Jono Hall

Jono Hall is an award-winning director and writer. With a start in journalism, Jono has 20 years experience as a commercials director and director of music videos, and as a writer of short films. documentary shorts, and of short stories and essays.

Hall directed an episode of the forthcoming thriller series MARKED (Netflix, 2025).  And his award-winning short film, the grounded speculative psychological thriller  AWAKE is currently on the global festival circuit.

Jono has a number of original films and series in development and is a writer and director for hire.

 

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie.

Sibusiso Khuzwayo

Sibusiso Khuzwayo is a KwaZulu-Natal-born writer and director. Beginning his career as an editor, Khuzwayo worked on multiple series including REAL GOBOZA, ONE DAY LEADER, and LIVE AMP. Transitioning into directing, Khuzwayo helmed shows such as BIG BROTHER, 100% YOUTH, and FUTURE LEADERS.

In 2018, he wrote and directed his first short film, THE LETTER READER, which won Best Short Film awards at the SAFTAs, Rapid Lion International Film Festival, and Africa Movie Academy Awards. Khuzwayo is a sought-after writer for television and has worked on SCANDAL (e.tv), THOLA (SABC 2), KINGS OF JOBURG (Netflix), and BARE (Netflix) where he also directed. He has developed three feature films with funding from the NFVF and KZN Film Commission. Recently, Sibusiso’s original drama series CODE 13 was commissioned by Multichoice for Mzansi Magic’s prime Sunday 8pm slot. Khuzwayo co-produced the series of thirteen episodes with Seriti films.

Sibusiso Khuzwayo has many original projects in development and is a writer and director for hire.

Sibusiso is represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

 

 

Eric Larson

A graduate of NYU, Eric Larson is an Emmy Nominated animator (Principles of Pleasure – Netflix), director, designer, and writer who has worked on projects for companies including AppleTV, Adult Swim and Facebook.

Most recently, Eric worked on the animated documentary short I HAD NOTHING (dir. Elyse Kelly, Neon Zoo) which is an official selection of this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The film follows the story of V, a queer Congolese woman, and the struggles she faces seeking asylum in the U.S.

A creator of original projects in adult and kids live action and animation, Eric is also a writer and director for hire.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Gabe Gabriel

Gabe Gabriel is a queer South African writer and director based in Cape Town. His directorial debut, NO HIDING HERE, a gay romcom which he also wrote, was for Showmax and dropped on the streamer in 2021. Gabe followed this with his semi-autobiographical film, RUNS IN THE FAMILY (Best SA Film, DIFF 2023) which he wrote and starred in and which was directed by Gabe’s father Ian Gabriel. The film bowed on Netflix in 2023 and went on to be nominated for Outstanding Film (tv or streaming) at the 35th GLAAD Awards in the same category as such heavyweights as NYAD and RUSTIN. Gabe is currently writing his next feature GRANNY LEE for Fae Pictures (US) and KAE (SA). The film was one of six selected projects for Film Independent’s Fast Track. In TV Gabe was one of six African creators selected to develop an original TV show concept for the Netflix / Realness Institute’s Episodic Lab where he developed CRUST. He wroteTHE MANDALA MURDERS for Yash Raj Films and Netflix (in post) and he created and is writing series SABELA GOLD for Giant Films and Nagvlug Films. Gabe is the 2024 director recipient of the BFI’s More Films For Freedom fund through which he is directing a short to be screened at 2025’s BFI Flare Festival. He continues to develop projects for both film and TV, on spec and with producers, both on home turf and in the US.

 

Represented by David Kayser

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Fabien Martorell

Fabien Martorell is an acclaimed international director with 18 awards and 25 nominations across the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Martorell splits his time between Los Angeles and Johannesburg, and has roots in suburban Lyon, France. Specialising in thriller, crime, and action films and series, he is renowned for his meticulous and detail-oriented approach to directing. His sophisticated eye and distinctive aesthetic and composition style set him apart.

Martorell co-wrote and directed COLLISION (Netflix, 2022) which debuted at no.3 worldwide on the platform, no.1 in South Africa, no.4 in the US and France, and was in top 10 in nearly 70 countries. His second action feature CITY OF GOLD (Netflix, 2025) is forthcoming.

