Torchwood » Categories » Screenwriters

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.

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

21 Feb 2023

Ari Kruger

By Torchwood

Ari Kruger is the co-creator and director of the hugely popular web-series SUZELLE DIY which has garnered over 22 million views on YouTube and been broadcast nationally on Comedy Central. He is also the co-creator and director of the sensational mockumentary series TALI’S WEDDING DIARY, which was awarded five South African Film & Television Awards, including Best Director for a Comedy Series. Both productions epitomise his impeccable comic timing and talent for creating memorable characters. Ari has attracted notable attention with his short films, having been a finalist at the world’s largest short film festival Tropfest in 2011, in competition with the likes of filmmakers like Joel Edgerton. His films have screened in festivals across the globe with two of his short films having been selected as Vimeo Staff Picks. His latest short film WAITING FOR GOLDMAN is currently racking up awards on the festival circuit, winning Best Dark Comedy at IndieX Film Festival and Independent Short Awards in Los Angeles. Ari won best director for TALI’S BABY DIARY (the sequel to WEDDING DIARY) which also won Best Comedy series at the 2022 SAFTAS. The third installment of the hit series TALI’S JOBURG DIARY dropped on Showmax in 2022 and has been received with critical acclaim and received Best Comedy and Best Writing and Best Directing at the 2023 SAFTAs. Ari and his wife Julia Anastasopoulos are the co-owners of Sketchbook Studios, a production company in Cape Town where they produce original content, television series, features and commercials. Ari is currently in post on a crime-comedy series and working on another crime-comedy series for a global streamer.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

Ari Kruger CV

03 Aug 2022

Darrel Bristow-Bovey

By Torchwood

Award-winning screenwriter, author, and columnist Darrel Bristow-Bovey has written five feature-length films, including THE SUNDAY AFFAIR (2022), NOTHING FOR MAHALA (2013) and INSIDE STORY (2011), which won Best African Film at the Zanzibar International Film Festival and Special Jury Award at the Los Angeles Pan-African Film Festival in 2012.

The winner of multiple South African Film and Television Awards, Darrel was head writer for the multi-award-winning television dramas THE LAB and HARD COPY, and the forthcoming DARK HEARTS for M-Net and ZDF, and THE SECRET LIVES OF BABA SEGI’S WIVES and BABY FARM, both for EbonyLife and Netflix.

He was a senior writer on HOPEVILLE, which won Best Drama/ Mini Series at the Rose d’Or Global Television Festival in 2010, and was nominated for an International Emmy for Best Mini Series.

Darrel has also published five books and was a finalist for the Caine Prize for African Literature. His original play PRIEST WITH BALLOONS won the 2018 Scribe Award and premieres in 2022.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

31 May 2022

Chisanga Kabinga

By Torchwood

Chisanga Kabinga is a Zambian born producer-writer-director living in South Africa, who began her television writing career in 2003 working on South Africa’s top performing soap, GENERATIONS and soon branched into writing for other formats, including John Hopkins/USAID funded educational dramas like TSHA TSHA, SOUL CITY, and the ground breaking Peabody Award winning INTERSEXIONS, for which she was also nominated for a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA). Chisanga has worked on several top grossing South African and Zambian dramas and soaps as storyliner, script editor, script consultant and head writer for shows such as SOUL BUDDYZ, A PLACE CALLED HOME (both of which Chisanga also directed on as well as THE MATING GAME), NJILA, FEVER, MUVHANGO and 2021’s breakout THE ESTATE for Clive Morris Productions and SABC3. Together with Linda Bere Chisanga co-created, co-wrote and co-produced KOWETHU, a 13 part drama series that aired on SABC 1 in 2014 and has recently completed script editing on KINGS OF JOBURG Season 2 for Netflix. Chisanga’s extensive TV development work has taught her the power of television in shifting both perceptions and culture through compelling and entertaining drama. She continues to work as a writer, director and independent producer in Zambia and South Africa and under her company 20 Feet Tall, she has developed two Zambian television series for the Southern African regional channel, Zambezi Magic.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie

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