So you want to start a Creative Agency?
In this interview, Roanna Williams shares the sparks and struggles behind starting her own shop, the culture she’s intent on building, and why the industry can’t afford to play it safe.
The Stormers breathe new life into South African sports advertising
The Stormers’ new commercial, ‘Breathe’, takes South African sports advertising on a very different route. Created by agency Bananas and Sunny Futures alongside director Anton Visser of Patriot, the ad plays as a rallying anthem from Cape Town to its team, with the city itself cast as the beating heart behind them. It positions Cape Town’s people as co-players, showing that when the Stormers run out, they carry the breath, energy, and spirit of the city with them.
AVIJOZI 2025: Where Creativity and Technology Meet – Under the Theme ‘Heart of Steel’
Now in its 4th edition, AVIJOZI continues its legacy as Africa’s premier free-access festival at the intersection of Film Production, AI, Animation, VFX, Interactive Tech, Gaming, Comics, and Content Development. Where creativity and technology meet. The 2025 theme, ‘Heart of Steel’, signals boldness in the face of change, speaking directly to creators navigating industry disruption and rapid technological transformation.
Introducing Incommon Director Retang Sebeka
Incommon is the perfect home for Retang to direct the kind of work he’s become known for; quirky, story-driven, and beautifully framed. His style sits somewhere between cool and curious, with a voice that blends fashion sensibilities, cultural fluency, and a gently funny take on the world.
Clear Angle Studios partners with local scanning company, Robot Air!
From Woman King to Mission: Impossible, South Africa has played host to big-budget international productions, lured by stunning landscapes, diverse locations, and competitive production costs. Now, Cape Town-based Robot Air has joined forces with the Pinewood-headquartered Clear Angle Studios, global leader in 3D capture services to bring world-class scanning technology and expertise to the region.
Carbon Films signs director Kristy Snell
A world-class specialist in food, liquids, and beauty brings her international experience to South Africa by joining the Carbon Films team. Kristy Snell is known for her bright, highly technical work in Tabletop directing. She brings years of international experience and a body of big brand work that turns everyday products, from burgers to beauty serums, into moments of pure joy.
The Refinery Joburg is open and so is Liam Traynor’s Colour suite
The Refinery has landed in Joburg with a new fully kitted Bryanston studio offering top-tier colour, VFX, online and final mix under one roof. Connected to their Cape Town HQ, The Refinery Joburg is ready to deliver high-end finishing across commercials, branded content, long-form and music videos. Leading colour is Johannesburg-born Liam Traynor, bringing home experience from London, Europe and LA.
Commercial director Imran Hamdulay joins The Star Film Company, now repped in Joburg
With a string of acclaimed projects and a cinematic approach to storytelling, director Imran Hamdulay has officially joined the roster at The Star Film Company. Imran brings a real sense of heart to everything he directs; his commercials feel deeply personal and undeniably South African. Hey Joburg, he lives in your hood now.
SOUTH AFRICA AT CANNES: Day 1 by Mike Abel
Every day this week, we’re handing the mic to a different South African at Cannes Lions 2025. We’ve asked them to capture one day, however they experienced it, in their own words. First up is Day 1 with none other than Mike Abel, Founder & Executive Chairman M&C Saatchi Abel & Group SA, here to give us a taste of his first day of Cannes, South African style.
Bananas. An agency born for risk averse clients.
“The biggest risk you can take is to be ignored." That is the founding belief behind the new agency in town, Bananas. Leading with ‘mischief and meaning over money and metrics’, Bananas is founded by Saf Sindhi (former AMV BBDO creative and Ogilvy Creative Partner) and Justin Gomes (former FoxP2 founder) with multi-award winning, Sean Harrison, completing the creative trio as head of art.
Olamuk brings heart to the legacy of Mercedes-Benz in new docuseries
How do you tell the story of a brand that helped shape a town, generations of livelihoods, and an entire industry? If you’re the team at Olamuk, you do it with humanity, a lot of care and six beautifully crafted documentary portraits.
IDIDTHAT hosts South Africa’s first Cannes Predictions Screening
Last week we hosted our first-ever IDIDTHAT Cannes Predictions Night, bringing together agency creatives to celebrate South Africa's work entered into Cannes 2025. It was a night full of love, laughter, wristbands and world-class craft.
We’re back, baby! LITTLEBIG x IDIDTHAT team up for Cannes Lions 2025 coverage
The IDIDTHAT x LITTLEBIG Cannes coverage collab returns, and we couldn’t be prouder. Thanks to our partners at LITTLEBIG, we’re once again able to back South African creativity loudly and proudly. Follow us as we spotlight the work, the talent, and the gees that make our industry world-class.
Watch this space, director Ying-Poi De Lacy touches down at Spitfire
Spitfire’s newest signing is no stranger to the craft, with a decade of experience, Director Ying-Poi joins the production house with momentum. And if you ask EP Liesl Lategan Kyriakou, this one was written in the stars.
Flying Fish gave a guy a billboard. Gentlemen Films’ Jono Hall made it a whole thing.
Comedy chaos, community drama, and a very big billboard in a very small yard. Flying Fish’s latest spot has all the ingredients of a “Surprisingly Good” mockumentary. Brought to life by Joe Public and directed by Jono Hall from Gentlemen Films, the hilariously escalating ad puts performance and tone front and centre.
A Rebel with a car cause. Hungry Films’ Director Juniper takes on Mercedes and wins.
Hungry Films director Juniper recently wrapped one of the most ambitious car campaigns we’ve seen in a while. The brief? Shoot nine Mercedes vehicles, deliver six hero 30-second spots for AMG, four retail ads, and a truckload of extra content. It all had to be done in just five days. For sixteen different regions. And she made it look good.
Blacksmith expands in a world of chaos
Our ad industry is pivoting at warp speed. Creativity’s under pressure, tech is rewriting the rules, and uncertainty is the only certainty… cue the tiny violins. Or listen to Blacksmith. Their new showreel's intention is to inspire others to simply keep creating.
PrettyNeat launches Maxime Davenport’s new film that hits a nerve
Released over Mother’s Day weekend, ‘Moms Need Moms Too’, is the new spot PrettyNeat produced to officially launch director Maxime Davenport on their roster. In the film Maxime explores the invisible, unrelenting weight of motherhood, the kind that doesn’t really get posted to Instagram. But this one did and in just a few days, it struck a chord, racking up over 70,000 views on PrettyNeat’s profile.
Director Craig Moore is back at Robot and he’s bringing the fire home
After nearly two decades lighting up sets from London to Los Angeles, crafting cinematic commercials, fashion films, and music videos director Craig Moore is back on home turf. Now based in Cape Town, Craig has rejoined the ranks at ROBOT, the creative machine he co-founded with Executive Producer Liam Johnson, and he’s bringing the heat to South Africa’s creative scene.
Yes, Darling’s Director Kit still directs commercials and she’s back with a bang
Focusing on honing her craft by directing big-scale Netflix productions across genres over the past two years, Darling Films’ Director Kit is now bringing all that experience back to commercial sets full-time. We’ve pulled together a few standout scenes that show just how much range and muscle she’s built. Welcome back to Ad Land, Kit, we missed you!