Film and Commercial Directors in South Africa
Find South Africa’s top Directors for your TV commercials, online content, short films, music videos or film production – Based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
Alan Irvin | they
He has grown an impeccable name for himself in the industry where he has been recognised by his peers winning numerous creative industry awards and has produced some of South Africa’s most loved commercials. Alan has received accolades at Cannes Lions, D&AD’s, Midas Awards, and many Loeire awards.
Alex Fynn | Pretty Neat
Alex’s love for filmmaking began when he picked up his dad’s webcam and made his first Lego Movie. Fast forward 25 years, Alex Fynn is a multiple award-winning director and editor. Alex is known for his slick and detailed approach to filmmaking from pre-production to post. His love of creative freedom means he brings out the best in everyone he collaborates with. Whether he’s on the directing chair, or in the edit suite – he is a firm favourite with agencies and production companies alike.
Anna Telford | Butterfly Films
Trained as a musician, Anna approaches life – and work – with an innate sense for harmony and bold moves. For her craft she has traveled the world, played with explosives, driven humvies in the desert and chased down state secrets. Having learned the ropes at Academy Films in London, Anna has worked alongside filmmaking greats like Jonathan Glazer and Nick Broomfield.
Anthony Bila | Indie Village
An internationally exhibited, published and award-winning hybrid Creative Director-Photographer-Fine-Artist-Film-Director with 10+ years advertising and marketing experience; Anthony Bila aka The Expressionist sees creativity as the opportunity to solve problems, and collaborate using his set of skills to share underrepresented narratives from the global South.
Andrew Kirkby | Iconic Agency
Andrew Kirkby is a self-professed multipotentialite. He has directed award-winning commercials for both local and international brands, as well as documentaries for Red Bull TV. Andrew has a strong background in editing and narrative-driven storytelling. He is the creative director and co-founder of Iconic Agency.
Arthur Neumeier | Eyeforce
Since 2008 Arthur has been shooting and directing action sports films, documentaries and commercials, working with brands like Red Bull, Corona, KLM, O’Neill, Vodafone, Samsung and Parle. As a director, Arthur captures interesting stories from inspiring people around the globe. As a DOP, he loves and thrives shooting in the water or from the air.
Batandwa Alperstein | The Rudeboy Collective
Batandwa lives up to his name by doing everything he does with love. Batandwa is driven by a storytelling ethos that looks for the essence of emotion to guide the story and connection with the audience. Batandwa aims to be an honest leader and contributor in collaborative filmmaking adventures and looks forward to each brief with curiosity, courage and a heart full of love.
Bevan Cullinan | Together Films
Bevan Cullinan is an award-winning Director and funny guy known for his ability to shoot comedy and performance dialogue, but he can pretty much shoot any style because of his physically-based approach to characters. He understands the demands of shooting multi format content for all platforms and is totally woke.
Benitha Vlok | Video Cartel
Travelling and exploring different cultures has always been a source of inspiration for Benitha. Her key focus is telling stories that have social consciousness at the heart of it. As a director, her portfolio spans across various genres from documentary to music videos, commercial and short film.
Bob van de Gronde | Eyeforce
Bob is an energetic director who always challenges himself, his team and clients creatively. If you envision something spectacular, Bob is first in line to make it bigger, and make it happen. His kiteboarding film Chapter One set new standards in kitesurf cinematography. With a decade of experience in creating, writing and shooting, the outcome is sure to amaze you.
Bongani Morgan | Made Films
As an experienced and award-winning writer, director and collaborator Bongani is interested in bridging the gap between telling stories and building brands. Part of a new breed of South African creatives who roll their sleeves up and get the job done, Bongani crafts resonant, authentic narratives.
Bruno Bossi | Carbon Films
For Bruno the idea is everything. He is a conceptual thinker who constantly pushes the execution boundaries to drive the idea further whether through fresh performances or his mastery of the technical. The focus is of his work is to always deliver a tight narrative through his captivating visuals.
