ENCOUNTERS 2025: SHORTS BLOCK - REDEFINING DESIRE: FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM

Every year since our founding in 2010, The Bioscope has proudly hosted screenings of The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. Now celebrating its 27th year as a festival, Encounters returns to The Bioscope once again with screenings at The Bioscope from 20 - 29 June. Tickets are R90. 

SEE THE FULL BIOSCOPE PROGRAM HERE

SHORTS BLOCK - REDEFINING DESIRE: FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM

Slut Club  (16 SN)

Zoey Black | South Africa | 23 min | 2025 

Set in Cape Town, this deliciously body-positive film introduces viewers to Ms T’s Slut Club, a pole-dancing show for women and the queer community that celebrates the divine feminine and sacred sexuality in all of us. The film celebrates diverse and queer joy as a form of resistance, while exemplifying the vital role that radical safe spaces such as Slut Club can play in a world where LGBTQ+ people continue to face oppression and the policing of their bodies by broader society.

Unyagoni: Bahati’s Sex Education Journey (13 PG)

Dir. Saitabao Kaiyare | Kenya | 24 min | 2024 

Unyagoni: Bahati’s Sex Education Journey follows Bahati Ngazi, an iconic MC and magnetic radio star from Mombasa, Kenya, as she embarks on an intimate exploration of Swahili sex education. Known for her fearless voice on air, Bahati now steps off the mic and into a world of generational wisdom, guided by the women who uphold these sacred traditions. From a curious novice, ‘Mikleso,’ to a respected sex educator, ‘Kungwi’, Bahati undergoes a personal transformation, challenging societal taboos around sex, womanhood and pleasure. Through enchanting rituals, the film honours the cultural richness of Swahili practices while reclaiming sex as sacred, intentional and pleasurable for both parties. Unyagoni is both a rite of passage and a radical act of autonomy, affirming women’s right to desire, knowledge and self-defined pleasure in a modern world.

What I Do Not Know Will Not Kill Me (13 PG)

Dir. Annabelle Ayangbade | Nigeria | 16 min | 2024 

In Nigeria, 8000 women die of cervical cancer annually. Dr. Aisha Mustapha, a pioneering obstetrician gynaecologist operating in Northern Nigeria, is one of the few leading the charge against this preventable disease. After surviving cervical cancer herself, she now devotes her life to treating and educating women affected by it. With nearly 80% of women contracting HPV at some point, and a critical window for treatment, the film becomes a powerful call to action: advocating for HPV vaccinations, regular screenings, and the destigmatisation of women’s health. Through the inspiring story of Dr. Aisha and the women she serves, the film explores the barriers to accessing care and the need for more inclusive, supportive healthcare systems. What I Do Not Know Will Not Kill Me is a story of resilience, strength and hope, championing a future where knowledge, empowerment and action, not silence, saves lives.

In 2025, The Bioscope celebrates 15 Years Of Cinema. We couldn’t have achieved this without our dedicated staff who look after you every time you visit. We’re lucky enough to have had all of them with us for as long as we can remember, and believe that this loyalty deserves constant support!

For the months of May, June and July, we are running a special BIOSCOPE BIRTHDAY STAFF FUNDRAISER, where in the checkout of your ticket purchase, you can give a donation that will go straight to them - Owen, Silin, Bongi, Portia, Polite, and Swenkie!