Torchwood » Categories » Screenwriter

18 Jun 2025

Angela Makholwa

By Torchwood

Screenwriter, producer, and author Angela Makholwa is the author of several international best-selling novels. Her debut RED INK was adapted into a popular limited series for Showmax in 2024 and marked Angela’s first foray into screenwriting. She is following this up with the adaptation of her novel CRITICAL BUT STABLE, currently in development at Showmax. Her other novels are THE THIRTIETH CANDLE which was adapted as SEX, LOVE, AND THIRTY CANDLES for Netflix in 2023, THE BLACK WIDOW SOCIETY, THE BLESSED GIRL, and THE REED DANCE STALKER.

Angela’s screenwriting and producing credits include RED INK, and CRITICAL BUT STABLE. Angela has a number of original screenplays in development across film and TV and is a writer for hire.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

20 May 2025

Jono Hall

By Torchwood

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.

10 Mar 2025

Louis Pretorius

By Torchwood

Louis Pretorius is a screenwriter, director, and producer known for creating and writing for several stage plays and television series. He has penned and directed for some of the most acclaimed South African shows in the past few years, such as DIE BOEKKLUB (2016) which earned an award for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting at the 2017 SAFTAs, co-created FYNSKRIF (2018) which was recognized for Best Television Script at the WGSA Muse Awards in 2019, and he produced KOMPLEKS (2020) and FRAKSIE (2022). Louis has recently executive produced and created Netflix’s first ever Afrikaans TV series TUISKOMS (2025) showcasing his multifaceted talent and authentic way of storytelling. TUISKOMS debuted in Netflix’s Top 10 during its opening weekend in March 2025. Through his plays and television series, Louis Pretorius’s work promotes and explores themes of diversity, enriching visibility on a national and international platform fostering exceptional storytelling that resonates with local and international audiences.

Louis has many original projects, and is a writer and director for hire.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Louis Pretoruis CV

05 Mar 2025

Christa Biyela

By Torchwood

Christa Biyela is a distinguished South African screenwriter and script consultant who has written on a variety of acclaimed and award-winning telenovelas and drama series including Netflix’s SAVAGE BEAUTY S2 (2024), Showmax’s OUTLAWS (2023), Mzansi Magic’s THE QUEEN (2016) and THE RIVER which received Best Achievement in Scriptwriting SAFTA 2020. Christa storylined almost three hundred episodes across six seasons between 2018 and 2024 but it was on THE QUEEN where Christa honed her craft, writing hundreds of episodes across seven seasons (2016-2023). A writers room veteran Christa is turning her attention to premium scripted and is as comfortable storylining in a team as she is scripting solo. She facilitates screenwriting workshops for young storytellers partnering with Ukhozi FM, the KZN Department of Arts, Yandahlis Films and KCAP sharing her knowledge and experiences of storytelling to cultivate the emerging talent of many creatives. Whilst available as a writer-for-hire Christa is also developing her debut feature film KHETHIWE.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Christa Biyela CV

13 Aug 2024

Sibusiso Khuzwayo

By Torchwood

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

29 Jul 2024

Gillian Breslin

By Torchwood

Gillian Breslin is an award-winning scriptwriter, storyliner and script editor. She has worked on some of South Africa’s most acclaimed series including SPINNERS, INTERSEXIONS, iNUMBER NUMBER, and many more. Gillian has been awarded SAFTAs for her contributions to the 4PLAY, ISIBAYA and HIGH ROLLERS writing teams, while INTERSEXIONS won multiple SAFTAs and was awarded the prestigious Peabody Award in 2011. She co-wrote the award-winning feature INSIDE STORY which garnered international acclaim, and was honoured at The LA Pan African Film Festival, The New York Festival, The Zanzibar International Film Festival, and the South African Film and Television Awards. Gillian has two feature films in post-production for Netflix and has been commissioned by the streamer to write another, and a limited series. Gillian was the head writer for Showmax’s first scripted drama THE GIRL FROM ST. AGNES and most recently served as a writer and storyliner for M-Net’s SUMMERTIDE.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie.

Gillian Breslin CV

06 Jun 2024

Eric Larson

By Torchwood

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

14 Feb 2024

Arnold Mwanjila

By Torchwood

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

12 Sep 2023

Samantha Nell

By Torchwood

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

19 Jun 2023

Willem Grobler

By Torchwood

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

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