Cassandra Nunan | Ola! Films
Since joining Ola Films in 2016, she has worked directly under the likes of Amy Allais, Chris Saunders and Mfundo Mkhize who have all mentored her and helped her broaden and develop her skill set. Her #AllForMasks campaign was a finalist for The Loeries Awards 2020 and came third in integrated campaigns for Creative Circle 2021.
Ceara McEvoy | Video Cartel
Ceara is a director specialising in fashion retail, lifestyle and doccie with a love of multi-media visuals. Her attention to detail and hands on approach through each phase of the creative process makes her the perfect agency, brand and production ally, building campaigns from conception through to final delivery.
Cindy Lee | The Star Film Company
Cindy loves to direct. Hailing from a genetic pool that gives her the advantage in both dealings with client and people in front of the camera, she also has a knack for copywriting and an exceptional skill set for directing humour, small children and untrained animals.
Colwyn Thomas | Scholars Film
Dan Mace | JOE
Dan Mace is a Filmmaker, Director, YouTuber with over 834k subscribers, CCO of the Beast Philanthropy YouTube Channel and Founder of JOE – a creative film agency based in Cape Town. He has won many accolades throughout his 12-year career, including three Young Director Awards at Cannes Lions, an African Cristal Film Grand Prix, multiple Bronze Loeries Awards, Ciclope Africa Editing Craft Awards, the Creative Circle ad-of-the-month, and many more.
Dani Hynes | Love Films
Dani Hynes has a diverse reel that stretches across a global roster of high-end brands. Characterized by stand-out singular moments, an unrivalled knack for casting, obsessive attention to detail and breath-taking cinematography, Dani Hynes’ spots create layers of emotions that reach deep into the hearts and eyes of audiences.
David Prior | they
David lives in Cape Town, brews rum, beer and photographs things beautifully. He is one of the most awarded photographers in South Africa, and is recognized globally. He has spent years studying a bottle of ice cold beer, and food and beverages, and has become an authority in the art of capturing life’s small pleasures.
Dillon Buirski | we are_
With 14 years’ experience in the fashion photo and film industry, Dillon is based in Cape Town, and London. His considered style, creativity and attention to detail make him a favourite among fashion retail houses. He’s directed work for the likes of Primark, Tommy Hilfiger, Jack Wills, George ASDA, F&F, Superbalist and Boden.
Director Kit | Darling Films
CLOSET RAPPER, BINGE WATCHER AND WRITER
Captivated by beauty and motivated by narrative choice since she was 17, Kit is a director who gets right to the heart of her stories with a deadly combination of whimsical pictures and critical thinking. She’s our unicorn. And she’s real. Real good.
DOLPH
Appearing left to right (Jesse Coetsee & Daniel McCauley) are a directing duo that founded the commercial production company Dolph Graphic Video®️. They’ve got a new approach to traditional commercials, one that includes exciting & new facets of the craft, from high production value shoots through to design & animation.
Erik Johann Van Wyk | Lovers & Fighters
Erik’s projects include collaborations with Wieden+Kennedy, BBH and The Martin Agency, and commissions for Ikea, Heineken and Honda. He is a multi-award-winning director of commercials and branded entertainment and a prolific maker of experimental and short films. He started life at the original Hunt Lascaris.
Emma Wilson | Pretty Neat
Emma is taking her 16 years of food styling experience to the directing chair. Being curious by nature has led Emma into a multifaceted career path to food styling. Emma’s food & nutrition background provides an essential foundation for clients’ specific needs. She has been involved in cookbooks, local and international TV commercials as well as advertising and editorial work. Emma also travels on a regular basis for international projects, with some works being completed in Tanzania, Dubai, Beirut and Zanzibar as well as in and around South Africa.
Fausto Becatti | Bioscope Films
Passionate about film, music, travel and photography – Fausto puts everything into his work. His style and energy has given his recent work a distinct look. With his finger on the pulse of youth culture and edgy visuals, Fausto recently picked up 4 merits at The One Show Awards for his ground-breaking work on Indiefin.