Also a director of documentary features, Martorell’s first documentary feature TROMATIZED: MEET LLOYD KAUFMAN, about legendary and eccentric Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma Ent. and creator of the Toxic Avenger was awarded the Best Biographical Documentary award at the 2009 New York International Independent Film Festival. The film featured Stan Lee, Roger Corman, John Badham, Eli Roth, Trey Parker, Mark Damon, Steven Paul, James Gunn and Tiffany Shepis. Martorell is in post-production of his second feature documentary, THE GUNS STORY, with legendary guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Guns N’ Roses), Iggy Pop, Lemmy Kilmister.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Keitumetse “Kit” Qhali

Keitumetse Qhali (Director Kit) is an award-winning South-African director, writer and producer. In 2019 she was named one of the 200 Young South Africans by the Mail & Guardian followed by the Forbes 39 under 30 Professionals of 2020. During that year, she was also featured in Facebook Africa’s 13 Most Influential Women in Africa. Keitumetse recently directed two episodes (including the opener) of BLOOD AND WATER S4 for Gambit Films and Netflix. Her short film THE INITIATE was acquired by Showmax in 2018 and went to open at the Cascade Film Festival in Portland, Oregon. In documentaries KICK IT received a SAFTA in 2019, and TIES THAT BIND US was nominated for a SAFTA in 2020. Doc SOWETO SPINNER was selected as part of the limited Hot Docs Alumni Funding and Workshop Programme, 2020. In shortform Keitumetse is known for music video RANDS AND NAIRAS for Nigerian rapper Emmy Gee. Nominated for Channel O Most Gifted Music Video of the year, the work went on to receive Most Gifted Video at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards in 2014. In 2019 she was nominated for a Loerie Award for the Edgars winter campaign WINTER BLUES and later won a CICLOPE award for her Barloworld commercial FIERCE GIRL. Following this, she directed the pioneering MADE FOR AFRICA BY AFRICA campaign for Netflix Africa and went on to direct the global trailers for two more Netflix shows BLOOD AND WATER and JIVA followed by a documentary on the Jiva Netflix Production.

 

Represented by David Kayser

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Arnold Mwanjila

Arnold Mwanjila is an award-winning writer and director based in Nairobi, Kenya. An alumnus of Mira Nair’s Maisha Screenwriting Lab in Kenya and of Talents Durban / Berlinale Talents, he graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Film Studies and Economics.

Arnold has written and directed for various home-grown award-winning TV shows, including NJORO WA UBA and VARSHITA! on Showmax / Maisha Magic East, and is the creator, head writer and director of the sitcom WALIOBAKI.

He is the Writer & Director of three Showmax / Maisha Magic East films, AISHA, SIRI and NAKUCHEKI. AISHA was nominated in seven categories at the 2017 Kalasha Awards, winning two.

Currently streaming on Netflix, Arnold’s feature film screenwriting and directing debut, TALIYA, a dark fantasy drama about an ambitious fisherman who ensnares a mermaid-like water spirit and exploits her as a grand magical theatrical exhibit, has screened at various festivals around the world including the New Filmmakers Los Angeles festival where it bagged the Best Screenplay Award at the Best of NFMLA Awards, 2022.

Arnold has most recently written for Team Sayari, a kids magazine show for DISNEY/NATGEO, and is a  Baboon Animation staff writer on various projects including FUNNY FLUX’S QUANTUM HEROES DINOSTER.

Arnold also serves as the head writer at USIKU GAMES where he contributes to the creation of fun, casual, web and mobile games including the upcoming ELECTRIC BLUE: GECKO DASH! for On The Edge. Other game clients include Johnson & Johnson, GIZ, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness Kenya (CREAWKENYA), the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), among others.

He is currently in production on an animated short film. And his next feature film, a sci-fi action adventure for kids, has been optioned and is in advance development.

