- The Phoenician Scheme is an espionage black comedy following Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), a wealthy businessman who appoints his only daughter, Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), as the sole heir to his estate. Read more / Review

JUNE 2025 CINEMA RELEASES
19 – 29 June
The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival showcases documentaries from over 40 countries. The South African doccies include Fitting In, focusing on the diverse experience of young South Africans as they begin their studies at the select former Afrikaans university, Stellenbosch, Albie: A Strange Alchemy celebrates the 90th birthday of the renowned Judge Albie Sachs, and A Journey Through His Lens examines the work of Sam Nzima, the photographer who took the iconic picture of Mbuyisa Makhabo carrying the body of the dying 12-year-old activist Hector Pietersen on June 16th, 1976. A highlight of the festival is Wim Wenders’s Anselm (Germany), an immersive documentary about Anselm Kiefer, one of the world’s greatest contemporary artists. Encounters takes place at the Labia Theatre and V&A Waterfront Ster-Kinekor in Cape Town and The Bioscope and The Zone @ Rosebank in Johannesburg from 19 to 29 June 2025. For the full schedule of films and to buy tickets, visit https://encounters.co.za
20 June
Elio is an upcoming animated science fiction adventure film from Pixar Animation Studios, directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, following Elio Solis, an imaginative 11-year-old boy who is mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador after being beamed up to an intergalactic organisation called the Communiverse. Read more
28 Years Later is an upcoming post-apocalyptic horror thriller, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. It serves as the third instalment in the 28 Days Later franchise, following 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007). The story takes place 28 years after the outbreak of the Rage virus, with survivors living on a small island connected to the mainland by a heavily defended causeway. When a father and son venture into the mainland, they uncover mutated horrors and hidden secrets. Read more
Bride Hard is an upcoming action comedy directed by Simon West, starring Rebel Wilson as a secret agent who takes on the role of Maid of Honour at her best friend’s wedding. When a group of mercenaries crashes the celebration and takes guests hostage, she must fight to save the day—without ruining the big event. The film also features Anna Camp, Justin Hartley, Stephen Dorff, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Anna Chlumsky. It blends high-octane action with wedding chaos, making it a mix of Die Hard and Bridesmaids. You can check out the official trailer or find more details on IMDb and Wikipedia.
27 June
Sharp Corner is a psychological thriller directed by Jason Buxton, based on the short story by Russell Wangersky. The film stars Ben Foster as Josh McCall, a man who becomes obsessed with saving car accident victims at the dangerous curve near his home. His fixation begins to unravel his personal life, leading to disturbing consequences. The cast includes Cobie Smulders, Gavin Drea, Alexandra Castillo, and Jonathan Watton. Read more
M3GAN 2.0 is the upcoming sequel to the 2022 horror hit M3GAN. Directed by Gerard Johnstone, the film sees the return of Allison Williams as Gemma and Violet McGraw as Cady, alongside new cast members Ivanna Sakhno, Jemaine Clement, and Aristotle Athari. The story picks up two years after the events of the first film, with Gemma now advocating for AI regulation while secretly keeping M3GAN trapped in a harmless robotic doll. However, when a defence contractor steals M3GAN’s technology to create a military-grade AI weapon named Amelia, things spiral out of control. Facing an AI takeover, Gemma and Cady must upgrade M3GAN to fight back. You can check out the official trailer or find more details on IMDb and Wikipedia.
