Emerging talent returns to Joburg Film Festival

Fresh off his nomination for Outstanding Emerging Filmmaker at the Directors Guild of South Africa Creative Awards, Earl Kopeledi brings his latest short film, Klawerjas, to the 8th edition of the Joburg Film Festival.

Kopeledi previously directed A Home is Not a House, an official selection at JFF 2025. The film earned nominations for Best International Short Film at the Miami Urban Film Festival and Best International Film at the International Black Film Festival in Nashville, Tennessee.

About Klawerjas

Klawerjas centres on a reunion of old university friends who gather for a day of cards and conversation. The unexpected arrival of a younger brother unsettles the group dynamic. Long-standing fractures surface. One outspoken friend fuels conspiracy theories, heightening tension.

The title refers to Klaverjas, a Dutch card game introduced to South Africa in the 17th century. Over time, it evolved into Klawerjas, a distinct local variation. The game became especially popular within the Cape Malay community and later, during the 1980s and 1990s, widely played by Coloured students on Western Cape campuses. The name derives from the Dutch words klaver, meaning clubs, and jas, meaning jack, referencing the powerful jack of clubs.

Earl uses the game as a metaphor. Themes of power, privilege and hierarchy unfold around the card table. At its core, the film explores friendship and the safe spaces it creates. It is within these spaces that difficult conversations surface with honesty and humour.

“I wanted to have fun with this project,” says Kopeledi. “Topics like conspiracy, race, culture and intimate relationships can feel off-limits. Art gives us the freedom to explore them in a safe environment, bringing vulnerability and humour into the conversation.”

Creative collaborators

Cinematographer Nic Manshon uses Black Mist filters to create a softened, cinematic look. This aesthetic allows the film to move between comedic moments and emotional depth.

Composer O’Ryan Winter, a frequent collaborator of Kopeledi, delivers a score blending R&B and Cape Town jazz. The music mirrors the narrative’s rhythm and tonal shifts.

Cast line-up

The cast includes:

• Jarrid Geduld, two-time SAFTA winner, known for Indemnity
• Merlin Balie, known for Arendsvlei
• Sherman Pharo, known for Breekpunt
• Damian De Villiers, known for Tuiskoms
• Karlé Briedenhann, known for Sewe
• Lester Walbrugh, known for 2 Thirds of a Man

Screening details

Klawerjas screens on 7 March at 12pm at The Forge in Braamfontein as part of the 2026 Joburg Film Festival.

The festival, presented by MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, runs from 3 to 8 March 2026 under the theme Feel the Frame.

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