Torchwood » Categories » Screenwriters

30 Jan 2025

Tom Eaton

By Torchwood

Tom Eaton is a versatile South African writer with over two decades experience across fiction, non-fiction, print, digital media, film, and television. He is one of SA’s most prominent newspaper columnists and is widely known for his writing on cricket. His novels include THE DE VILLIERS CODE (Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2005) and IS IT ME OR IS IT GETTING HOT IN HERE?: GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND BOILING FROGS IN SOUTH AFRICA (Tafelberg, 2020); and his upcoming novel AN ACT OF MURDER (Penguin Books, 2025), launching in April. The book is the first in a cosy crime series for Penguin Random House.

Eaton’s screenwriting career spans multiple genres, from satire and comedy to thriller, drama, and documentary. Tom was the head writer for popular series like SOAP ON A ROPE and MASTERCHEF SOUTH AFRICA, and he co-created THOSE WHO CAN’T for SABC3. He has recently written for MNet’s SUMMERTIDE and LEGACY, and his docudrama about football on Robben Island, MORE THAN JUST A GAME, was given a special screening at the UK House of Lords. He is currently working on new sitcom RED HERRING for Panther Punch and Showmax and is adapting his novel AN ACT OF MURDER.

Tom has many original series in development ranging from speculative epics to sitcoms, and is a writer for hire.

Find out more about Tom here.

Represented by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie.

DOWNLOAD 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 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 David Kayser

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

09 May 2024

Gabe Gabriel

By Torchwood

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

DOWNLOAD CV

15 Apr 2024

Marvin-Lee Beukes

By Torchwood

Marvin began his career in front of the camera starring in series such as LEAGUE OF GLORY (Daryl Roodt, Reghard vd Bergh), WATERFRONT (Jaco Bouwer), DIE BYL (Reghard vd Bergh) and DAM (Alex Yazbek), WONDERLUS (Johan Cronje), UITVLUGHT (Reghard vd Bergh) and GRIEKWASTAD (Jozua Malherbe). His first project behind the camera was short film SOOS GISTER, which he wrote and directed and premiered at Silwerskermfees 2017. After three years writing for BINNELANDERS and 200 episodes later Marvin pivoted to premium scripted fare starting in the writer’s rooms for SKEMERDANS (d. Amy Jephta), and QUEEN OF HEARTS: THE STORY OF MADEEGHA ANDERS AND DIE VERDRINKING VAN NINA VERSTER (d. Amy Jephta, Johan Cronje), as well as co-writing the TV film ONE NIGHT KWA MXOLISI with Johan Cronje (d. Sisanda Henna) all for Nagvlug Films and M-Net and Showmax. Marvin’s first long-form directing was on EVE’S CHRISTMAS, (co-directed with Ephraim Gordon), followed by TICKETS (on which he wrote and directed solo) for Red Pepper Productions and Prime Studios. FRANKIE AND FELIPE followed (p.Film factory and Sturvy Pictures) which premiered at Silwerskermfees in 2023 and had a theatrical run in 2024 Q1. Marvin is currently directing long-running drama for eTV, writing a series for Pretty Neat TV for kykNET and writing a second season (of which he directed on the first) for Wolf Light and Gambit Films and a streamer and on which he’ll be directing. His episodes of BLOOD LEGACY recently bowed on Netflix. He has a handful of spec screenplays he is developing and which will soon be seeking producing partners.

Represented by David Kayser

DOWNLOAD CV

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

15 Jan 2024

Rene Van Rooyen

By Torchwood

Rene graduated cum laude in directing and screenwriting from AFDA. Her short NANTES screened internationally and won SA’s Silwerskermfees prize for best director and best picture. Her short PATHOLOGY was selected by SA’s NFVF Female filmmaker program and premiered at Durban International Film Festival (Africa’s premiere film festival). Her feature adaptation of Dalene Matthee’s novel TOORBOS was SA’s selection for Best International Film for the 2021 Academy Awards and backed by Multichoice and the NFVF. It is currently available on Showmax. The film was one of 5 selected from 60 projects across Africa to partake in Cape Town Int’l Film Festival & Market Work in Progress program. Through her production company Red Letter Day Pictures, she has co-written and co-produced HOLLYWOOD IN MY HUIS and VASELINETJIE which won Best Picture at the Silwerskermfees and Best Humanitarian Film at Sedona IFF. Rene just finished post on CATCH ME A KILLER starring Charlotte Hope (GoT) for producers Simon Howley, Brett Wilson and financier Night Train Media. She is concurrently setting up (as producer, director) a 52 episodic family drama for M-Net called SUMMERTIDE.

15 Jan 2024

Lulu Hela

By Torchwood

Lulu Hela is an accomplished, multi-award-winning TV and film producer and actress with over 2 decades worth of experience under her belt. She has produced across several mediums, including commissioned serial content for Africa’s largest pay-TV broadcaster. Lulu has worked across multiple genres in scripted and unscripted content, with a mastery of scripted content with shows such as Is’thunzi Season 2, for which the lead, Thuso Mbedu was nominated for an International Emmy Award. Lulu has successfully produced dramas such as Nomzamo 3, Hola Mpitshi, 4Play – Sex Tips 4 Girls, and others that have won multiple SAFTA awards. In recent times Lulu served as one of the producers of SABC 3’s longest-running soap, Isidingo, which was lauded as the most-watched show on the SABC 3 platform. Lulu moved on to producing a telenovela, Gomora for 3 seasons. Gomora remained the most-watched television show on South African Pay TV, DSTV for 3 seasons. In 2022 Lulu created and produced a drama series under her company, Hela Media, Lavish S1. Lavish S1 was awarded the Best TV Drama and Best Wardrobe awards at the 17^th South African and Television Awards in 2023. Under the banner of Hela Media, Lulu went on to create and produce a groundbreaking and first of its kind period piece telenovela with fantasy elements, for 1 Magic Television, which is DSTV’s premium channel. Not only has Lulu created and produced high quality television content, but she is also passionate about the development of women in the industry. For the past 8 years, Lulu has successfully run a mentorship programme for emerging female filmmakers, giving them access and opportunities to tell their stories.

26 Sep 2023

Neo Sibiya

By Torchwood

Neo Sibiya is a Johannesburg based screenwriter and producer who believes in the positive representation of young black people through the power of the screen. After graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2015 with a double major BA Honours in Performing and Television Studies, she was chosen as one of 20 graduates to participate in the second iteration of the Multichoice Talent Factory ZA. There she wrote three out of the four made for television films produced, while getting critical behind the scenes training in writing, directing, continuity, art department as well as costume. She has since been working professionally as a writer and story liner in the South African Film and Television Industry since 2016. She has written on various South African soapies, telenovelas and dramas such as THE RIVER, THE ESTATE, GOMORA, THE HERD and UZALO. She currently co-owns Eccentric Circus Productions with her two partners which opened its doors in 2017. Through her company, she has written and produced one festival circuit short film, twelve Made for TV films and three feature films: UHAMBO, A ZULU CHRISTMAS and PEARLS OF WISDOM. All three which are currently streaming on Showmax. Most recently she wrote two episodes of the Netflix Africa original SAVAGE BEAUTY. She is currently developing her own series UKUSHONA KWELANGA, a six-part drama series whose seeds were planted during the Netflix Realness Episodic Lab.

Represented by David Kayser

DOWNLOAD CV

Older Posts