Filipe Zapelini | Eyeforce
As a multi-disciplinary director and global nomad, Filipe connects intimately with characters and captures deep meaning in a contemporary visual language that pairs emotion with sobriety in a powerful way. His cinematic signature of documentary-style storytelling has earned him numerous Vimeo Staff Picks.
Gilli Apter | Hello Circus
Gilli’s great passion and forte lie in all things funny, but her strength is in making you feel something. She has a no-nonsense approach and loves collaborating with a creative team. Her philosophy is to let the idea lead and to use every tool and bit of craft to serve that vision or story.
Glen Biderman-Pam | Panther Punch
Glen established himself as an actor before delving into the world of stand-up comedy and directing commercials. His recent work includes a short film Love Locked which was awarded a Best in Craft in the IDDIDTHAT Craft Awards. Glen also wrote, directed and acted in the viral sensation branded content piece My Kreepy Teacher.
Gordon Lindsay | Massif
Gordon made the 2016 Young Director Award (YDA) shortlist at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He enjoys experimenting and developing interesting techniques using camera and post-production. He has been featured five times on the Adforum Best Director’s List.
Gorgeous Bushman | Gentlemen Films
A natural storyteller, versed in multiple mediums, from filmmaking, to creative direction, to podcasting, and image-making. He is on the hunt to explore the points of view of others and deliver empathetic narratives that remind us not just of what makes us unique, but of the things that bind us together.
Greg Gray | Romance Films
No one has mastered the delicate balancing act between building a brand and sharing a powerful narrative quite like Greg. His understanding of how to speak to people through performance has created not only some of the world’s most awarded ads, but some of its most loved and shared.
Greg Lomas | Scholars Film
Greg began his career in art direction and graphic design but his true love was documentary photography and filmmaking. Following several photographic exhibitions and features in publications, it was a leap into documentary filmmaking with his old friend Colwyn Thomas, they produced their SAFTA-winning independent feature documentary ‘To Skin a Cat’, that launched Scholars and their film careers.
Greg Rom | Gentlemen Films
A talented storyteller, Greg’s forte lies in creating bold, unpredictable narratives across various genres. His short films have travelled to illustrious festivals across the world, while back home his award-winning commercial work spans from comedy to strong, dramatic visual executions.
Hallie Haller | The Rudeboy Collective
Hallie is a creative who cares about media, the future and you. Hallie is interested in cultural production that creates opportunity, fosters community and examines how we may live more meaningful lives. For love and money, she is a writer, director and creative strategist.
Helen & Kim | The Rudeboy Collective
Bound by their love of rich visuals, clear narratives and a shared modus operandi, Kim Hinrichs and Helen J. Raine teamed up to form two-headed director ‘Helen & Kim’. Strong storytellers and intuitive performance directors, visually, the pair has a stylistic approach, working to carefully balance narrative and aesthetic.
Herman Du Toit | Iconic Agency
The fusion of Herman’s strategic and conceptual thinking gives him an advantage as a commercial and branded content director. His background in marketing has lead him to constantly question his work and how it contributes to the brand and it’s objectives, without compromising on creativity.
Hloni Ntsooa | Spitfire Films
Hloni has a scrupulous eye for style and a love of all things musical. She creates powerful pieces of work that are as fresh and exciting as she is. Throwing herself into her work with passion and fanaticism Hloni’s love of filmmaking is infectious. A powerful young voice to look out for.
Hylton Tannenbaum | Bioscope Films
Hylton started directing at 10 years old, using his Dad’s Super 8mm film camera. Since then he has shot over 250 commercials, working with almost every South African agency and some international ones too. He has picked up numerous Loeries, Cannes and Clio awards along the way.
Ian Chuter | Platypus
Ian has worked on pretty much every food and drink category imaginable, from Burger King and Coca Cola to KFC and Cruz Vodka. He has shot in over 20 countries around the world and has been involved in numerous projects that have won awards, from Cannes Gold, D&AD and One Show to Loerie Grand Prix.
Ian Gabriel | Giant Films
A disrupter of the status quo, Ian’s affection for the craft of story and emotion has seen him work as an activist in theatre, direct some award winning feature films, develop a TV series and continue to make timeless, impeccably crafted commercials, that entertain and intrigue.