A writer and director for hire, Arnold is developing many original projects across TV, film, and games.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Samantha Nell

SAMANTHA NELL

Writer and Director Samantha Nell’s debut feature as a director, the edgy romcom DO YOUR WORST, premiered in the top ten on Netflix in 2023. She is currently developing her second feature MILES FROM NOWHERE. Samantha has an MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of Arts Asia in Singapore and has participated at several development labs including the Realness Screenwriter’s Residency, La Fabrique du Cinema du Monde, TIFF Talent Lab and Locarno Filmmaker’s Academy.

Samantha participated in the Cannes South Africa Film Factory in collaboration with Michael Wahrmann from Brazil and their short film THE BEAST premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight in the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Brazilian Academy Award. Her most recent short film LOVE MOTEL, shot on location in South Korea, premiered at Durban International Film Festival in 2017.

Nell has produced short films on four continents and in 2012 her short film STIFF was selected for the Focus Features’ Africa First Program. It premiered at the 2014 Palm Springs International Shortsfest and won Best Short Film at the Africa International Film Festival in Nigeria.

A writer and director for hire, Samantha is developing many original projects across TV and film.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Willem Grobler

Screenwriter and director Willem Grobler wrote the Netflix feature film HEART OF THE HUNTER directed by Mandla Dube. The film is co-written with Deon Meyer is based on Meyer’s international best-selling novel of the same name. It made history in April 2024 by becoming the first English language African film to top the worldwide Netflix charts. It was viewed 11 Million times in the first week, and was in the top 10 in 75 countries. Next up Willem is adapting Deon Meyer’s novel FEVER as a limited series, and Dibi Breytenbach’s novel BUIT as a feature and he is reuniting with director Mandla Dube to collaborate on a passion project.

Grobler’s award-winning short film HUM screened at festivals around the world, premiering internationally at the 2017 Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival in New York, and in Europe at the 2018 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France.

Willem has written and directed a number of drama projects for local broadcaster M-Net including Christmas dramedy A BOERE-KRISMIS (2020) and Valentines Day romantic comedy OM EN OM (2023), SPOORLOOS  (2018) and two seasons of the acclaimed South African true crime docuseries STRANGERS YOU KNOW (2021 – 2022). A feature length version of HUM is in development at M-Net with Willem adapting and directing.

A Durban Talents and Gotham Week alumnus, Willem is developing his original projects and is a writer and director for hire.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Jenna Cato Bass

Writer-director-producer Jenna exploded onto the South African film scene with her debut LOVE THE ONE YOU LOVE in 2014 in which she shot, edited, produced, wrote and directed. The film garnered five awards including Best SA Feature and Best Direction at Africa’s premiere film festival in Durban, Best feature Film at Jozi Film Festival, a Young Audience Award at Nantes Three Continents Festival, and Best First Feature Film by a Director at the African Movie Academy Awards, the following year. Body swap comedy HIGH FANTASY came next; entirely shot on an iPhone Jenna workshopped the film with the cast and played with contemporary South African themes of land expropriation, gender and race politics amongst the Born-Free generation. The film premiered at TIFF 2017 and played at AFI and Berlin amongst others, where it was nominated for the Audience and Teddy awards respectively. In 2018 Jenna co-wrote RAFIKI – the controversial Kenyan gay love story with director Wanuri Kahiu that was banned on home turf. The film played widely at festivals, won several awards, and was nominated for the Cannes Un Certain Regard and Queer Palm awards at the 2018 festival. Jenna’s third feature, FLATLAND – a contemporary female western set in South Africa’s semi desert Karoo region – opened the 2019 Berlinale Panorama programme. A “picaresque road movie”, it was compared by Variety to the work of Andrea Arnold; with its “free, friction-based energy of the film’s performance style and the ragged lyricism …[and] its happy mixing of gravelly realist texture and romantic metaphor”. A portrait of femininity the film was produced by David Horler and distributed by The Match Factory. Fourth feature GOOD MADAM (MLUNGU WAM) produced by Causeway Films (THE BABADOOK) and distributed by Shudder, the pic premiered in the 2021 TIFF Platform to fabulous reviews. Jenna is developing across film and television with producers at home and abroad.

Represented by David Kayser

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