Laundry (film)

Last updated

Laundry
Laundry film poster.jpg
Official poster
Zulu Uhlanjululo
Directed byZamo Mkhwanazi
Written by
  • Zamo Mkhwanazi
Produced by
  • Philippe Coeytaux
  • Zamo Mkhwanazi
  • Jim Stark
Starring
  • Tracy September
  • Ntobeko Sishi
  • Zekhethelo Zondi
  • Siyabonga Shibe
  • Bukamina Cebekhulu
CinematographyGabriel Lobos
Edited byChristine Hoffet
Music byTracy September
Production
companies
  • Akka Films
  • Kude Media
  • Mojo Entertainment LLC
Release date
  • 5 September 2025 (2025-09-05)(TIFF)
Running time
106 minutes
Countries
  • South Africa
  • Switzerland
Language
  • Zulu

Laundry (Zulu : Uhlanjululo) is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi in her debut feature. The film depicts a young man's aspirations as a musician in apartheid South Africa, clashing with preserving his family's laundry business amid intensifying racial discrimination against Black entrepreneurs. [1]

Contents

The international co-production between Switzerland, and South Africa, had its world premiere on 5 September 2025 in the Discovery section at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. [2] It was also selected at the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where it closed the festival on February 12, 2026. [3]

Synopsis

Set in Johannesburg in 1968, the story follows Khuthala, a young man reluctant to inherit his father’s laundry business. As apartheid-era restrictions intensify and Black-owned enterprises come under threat, he finds himself caught between his aspiration to become a musician and the need to protect the family’s only source of income and stability.

Cast

Production

In October 2024, the film was selected for the Atlas Workshops at the Marrakech International Film Festival. [4] Jeff Nichols, American film director and screenwriter mentored the directors at Atlas Workshops + Project Line-Up. [5]

Release

Laundry had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2025 in Discovery section. [6] [7] On 22 November 2025, it competed at the Marrakech International Film Festival in the official competition. [8]

The film was also selected for the Audience Award Competition at the 61st edition of the Solothurn Film Festival and will be screened on 22 January 2026. [9] It was also selected as closing film of 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival to be screened on 14 February 2026.

References

  1. ↑ Mkhwanazi, Zamo (12 August 2025). "Laundry". Cineuropa . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  2. ↑ John Hazelton (23 July 2025). "Toronto film festival unveils Discovery selection with 23 world premieres". ScreenDaily . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  3. ↑ Payton Turkeltaub (14 January 2026). "Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro and More to Be Honored at the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Variety . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Popp, Olivia (30 October 2024). "Marrakech announces the 27 projects and films selected for this year's Atlas Workshops". Cineuropa . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (25 October 2024). "Jeff Nichols To Mentor Emerging Arab & African Directors At Marrakech's Atlas Workshops + Project Line-Up". Deadline . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Laundry". Toronto International Film Festival . 12 August 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Katz, David (25 July 2025). "Toronto announces its Discovery line-up, seeking the auteurs of tomorrow". Cineuropa . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Popp, Olivia (20 November 2025). "Marrakech announces its glistening programme and jury". Cineuropa . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Del, Giorgia (11 December 2025). "The Solothurn Film Festival announces the programme for its 61st edition". Cineuropa . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.