Jabu Nadia Newman | Romance Films
Jabu is a female director and photographer who captures uniquely diverse and honest narratives, predominantly centred around South African youth culture. She encourages her subjects to tell their own stories in their own way and champions equal representation both in front of and behind the camera.
James Reynolds | Made Films
James “Of All Trades” Reynolds has spent time in just about every department. Coming from Theatre and Performance via Street and Portrait photography to research, writing and assisting he has Made award-winning short films, music videos and fashion films that explore the elemental, the visceral and the irreverent.
Jeana Theron | Darling Films
DIRECTOR, ARTIST AND FASHIONISTA.
Jeana is known for bringing unrivalled artistic expression and style to the art of filmmaking and is able to draw nuanced performance regardless of genre. A classically trained fine artist and learned film craft by rising through the ranks from PA, researcher and finally director.
Jono Hall | Gentlemen Films
Director Jono Hall is a visual stylist with a versatile approach to considered and engaging storytelling. His strong narrative skills have established him as a seasoned director who has achieved notable creative success. Jono’s first television series has recently been optioned for development by an international studio.
Justice Mukheli | Romance Films
Defining himself as a man who sees great power in sensitivity, Justice Mukheli approaches projects with both dignity and heart. This multi-talented creative has worked as agency art director, stills photographer, artist, and film maker. No matter the medium, Justice tells unique stories through soulful visuals that showcase the richness of his background and heritage. He remains dedicated to using his success to inspire and empower future creatives.
Justine Calverley | First Pencil
Justine has worked on projects ranging from subtle and warm performance pieces to complex 3D animation, realistic visual effects, outlandish stop frame, Big Data documentaries and even the collation of a Fashion Show. Her love for the craft shows in her attention to detail and scrupulous integrity to concept, regardless of the brief.
Justine Patterson | TinToy Films
Starting as an editor at TinToy, Justine utilised her storytelling knowledge to enhance her directing skills. Her short film “Mirage”, delves into the depths of mental health. Her journey also included co-writing and co-directing a mini-documentary series, “I Am Not an Object”, which explores gender-based violence within the South African context. Justine has also developed a niche in documentary storytelling and branded content.
Karien Cherry | Giant Films
Currently ranked as the Number 1 director in the African & Middle Eastern region (Loeries 2020 Rankings). This year she has served on both the D&AD and AICP directing juries and continues to be one of South Africa’s most prolific directors. She is sought after by creatives for her effortless collaboration, her knack for eliciting authentic performances, and her keen sensibility to adapt the tone of her work to serve the script.
Kenny Mumba | Hello Circus
Kenny has worked with brands like Vice, Walh South Africa, Vodafone (UK, Uganda, Zambia and Cameroon), Airtel (Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania). He is known for his edge in his brilliant storytelling techniques and his emphasis on performance to help brands reach their customers in the most authentic way.
Kevin Fitzgerald | Carbon Films
Things I like…travelling, funny stories, live music and dogs, swimming, ice cream, the Springboks and pizza, being on set, winning a bet and think mist, making pictures, road trips with my wife and Tom Waits, Polaroids, Friday nights and giving frights. Things I don’t like…liver, toothache, running out of toilet paper, getting frights, delayed flights and snake bites.
Koketso Matabane | Carbon Films
Koketso has cut her teeth alongside established SA directors, honing her conceptual skills as both a director and researcher on some of the country’s biggest brands. Her strength lies in her ability to deeply understand and challenge ideas, paired with her distinctive perspective and talent for delivering visually compelling and impactful narratives.
Lamar Bonhomme | Hello Circus
With a background in theatre, anything slightly comedic that Lamar directs ends up being a live-action comic book inspired by either The Jetsons or The Flintstones. And when he isn’t carting an Alexa Mini around in the bush trying to find a tree to shoot the sun through, he’s navigating dingy buildings in the city chasing down textured backgrounds and avoiding the stench of urine.
Lazola Gola | Bioscope Films
Lazola Gola does comedy and performance.
