Robot
Film facilitation like a machine.
Cape Town & Johannesburg
Business Director: Callan Paul / Executive Producer: Liam Johnson
Creative Director: Craig Moore / Producer: Godfrey Matsika / Head of Production: Olivia Macgrail
Directors: Adriaan Louw / Ayanda Duma / Craig Moore / Gregg Bailey / Nelis Botha / William Armstrong / Alex Motlhabane
We’re into the unknown, making plans, pushing envelopes. The back roads and big leaps. Mad ideas, massive lights and motor bikes. Parkour. Wing suits. High lines, helicopters & big f#&%en explosions. Immense landscapes, gorgeous sunsets, breathtaking beaches. Township textures, sweeping urban panoramics and the dark, freaky underbelly. We make commercials, music videos and branded content.
We’ll be the first ones in, the last ones out, tinkering with bleary eyes and devilish details to bring your visions to life. The robot doesn’t sleep. The robot’s a machine.
- UKMVA for best Video Friend Within, The Renegade.
- Almost a billion hits combined for videos produced.
CAPE TOWN OFFICE
8 Dorman Street, Gardens,
Cape Town, Western Cape, 8001
Executive Producer | Liam Johnson
liam@therobot.tv
FEATURED WORK
Awarded by IDIDTHAT
AWARDED: BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Robot | Craig Moore
Vanco ‘Repeat’
IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Marc Algranti, Music Supervisor at Algranti Music
August 2025
Marc’s comment: “From the very first frame, I was hooked. Craig establishes a raw, infectious energy that immediately draws the audience into the world of the film, creating a tone that is both authentic and compelling.
The direction of the performances is particularly impressive. They’re beautifully understated, allowing the emotion to emerge naturally rather than feeling forced. This restraint gives the film a genuine, gritty quality that makes the characters feel believable and relatable.
The energy is palpable throughout, and I never felt like I was simply watching events unfold – I felt completely present with the characters, experiencing the story alongside them.”
AWARDED: CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Robot | Jason Fialkov
VW Touareg ‘VWSA IQ Lights’
IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Thandeka Gilbert, Creative Director at McCann Joburg
August 2025
IDIDTHAT EDITORIAL
Expect the unexpected with Robot’s Ayanda Duma, new work
Robot director Ayanda Duma has a habit of finding the version of a story you didn't know was there. Her latest work for Meow Meow Woof and Mukuru blends genres, humour and beautifully observed human moments into a film that feels unmistakably like Ayanda.
Director Mark Strydom brings the lessons of Africa home to Robot
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, director Mark Strydom is making things official with Robot, joining the team for local representation and bringing experience shaped across Africa and international markets back home. For the past few years, Mark has deliberately been directing outside South Africa, leaning into work across Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, India, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. Different pressures, different cultural nuances, but across every market one principle stayed the same for him, “If the work doesn’t feel real to the people watching it, it doesn’t land.”
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.
Director Alex Motlhabane brings big-brand expertise back to South Africa joins Robot
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.
What are rising directors in our industry thinking about? Here’s Robot’s director Ayanda Duma [INTERVIEW]
Ayanda Duma represents a group of rising young directors in our industry who have their fingers on the pulse of culture, and creativity and come with an inclusive mindset and strong point of view. From challenging societal stigmas to creating authentic representations on screen, Ayanda is not afraid to make her mark in Adland and with the smart production chops of Robot, you know you’ve got the whole package.
Director Lamar Bonhomme finds a home at Robot
Director Lamar Bonhomme seeks to capture the essence of the world in its rawest and most unfiltered form. Armed with a lens that embraces the beauty of imperfection, Lamar is joining the powerhouse roster at Robot. With Robot’s established production support, Lamar is eager to continue reflecting the richness of our world with a cinematic timelessness that avoids unnecessary gimmicks, something that is evident in his latest campaign for SA Tourism.
Entering the Ayanda Duma era, Robot’s director is unleashed and unafraid.
Ayanda Duma’s pursuit of challenging the status quo coupled with her passion for exploring South African culture, black identity, queer culture and femme culture is what drives her as a director. She proudly stands by her values especially when it comes to breaking down stigmas and stereotypes, she is also an absolute damn joy, warm, generous with her time and her razor-sharp wit. Even when navigating sensitive subject matter, Ayanda always remains at the core of her craft, as exemplified by her latest project - ‘Sex and Pleasure’ for Showmax.
Finding his directing rhythm while maintaining his balance, Robot’s Paul Ramaema
Being an advocate for mindfulness certainly comes in handy for Robot’s Paul Ramaema, especially considering how busy he’s been. Since joining the production company two years ago Paul has consistently been creating commercial work for top brands and agencies. We caught up with the new dad and self-proclaimed selfie king about how he’s found his rhythm as a filmmaker while still maintaining a balance.
Executive Producer Ayanda Tshabalala cements Robot’s production offering in Joburg
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.
Director Zandi Tisani Said That
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.
FEATURED
Craft Award Results: June 2026
Three examples of South African craft rise to the top in this month's IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards. Congratulations to Paul Ward from Giant Films, Alex Smillie from Pressure Cooker Studios and Craig Moore from Robot, whose work impressed this month's judges. And a big thank you to Galaletsang Kgoathe, Creative Partner at Ogilvy South Africa, and Marc Algranti, Music Supervisor at Algranti Music, for giving up their eyeballs, ears and excellent judgement to crown this month's winners.
Expect the unexpected with Robot’s Ayanda Duma, new work
Robot director Ayanda Duma has a habit of finding the version of a story you didn't know was there. Her latest work for Meow Meow Woof and Mukuru blends genres, humour and beautifully observed human moments into a film that feels unmistakably like Ayanda.
Director Mark Strydom brings the lessons of Africa home to Robot
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, director Mark Strydom is making things official with Robot, joining the team for local representation and bringing experience shaped across Africa and international markets back home. For the past few years, Mark has deliberately been directing outside South Africa, leaning into work across Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, India, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. Different pressures, different cultural nuances, but across every market one principle stayed the same for him, “If the work doesn’t feel real to the people watching it, it doesn’t land.”
Craft Award Results: August 2025
This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by two powerhouses who would walk through fire and still come out the other side with a cold beer in their hands, Thandeka Gilbert, Creative Director at McCann Joburg and Cindy Lee, (OSCAR-nominated) Director at The Star Film Company. Congratulations to Hayden Brown from 7 Films, Chloe Coetsee from Darling Films, and editor Warwick Allan from Mushroom Media. May the power of the craft be forever in your favour.