F1 film is a sports action drama directed by Joseph Kosinski, and stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a former Formula 1 driver who returns to the sport to mentor rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) at the fictional APXGP team. The film was shot during actual F1 race weekends, with Pitt and Idris driving modified Formula 2 cars equipped with 15 camera mounts to capture realistic racing sequences. Lewis Hamilton served as a consultant to ensure authenticity. Read more
29 June
The Barber of Seville is one of the most beloved operas in the world, known for its energetic melodies, comedic brilliance, and vocal fireworks. The opera follows the clever and resourceful Figaro as he helps Count Almaviva win the heart of Rosina, who is being kept under the watchful eye of her guardian, Dr. Bartolo. The story is full of humour, disguises, and lively music, featuring Moldovan baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky as Figaro, Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina as the feisty heroine Rosina, and Hungarian bass-baritone Peter Kálmán as Dr. Bartolo. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts Bartlett Sher’s madcap production. It concludes the Metropolitan Opera’s 2024–25 Live in HD season on June 29 and July 1. Read more
JULY 2025 CINEMA RELEASES
4 July
Jurassic World Rebirth is an upcoming American science fiction action film directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp. It serves as a standalone sequel to Jurassic World Dominion (2022) and is the seventh instalment in the Jurassic Park franchise. The story takes place five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, where Earth’s environment has become largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. The surviving creatures now reside in remote, tropical locations. Read more
11 July
Superman (2025)—formerly titled Superman: Legacy—is an upcoming superhero film directed by James Gunn and produced by DC Studios. It serves as a reboot of the Superman film series and will be the first film in the new DC Universe (DCU). The story explores Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing, as he strives to embody truth, justice, and the human way in a world that views these ideals as outdated. The film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman, alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner. TRAILER
18 July
I Know What You Did Last Summer brings back original stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., alongside a fresh cast. The story follows a new group of friends haunted by a dark secret, while the infamous Fisherman killer returns with an upgraded arsenal of terrifying weapons. TRAILER
Four Letters of Love is an upcoming romantic drama film based on the bestselling novel by Niall Williams. Directed by Polly Steele, the movie stars Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, Gabriel Byrne, Fionn O’Shea, and Ann Skelly. The story follows Nicholas and Isabel, two individuals whose lives are shaped by fate, love, and loss. As destiny pulls them together, family, passion, and faith threaten to drive them apart. The film explores themes of faith, miracles, and the power of love in a beautifully crafted narrative.
25 July
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an upcoming superhero film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Matt Shakman, the movie introduces Marvel’s First Family in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing. They must defend Earth from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, portrayed by Julia Garner. TRAILER
Eddington is a 2025 contemporary Western written and directed by Ari Aster. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, and others. The film is set in Eddington, New Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Phoenix) and the mayor (Pascal) escalates tensions in the community. TRAILER
Streaming
Netflix’s 2025 series, Dept. Q marks an astonishing return to form for co-creator/developer Scott Frank, the visionary creator behind acclaimed series like The Queen’s Gambit and Godless. Diving into the dark recesses of detective work and human emotion, Dept. Q is a masterstroke of layered storytelling and cinematic excellence—a crime drama that captivates, devastates, and utterly consumes its audience. Read Review
“I think the thing about the 1950s is that it was a time when anyone who was living on the margins was really limited in how much freedom they had, how much they could express themselves, how much they could be themselves,” says screenwriter Bryce Kass about On Swift Horses, portaying the struggles of individuals seeking connection and self-discovery in a time of rigid societal expectations. Read more
FILMS RELEASED IN 2025
Listed Alphabetically. Click on title for more information about the film
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN / A KIND OF MADNESS / A MINECRAFT MOVIE / A REAL PAIN / A SCAM CALLED LOVE / A WORKING MAN / ACCOUNTANT 2 / THE AMATEUR / ANORA / BALLERINA / BETTER MAN / BRAVE THE DARK / BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY / BLACK BAG / THE BRUTALIST / BUFFALO KIDS / CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD / CLEANER / COMPANION / THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE / CELLAR DOOR / COUP DE CHANCE / DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA / DIE KWIKSILWERS / DIE DEKONSTRUKSIE VAN RETTA BLOM / DOG MAN / DROP / EMILIA PEREZ / FIGHT OR FLIGHT / FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES / FLIGHT RISK / FLOW / THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL / GUNS UP / HUNTING JESSICA BROK / HURRY UP TOMORROW / INHERITANCE / IN THE LOST LANDS / JULIET & ROMEO / JUNGLE BEAT 2 / KARATE KID: LEGENDS / KING OF KINGS / LAST BREATH / THE LIFE OF CHUCK / LILO & STITCH / LOCKED / LOVE HURTS / LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH / MARIA / MARKED MEN / MICKEY 17 / MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING / THE MONKEY / NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE / NOSFERATU / NOVOCAINE / OLD GUY / ONE OF THEM DAYS / PADDINGTON IN PERU / PENGUIN LESSONS / THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME / PRESENCE / RIFF RAFF / RULE BREAKERS / SABBATICAL / THE SALT PATH / SEPTEMBER 5 / SHADOW FORCE / SINNERS / SNEAKS / SNOW WHITE / SOM VAN TWEE / THUNDERBOLTS / UNTIL DAWN / WARFARE / WE LIVE IN TIME / WOLF MAN /

