Film restoration company R3store Studios based in the UK has partnered with Villon Films and Alex Wilson on the restoration a historic title in South African cinema Jim Comes to Jo’burg.
Originally released in 1949, Jim Comes to Jo’burg—also known as African Jim—was the first feature-length entertainment film made with a black cast and specifically for black audiences in South Africa. It marked the screen debut of the legendary Dolly Rathebe and was directed by Donald Swanson, whose early works helped center Black identity and experience in a deeply segregated era of film.
The 50-minute drama follows Jim, a young man who leaves his tribal homeland for the city of Johannesburg in search of a better life. What unfolds is a mix of hardship, music, and resilience, all set against the vibrant but dangerous city nightlife.
At R3store Studios completed a full 4K scan, grade, and full restoration of the film from the original 35mm print—bringing it back to life since its original release!
The restored version is now screening in full at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa as part of a retrospective celebrating the film’s producer, trans pioneer and visual artist Erica Rutherford. Villon is planning to premiere the new restoration in South Africa first in early 2026, then Europe and beyond.
R3store told PAN: Honored to be a part of this project—and to help bring such an important film back into focus. If you get the chance, go see this film!”