Cape Town and Johannesburg-based production company, Robot, has announced that Ayanda Tshabalala will be joining the Jozi team to facilitate the growing demand for commercial work. Ayanda will be bringing her years of industry experience, across various fields in advertising and production, by stepping in as Executive Producer.
Established as a director known for crafting intimate thought-provoking and always culturally relevant work, Lebogang Rasethaba has recently directed two inspiring pieces of storytelling for Apple TV+. The design docu-series Home, features some of the most remarkable houses across the world and the visionaries behind the designs. We spoke to Director and Partner at Egg Films and Co-Founder of Arcade, Lebogang, about the experience of directing two of the season’s episodes; one set in South Africa and the other in Ghana.
‘I sometimes wish I had left the ad agency world sooner, but when I look back I realise I was always working toward becoming a director. Everything I have done and achieved has led up to this moment. Even though technically speaking I have only been directing for a few years, for me, it’s been over a decade in the making.’ Says Art Director turned Filmmaker Thina Zibi.
‘Free Surfers’ is a two-part documentary series honouring two South African surfers who overcame adversity and found their freedom in the ocean. This is a significant piece of South African storytelling, in fact, without it an important part of history might have been lost forever. We go behind the scenes with CCO of Net#work BBDO Roanna Williams and Bioscope Films’ director Kyla Philander.
Over the past 13 years Butterfly Films has established a reputation for being a team of filmmakers that always approaches the work with humanity first. Being around them you can’t help but be energised by how they live and breathe filmmaking. This is equally true for the latest two directors to join the Butterfly family; Directors Sandulela Asanda and Meghan Daniels.
It’s been just under a year since director Hallie Haller joined The Rudeboy Collective. Her strength as a storyteller and an energetic collaborator has seen her hit the ground running, not only directing big brand campaigns and TVC’s but also promoting her short film at festivals around the world. Hallie chats about her latest beauty ad that’s not a beauty ad, and how being a human in advertising has paid off.
Follow South Africa’s Cannes Lions Shortlists and Winners right here from the 19th of June. We’ll be updating this page as results are announced – listing all South Africa’s shortlists, showcasing the awarded work, and featuring all the IDIDTHAT members involved.
With Refinery seeing a growing demand for local commercial VFX work, Eddie Addinall and Tracy-Lee Portnoi will be bringing their knowledge and technical expertise to grow the VFX department into the commercial space. Online Flame Artist Eddie will be working collaboratively with the rest of the Refinery departments to creatively drive and lead the team in finishing commercials, while the company will of course be continuing their episodic and long-form work.
Colourists can be film production’s invisible heroes; although armed with the superpower to craft work from a bronze to gold, the truth is, the less you notice the colour, the better it probably was. World-class Colourist and Flame artist, Jarryd Duthoit from Left Post Production shared his insights on the role of Colourists in production, how to get the best out of your collaboration with colourists, and talks colour trends.
Director Jabu Newman has crafted a visually vibrant and unapologetically Gen-Z world for Standard Bank. Reality meets every young adult’s fantasy in the stylish tongue-in-cheek campaign that uses energetic TikTok-inspired transitions to authentically celebrate South Africa’s youth culture.
Over 4 years ago JT Moatshe joined Spitfire as their in-house sound designer and music composer. Fiercely in love with film, curious and eager to learn, he worked his way up to videographer and photographer and eventually found his seat at the table as a fully-fledged Spitfire director. JT has already built up quite a reel of content and commercials, but what makes this filmmaker such an agile director is his ability to combine his visuals with his ear for music and sound design chops. Here’s why JT Moatshe should be on your radar.
Made Films’ directing roster is getting even bigger as they welcome director James Reynolds. He first joined the company just over half a year ago as an Assistant Director to Made director Dani Hynes. He first caught the team at Made’s attention because of his experience in research, writing and assisting as well as the time he had spent in just about every production department. As an actor, he’s worked all over the world and is a skilled street and portrait photographer and award-winning short film director – a ‘Jack of all Trades’ as Dumi (Made Producer Dumisani Mvumvu) calls him.
Joburg-based production company Cake have announced that they are opening another production office in London. Founders, Executive Producer Cat Lindsay and Director Nadezna Radcore say the new Cake shop will be servicing their growing number of international clients, but that their local clients need not panic. Both Nadezna and Cat will be travelling between South Africa and the UK regularly to ensure that all local shoots are business as usual.
Made Films is expanding their directing roster by welcoming Bongani Morgan to the family. Having established himself as a narrative filmmaker with a deep love of our country, its stories and its people, the team at Made Films had their eye on him for a while and are excited to announce that it’s official. Bonus points, he’s also a really cool and kind human – Made material!
Patriot Films has added comedy and performance director Tumelo Moropa to their talented stable of directors. Tumelo is known for his humourous and authentic takes on Mzansi, creating hilariously relatable characters and an offbeat visual style in his work.
Dani Hynes has directed Bokomo’s latest commercial; an almost 3-minute film starring a 9-year-old, her grandpa, a duck and a snail. The ad does not do much to serve the old adage ‘don’t work with children or animals’, but then again, Dani has always loved a challenge. In collaboration with agency MullenLowe, this beautiful cinematic and emotive piece of storytelling takes you on a heartfelt journey exploring two nurturing relationships and the passing on of wisdom that is sure to pluck at the heartstrings.
Industry renowned film director Jonathan Parkinson has joined the Osu Creative team to launch PHI 3.0. Previous iterations of the PHI creative concept saw Jonathan co-direct with director Nicole Ackermann (PHI 1.0) for 3 years and then Matshepo Maja (PHI 2.0) for 3 years. PHI 3.0 will now take on a slightly different shape, where Jonathan will be collaborating with the Osu talent to broaden their creative offering.
South Africa’s viral hitmaker, original-content king, and founder of JOE Films, Dan Mace, has merged YouTube and traditional TV in ‘The BRU Show’ for Warner Bros Discovery. With the show already gaining big traction internationally, we thought it’s time South Africa got the scoop on how the fairly new production company, JOE Films, produced a 12-part hit show based on impossible ideas, from beginning to post.
10th Street have recently branched out into long-form storytelling and are behind the much-anticipated documentary about Springbok’s Makazole Mapimpi, the first South African to score a try in a Rugby World Cup Final, titled MAP1MP1.
Robot’s Zandi Tisani is a director with a finger on the pulse of pop culture, a background (and awards) in scriptwriting and a heart set on crafting considered narrative films with impactful visuals. About to serve as a jury member on the board for the Creative Circle for her second term in a row, we wanted to find out exactly what Zandi had to say, catch up on her latest work and honestly, just hang around her because we’re obsessed.
