In under a year, Fam Films, led by founders Aadil Dhalech and Mpho Twala, has delivered nine major campaigns, working nonstop between Jozi, Cape Town, and Nairobi, with a talented team that includes Jess Schipper, Hallie Haller, Gcobisa Yako, and newly-signed director Fhathuwani Mukheli.
Leon Visser, the editor behind GAIA, DONKERBOS, and more, is battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and needs a bone marrow transplant. If his work has touched you, please consider supporting him.
Bioscope Films officially welcomes director Jessie Zinn, fresh off her IDIDTHAT Best of Craft win for Sonnenglas. Her first job with Bioscope. The spot was shot exclusively at dusk and dawn over an eight-day journey across South Africa and Eswatini, capturing the beauty of light for the solar brand.
This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by Sibs Zihle, Creative Director at Ogilvy South Africa, and Monde Gumede, Director at SHIBOBO! A massive shoutout to director Jessie Zinn from Bioscope Films and freelance director Royd Ringdahl for taking home Best of Craft.
Senior editor and Syndicate founder Nic Goodwin’s latest work for Black Crown, in collaboration with Egg Films’ director Lebogang Rasethaba, highlights Nic’s talent for elevating storytelling through sharp, nuanced (and really cool) editing. This was a dream brief he took full advantage of.
Known for his comedy and performance chops and keen eye for the visual, director Peri is spreading his wings with Superkind. The latest Cape Town-based full-service production company is rooted in an affinity for collaboration and a vision to bring a fresh approach to every project.
Tessa Ford Post is synonymous with high-end post-production in South Africa. Beyond big-budget campaigns, they’re a creative-first, approachable team, taking on projects of all sizes.
At this year's Loeries, The Odd Number claimed the title of Independent Agency of the Year. This accolade highlights the agency's exceptional contributions to advertising and its commitment to innovation and excellence in the industry.
Egg Films has signed Canadian-based director Marc Sidelsky, bringing his cinematic style and subversive humor to South Africa. Known for his deadpan, bone-dry wit, Marc now has a creative home for his bold storytelling at Egg Films, where he’ll be available for local agency work.
Joe Public proudly took to the stage at the 46th annual Loerie Awards in Cape Town as Agency of the Year. Joe Public Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and their clients bagged 35 of the sought-after birds, including five wins with production partners Romance Films, Darling Films and Post Modern.
Ogilvy enjoyed wins on both nights of the Loeries this year, with 19 Loeries in total for clients including Volkswagen SA, KFC, The City of Cape Town, Carling Black Label and Doom. Work was celebrated across a wide number of categories including; Direct, Film, Integrated, Radio, Activations and various industry craft categories.
During Loeries Creative Week, Open Chair, in partnership with Nedbank, hosted a speed dating afternoon with a difference. Aptly called, “Friends in High Places,” it was held at The Cape Wheel at the Waterfront. 65 mentees had face time with 31 mentors from across the industry. The pods on the wheel served as an ideal safe space for these women to share their stories and receive guidance.
This year, South Africa’s NETO+SHOOKAN, in collaboration with VML SA helped win 8 Cannes Lions for a global Coca-Cola campaign. We spoke with Executive Producer Paresh Shookan and photographer Kgomotso ‘Neto’ Tleane, who crafted the South African contribution.
Operating on a lean model with minimal overheads, Usual Suspects Films offers agencies and clients big value at highly competitive rates. Since its founding in 2017, the post-production house has been delivering top services across commercials, feature films, and doccies, as well as long-form on platforms like Amazon, Netflix, and Showmax. They offer everything from offline and online editing to colour grading, whatever the project needs.
Clean Creatives is stepping up efforts to hold the SA ad industry accountable for its ties to the fossil fuel industry. Their 2024 SA F-List report has been published and exposes 42 contracts between local agencies and fossil fuel companies like Engen and BP.
Giant Films’ Karien Cherry delivers her latest spot for Volkswagen in collaboration with Ogilvy South Africa and the visual effects maestros at Chocolate Tribe and well, hello there CRAFT! Proven to be one of our country’s top conceptual and performance directors, this ad further cements Karien’s reputation by showcasing her exceptional visual craft.
This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards brought together two powerhouse judges: Neema Nouse, Integrated Creative Director at The Odd Number, and Dani Hynes, Director and Founder of Love Films. And they both agreed – Best of Craft this month goes to Karien Cherry from Giant Films.
And this for the spitfire intro: With over 24 years of directing 360+ commercials across 32 countries, Spitfire’s Co-Founder AK is one of South Africa’s most experienced directors. Beyond the awards and on-set adventures, his journey is also about family, personal growth, and a deep love of film.
Former Pulse Films director Alex Motlhabane returns to South Africa after a successful UK career working with brands like Pepsi and Amazon, and directing music videos for slowthai and A$AP Rocky. He now brings his expertise to Robot Films.
Lazola Gola’s latest Weetbix campaign is a perfect example of comedy having it's moment in advertising. Teaming up with M&C Saatchi Abel, Lazola brings his signature offbeat humor to the breakfast table, crafting a colorful, quirky, and memorable campaign.