Lazola Gola does not do long bios. However, Lazola Gola does what it takes to get the job done. siiiigh!…
Lazola Gola also does Stand-Up comedy and has done it for 16+ years.
Lazola Gola also d̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ d̶o̶n̶e̶ did TV Writing and Copywriting. This earned him a SAFTA and International Emmy nominations, and a Pendoring Gold, respectively. Lazola Gola also did many years in front of the camera as an actor.
All this experience makes Lazola Gola the perfect guy to do your next project.
Lebogang Rasethaba | Egg Films
“There is this intensely creative, unapologetically young and curious energy in South Africa that I sense and subscribe to; it’s really infectious and I point my camera in that direction.” This has led to Lebo winning Creative Circle Ad of the Year and screening at TED Global.
Lesedi Rudolph | Your Girlfriend
You probably know this very amiable director already, a staple in the Joburg culture scene and on Your Girlfriend’s sets, where he learnt the ropes from Linda, Morgan and Trevor. A talented photographer, aspiring chess grand master and prolific content creator, Lesedi is now sharpening his focus on commercials. Music, fashion and art has always been his sweet spot, with a knack for smart storytelling.
Louis Minnaar | Darling Films
DIRECTOR, ANIMATOR, MUSICIAN AND ALL ROUND GENIUS.
With a background in animation, design and illustration, Louis focuses on combining live action material with computer generated imagery which has materialized in music videos, commercials & short films. Louis also has experience in production design, set design as well as visual effects.
Louw Venter | Pretty Neat
Louw Venter is not only a celebrated director, screenwriter and performer in South Africa, but he is a ground-up filmmaker and copywriter who prides himself on the ability to take projects from inception, through development and production, all the way to polished post-production. His long history in film, television and advertising make him a comedy and performance specialist.
Lucinda Ohlson | CreateSA.tv
Lucinda Ohlson is a visionary Writer and Director, known for her ability to bring high-concept narrative to life through her unique imagination and passion for creative excellence. Having directed commercials for esteemed brands such as Allan Gray, Nedbank, Magnum and Unilever, as well as short films and music videos that are visually stunning, emotionally impactful and well-choreographed, Luci is an upcoming creative force to keep your eye on!
Mark Middlewick | FirstPencil
Brands across the globe have given Mark money to make them funny adverts. He’s known for dry grounded comedy and drawing out memorable performances from actors thanks to his manipulative Machiavellian techniques. Mark’s debut short film “Security” was made as part of the Focus Features Africa First Program, while his film “The Mascot” starred Oscar award-winner Adrien Brody.
Matthys Boshoff | The Star Film Company
Matthys’ background is as diverse as the adventures he’s embarked on, but it was his eye for beauty that landed him an acclaimed career in film directing. His work is as assorted as his escapades, from performance and high-end post heavy commercials to feature films, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Meghan Daniels | Eyeforce
Meghan Daniels is a multi-talented visual artist who brings a unique perspective to the table. Committed to telling stories that matter, their work is driven by a strong ethical pledge to showcase diversity both on-screen and behind the lens. Fundamentally human-centric, their films are infused with a boundary-pushing aesthetic that is cinematic yet raw, tactile, and honest.
Michael Ellis | Video Cartel
Whether shooting in the sterile theatre of a heart surgeon’s clinic or hanging off the back of a motorcycle at ridiculous speeds to get that extra shot, Michael lives his passion for filmmaking through every project. His resourcefulness combined with an endless creative drive ensures you’re in great hands when it comes to delivering that special something.
Michael Rodrigues | Hello Circus
After returning from London with a Masters Degree in Film in 2016, Michael has used the past few years in South Africa to passionately hone his artistic voice as an award-winning director. He infuses personal experiences with his signature dreamy touch to create visual stories brimming with romance and specificity.
Mo Matli | FirstPencil
Mo Matli is a multifaceted creative with a keen interest in authentic storytelling and fitness. A strong believer in crafting work that connects people across barriers, Mo is known for her incredible visual sensibilities displayed in her photography and films that tackle social class, gender equality, and sexual orientation through her unflinching gaze on the human condition.
