Johannesburg’s cultural calendar welcomes a powerful moment in African storytelling with an exclusive screening of BATWING Unmasked: An African Super Hero at the Joburg Film Festival. Taking place on Friday, 6 March 2026 at Theatre on the Square, Sandton City, the event promises more than just a documentary premiere—it marks a reframing of African representation in global comics.

A Rare First Look Before Continental Release

Before BATWING Unmasked: An African Super Hero reaches screens across the continent on TNT Africa (DStv 137), Joburg Film Festival guests will have the opportunity to experience the documentary in an exclusive setting.

The film asks a compelling question: Why is Batwing scarcely known, even in Africa—and what can African creators teach us about expanding his legacy?

Batwing stands as the first African and Congolese superhero in the DC family, yet his story remains largely untold. The documentary explores how African perspectives, creators, and cultural insight can help reframe his place in global pop culture.

A Documentary Rooted in African Creative Power

Produced by Joachim Landau, the film features compelling contributions from Siv Ngesi and Loyiso Mkize. Their reflections deepen the emotional and cultural resonance of Batwing’s journey, highlighting both the symbolic weight of the character and the opportunity for African storytellers to shape global narratives.

The screening forms part of a broader cultural dialogue about representation, ownership, and the evolution of genre storytelling from an African perspective.

Live Panel: Reimagining the African Superhero

Time: 13:00 (immediately after the screening)

Following the 12:00 screening, audiences are invited to remain for a live panel discussion titled:

BATWING UNMASKED: Reimagining the African Super Hero

Featuring Siv Ngesi, Loyiso Mkize, and Joachim Landau, the discussion will explore:

  • Batwing’s under-recognised legacy
  • His origins as an African and Congolese symbol within the DC universe
  • How African creators are expanding his story for a new generation
  • Representation and creative ownership in global comics
  • The future of African-led hero narratives

This conversation aims to unpack the deeper cultural implications of superhero storytelling and the role African creators can play in shaping mainstream pop culture.

About the Broader Creative Vision

The documentary is connected to a growing slate of African and international productions developed under FEDERATION Middle East Africa Caribbean (MEAC), co-created and managed by Joachim Landau. The subsidiary focuses on generating intellectual property from MEAC regions and producing and co-producing films, TV series, and high-end documentaries for local, continental, and international audiences.

Projects produced to date include Spinners (S01 & S02) for Canal+ and Showmax, The Light Of The Women for Arte and Public Sénat, Batwing for Warner Bros. Discovery, and Yohance for Canal+.

Event Details

  • Date: Friday, 6 March 2026
  • Time: 12:00 screening | 13:00 panel discussion
  • Venue: Theatre on the Square, Sandton City

This is more than a screening—it is a cultural moment that reframes African representation in global comics and explores how African creators can shape the legacy of a global superhero.