Star Films’ Wim Steytler has established himself as a performance director who blends realism with the otherworldly. He can’t help but bring his love of symbolism and the mystical to each set he steps on, adding layers of meaning paired with strong attention to detail. Let’s get to know the man whose journey into filmmaking started in the most unexpected way.

Wim is a deeply contemplative and philosophical individual, something that drives him to approach his projects with care and meticulous attention to detail. A self-proclaimed ‘nature-junkie’ he spends much of his time with his wife and three boys, hiking, surfing, and, just like the other Wim, cold water plunging. Based between Cape Town and the artistic community of McGregor, Wim directs commercials with Star Films while also developing his feature film ‘Heaven on Earth’, in labs across Europe.

While winning the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions was a fantastic start to Wim’s creative career, the real catalyst was something far more profound – and it’s a story not many know. At 16, as he stepped off a school bus on the highway outside his parents’ farm in Wellington, Wim was hit by a car driving at 100 km/h. The impact broke nearly every bone in his body, sparing only his neck and back. Despite the severity of his injuries, he miraculously survived. This event sparked a transformation, leading Wim to discover a deep passion for creativity and storytelling that would shape his future. 

‘Before the accident, I was quite a jock, a farm boy obsessed with rugby, but my recovery period of over a year changed everything. I spent a lot of time in traction and began drawing to pass the time, and discovered I was actually good at it. When I was in a wheelchair, I turned to photography. What started as ways to keep busy became a deep interest in the creative world. That accident became a big part of who I am, shaping me creatively and giving me a unique perspective on life,’ says Wim. 

Wim eventually went on to study Fine Arts, and it was at Stellenbosch University that he began shooting film and taught himself to edit. After graduating Wim went on to work as an editor for 8 years on features, commercials and documentaries. One of these doccies was the award-winning ‘Fokofpolisiekar: The Movie’. ‘Editing really laid the groundwork for my filmmaking career and gave me the ability to structure a story,’ says Wim. His background in documentaries shines through in his work, where he captures honest performances with a keen eye for visual composition and atmosphere.