Morgan Dingle | Your Girlfriend
Morgan Dingle is a talented visual and often hilarious storyteller, as comfortable with the green-screen as he is with the actor in front of it. He has also completed folding 894 of his goal of 1000 origami cranes on which when completed he will be granted one wish. What he will wish for is none of your business.
Mzonke Maloney | Carbon Films
Mzonke Maloney is a writer and director. His work places a particular focus on strong character-centric storytelling and interrogates new South African narrative-making, in authentic and challenging ways. A prominent part of emerging new wave of South African filmmakers, Mzonke continues to develop a unique and distinct voice that reflects a genuine love for craft & the art cinema.
Nadezna Radcore | Cake
Nadezna understands how brands operate, how trend patterns shift and form, and most importantly, how this industry has the power to make a positive difference. She’s a punk at heart and a diehard idealist with a couple of degrees in Film, Philosophy, Metaphysics and Psychology. She’s taken what she’s learnt over time and infused it into her work and she’s brilliant.
Ndumiso Sibanda | Ola! Films
Ndumiso is an ever-curious performance director who believes in magic. Being both a photographer and a filmmaker, he is self-described as “a director who shoots when no one’s looking”. Driven by rich, real characters, Ndumiso has shot projects in over 50 countries worldwide.
Nic Eve | TinToy Films
Nic Eve has a unique eye to find the art in life through a lens. His global upbringing lends to his understanding of brands and the way they talk to their audiences. His passion for documenting life is seen through his creative language and ability to capture the essence of the situation. People, places and emotion feeds Nic’s creativity to create memorable and beautiful branded content.
Nicholas Leighton | South Easter Productions
Originally trained as a musician – Cape Town born Nicholas started his career in film from the ground up as an unpaid intern for a gear house, fast forward to today he spends his time producing, directing and even scoring under his own production company with both local and international clientele from National Geographic, Proximo and William Grant & Sons, Nicholas has delved deep into the world of content creation and service.
Nicole Maria Ackermann | Romance Films
With a background in theatre and creative research, Nicole is a commercial director who takes a meticulous approach to film making, thoughtfully balancing evocative visuals with narrative. Known for her bold visual style, Nicole creates commercials with both heart and beauty.
Paul Ward | Giant Films
Paul made a name for himself as a documentary photographer capturing niche subcultures in the South African youth landscape. Paul was soon making films for high profile global clients, including Nike, Puma, and Audi who sought out his honest view into youth culture and life narratives. Paul is based out of Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Peter Heaney | Spitfire
This multitalented, and awarded long form director translates the creative crux for stories being told in thirty seconds (or thereabouts) without losing any of the magic. He brings a big-league grasp on the full production process, sweating the small stuff – so that you don’t have to.
Peter VC | Video Cartel
Peter is an award-winning commercials director, video maker and storyteller. A guy with a very peculiar last name, a desire to live a great life, considered young by old people and known to have a larger-than-average sized smile! Peter spends a lot of time wondering if people read bios.
Porteus Xandau | Carbon Films
Half man and half lens, Porteus, is no stranger to the film industry. Actor-turned director, his sensitivity to performance, combined with his incredible visual eye has seen him create some striking campaigns for local and international clients. The method to his madness? Don’t be boring.
Rea Moeti | Platypus
Rea is a South African Film and TV Award winner who currently has two feature narratives on her horizon; a mystery-comedy Netflix original and a dramedy for MNET. Her three-award winning short films show off her narrative and aesthetic flair. Rea has a strong comedic instinct and enthusiasm for working with young performers.
Renee van Reenen | Platypus
Renee has worked with brands such as Amstel Larger, Castrol, Halls, Spec Savers, Mweb, Cape Union Mart, Wellington’s, Kulula and Castle Lite. She is passionate about working with actors and enjoys scripts that are quirky and off-beat. She has won a Loerie for best TV and cinema commercial and received a merit award at The One Show for Prison Broadcast Network.
Ric Shields | Platypus
Unsatisfied with sticking to a single area of expertise, Ric can be described as a hybrid filmmaker, combining his practical and theoretical training acquired at one of Australia’s top film academies with a sound engineering degree and a decade and a half of experience in the commercial post industry. You can consider Ric your own cinematic pocket-knife.
Rob van den Bragt | Chocolate Tribe
An illustrious VFX Supervisor & Animation Director whose work will astound you. Rob was trained in Classical Animation & Film in Belgium. His career spans over 20+ years at leading international VFX & animation companies. Nine of those 20 years, he spent working for The Mill in the UK as a VFX Supervisor and director.
Robin Goode | They
He has a creative restlessness and curiosity that drives him to keep pushing boundaries and crafting work that sheds light on the people of our conflicted world. Robin is an internationally award winning director with fifteen years of experience. As an artist he has released two books and held numerous art exhibitions in Italy and Spain with his video art installations, sculptures and photographic art.
Ross Garrett | Darling Films
DIRECTOR, PHOTOGRAPHER AND FLY-FISHERMAN.
Ross is a man of simple pleasures. He likes beer and riding on two wheels. A photographer by trade, Ross has a considered aesthetic and love for portraiture. His path has lead him to tell stories in moving image as well. An evolution that just makes simple sense.
Ross Hillier | Video Cartel
Ross is an extremely versatile, collaborative and calm director / DOP to have on any team. His passion lies in documentary and narrative format storytelling. His astute understanding of natural and constructed light and smart composition always makes for beautiful frames. Ross comes from a very creative family where photography, film and music played a major role in his upbringing and ultimately his career.
Samantha Nell | Gentlemen Films
Samantha Nell is a filmmaker whose work has been filmed and showcased at festivals across four continents. Samantha is known for her discernible voice which oscillates between comedy and tragedy and sometimes both at the same time. She possesses a strong eye for performances and a distinct visual aesthetic.
Shueti | Eyeforce
The work of Dutch artist Shueti ranges from high-profile commercial films to personal fine art projects. Artistically autonomous, his innovative style is defined by cinematic power, poetry and sophisticated aesthetics. A passion for extreme sports, street art, photography and design courses through his films.
Siya Saanga Sityana | Platypus
Siya Saanga Sityana was born into a creative world of storytelling and documenting worldly stories, and considers himself a true South African visionary. For him, film is an all-consuming passion that he has dedicated his time and life to, especially as a young black Director born in Port Elizabeth and finding his rhythm between Cape Town & Johannesburg.
Steezus | They
Steezus has worked across nearly all production phases, blending his youthful, urban taste with an authentic Gen-Z approach to storytelling that has earned him directing gigs for major brands and SA’s top Amapiano musicians. His creative process prioritises the viewer’s journey, now focusing on cinematic craft and the power of a good song to make any moment unforgettable.
Slim | Darling Films
DIRECTOR, ARTIST AND STORYTELLER
Slim has an amazing ability to tell evocative, character-driven stories – across a diverse range of genres – whether absurd comedy or poignant empathy. Coming from a design and art direction background, the concept is always key to his filmmaking – resulting in both beautiful and memorable work.
Sulette Minnaar | Butterfly Films
With a background in documentary film-making and a hunger for positive social change, Sulette’s forte is transforming corporate narratives into human stories. Everyone’s an award-winner these days, but with a Gold Loerie for Shared Value, Sulette has some serious street cred.
Tebza Keebine | Tribal Media House
Tebogo’s intuition is a superpower. Rooted in the lived experience of the South African masses, his ability to tell stories across multiple formats in documentaries, television, and recently, commercials and narrative digital content make him the most versatile alternate director right now.
Tebza Malope | The Star Film Company
Tebza’s substantial appetite for creating masterful pictures is rivaled only by the number of glasses of water he drinks during a presentation. Tebza has received every possible directing accolade available, he is always hungry for more. Tebza is a superlative filmmaker, and he’s killing it.
Terence Neale | Romance Films
Holding the title as first ever South African director to win a Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions, Terence is a director known for his surreal visual storytelling and strong conceptual approach. Whether creating music videos or commercials for heavyweight brands, his work shows a subversive originality that is compelling to watch.
Thabang Moleya | Seriti Films
It is Thabangs energetic and infectious personality that creatives have fallen in love with. His authentic and expressive take on the South African aesthetic has bolted his illustrious career, as a multi-faceted director in feature films, high-end commercials and award winning TV dramas.
Thea Small | Darling Films
DIGITAL DIRECTOR.
From directing her first commercial featuring Sho Madjozi which collected a Gold, 2 Silvers and a Bronze at Bookmarks, to crafting intimate character portraits in her music videos, Thea’s talents reveal a range of capabilities, grounded in a keen sense of storytelling that gets to the heart of any idea. Her intuitive approach to directing sees that she continues making work that’s positive, entertaining and most of all – empowering.
Thina Zibi | Hello Circus
Thina’s films “Tjuele” and “Bakhona”, received the rode reel cinematography award as well as art direction award. She has just completed post-production on her short film titled “Bompi” and is currently in post-production on her 3-part mini web series funded by the international Black Women Disrupt initiative, as well as in development phase for her documentary on Healers in South Africa.
Timothy Weyer | Iconic Agency
Timothy Weyer is a filmmaker living in Cape Town. Being a skilled editor and photographer is what makes him a good director: he has the eye to plan, capture and piece together beautiful visuals in order to tell a story. Timothy is also an accomplished musician and sound designer.
Tobias Schmutzler | Video Cartel
Toby is a storyteller to the core and has worked and created narrative features, commercials and documentaries. His latest documentary work is currently running on Netflix and Amazon Prime worldwide. In the commercial world, Toby has directed, edited and DOP’d campaigns across the automotive, FMCG, educational and corporate sectors.
Uys-Hanekom (Director-Duo) | CreateSA.tv
Dirk has an exceptional talent for writing, directing and editing authentic and emotive content, be it short film, music videos, television or online commercials. Elisma has an honours degree in Fine Arts and 15 years of experience in the advertising industry, having worked in strategy, production and client service. Together, this formidable husband-wife team is uniquely positioned to bring your big (and small) ideas to life through authentic storytelling and creative excellence, backed by a thorough understanding of considerations such as client expectations, budget limitations and production parameters.
Vusi Africa | Hello Circus
Durban Talents alumnus, Vusi Africa, has a unique and contemporary voice in storytelling, focused on the discovery of a hero with an African face. He honed his craft as a stage play writer and director, his work having been staged at some of the most prestigious venues and festivals including the National Arts Festival and The Festival of Fame.
Wim Steytler | The Star Film Company
After being recognised by Cannes Lions with a Young Director award, Wim has been creating beautiful moving pictures for various brands since. He loves to tell edgy stories and extracting emotion from sources that on the surface seem to have none. He is as versatile as he is talented.
Ying-Poi De Lacy | Massif
Ying-Poi started her advertising career as a creative researcher with South Africa’s top production company and went on to start Little League Films producing online branded content films for some top brands at local agencies where she has built a strong knowledge of film and advertising. Her first commercial for Cadbury’s shot in 2019 was placed 1st in Adforum’s monthly Top 5 Production Directors.
Zandi Tisani | Hello Circus
Zandi is a considered filmmaker creating edgy and adventurous work. With an emphasis on culture, humour and storytelling, there’s a refreshing combination of authenticity and a strong cinematic quality to her work. Zandi is also an accomplished writer, creative and collaborator.
Zee Ntuli | Darling Films
DIRECTOR, ART REBEL, FILMMAKER AND WRITER.
Zee’s passion and love for storytelling and cinema is revealed in his approach which is equal parts story and style; humane and aesthetic. As a writer and director that works in long-form and commercials his work has a distinctive edge.
Zwelethu Radebe | Egg Films
Still in his twenties, Zwelethu has directed commercials for both local and international agencies and clients, shooting in nine countries across Africa and Europe. In 2017, he won a Silver Apex Award for Strongbow, as well as over 10 awards for his short film, The Hangman.