Country: South Africa

Direction Daniel Huertas

Synopsis Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand (2015) chronicles an epic saga, captured over sixteen years, detailing the ascent of a formidable coalition of six lions known as The Mapogo Lions. The documentary follows their extraordinary journey as they...

Direction Jamie Uys

Synopsis Animals Are Beautiful People (1974) is a whimsical documentary that explores the vibrant animal life around an oasis in the deserts of Eastern Africa over the span of a year. The film's most memorable moments occur when the fruit from...

Direction Pippa Ehrlich · James Reed

Cast Craig Foster

Synopsis My Octopus Teacher (2020) chronicles the extraordinary bond between a documentary creator and a curious octopus inhabiting the vibrant kelp forests off the coast of South Africa. Over the course of a year, the filmmaker immerses himself in the ocean,...

Cast Patton Oswalt

Synopsis Penguin Town (TV Series) (2021) follows the lives of a diverse group of endangered penguins in a charming South African coastal community. The series captures the penguins' journey as they search for partners, nurture their young, and interact with the...

Direction Oliver Schmitz

Cast Khomotso Manyaka · Keaobaka Makanyane · Harriet Lehabe · Lerato Mvelase

Synopsis Life, above all (2010) is a deeply moving and universally resonant drama centered around a young girl, portrayed with remarkable skill by first-time actress Khomotso Manyaka, who bravely confronts the fear and stigma that have gripped her community. The film...

Direction Darrell James Roodt

Cast Leleti Khumalo · Lihle Mvlase · Kenneth Kambule · Harriet Lehabe

Synopsis Yesterday (2004) follows the life of a resilient young mother, Yesterday, portrayed by Leleti Khumalo, who resides in the isolated village of Rooihoek with her daughter, Beauty, while her husband works in the mines of Johannesburg. Yesterday's life takes a...

Direction Chen Weijun

Synopsis Please Vote for Me (2007) delves into the microcosm of a bustling Chinese city, Wuhan, where a unique democratic experiment unfolds. Within the halls of Evergreen Primary School, a third-grade class is introduced to the concept of democracy through a...

Direction Christiaan Olwagen

Cast Schalk Bezuidenhout · Hannes Otto · Germandt Geldenhuys · Gérard Rudolf

Synopsis Kanarie (2018) follows the journey of Johan Niemand, an 18-year-old conscripted into military service in 1985. After successfully auditioning, he joins the South African Defence Force Choir, affectionately known as the ‘Canaries’. Set against a backdrop where law and religion...

Direction Jon Day

Cast Sixteen Jones · Ninja · Yolandi Visser

Synopsis ZEF: The Story of Die Antwoord (2024) delves into the extraordinary journey of the South African music group Die Antwoord, exploring their rise from modest origins to international fame. This documentary chronicles their unique path, highlighting the controversies and cultural...

Direction Neill Blomkamp

Cast Sharlto Copley · Jason Cope · David James · Vanessa Haywood

Synopsis District 9 (2009) presents an alternate reality where extraterrestrial beings have found refuge in South Africa. Two decades prior, aliens made initial contact with Earth, but instead of aggression or technological marvels, they arrived as refugees from their own planet....

Direction Ntshaveni Wa Luruli

Cast Jean-Pierre Cassel · Junior Singo · Dana de Agrella · Innocent Msimango

Synopsis The Wooden Camera (2003) is set in the township of Kayelitsha, near Cape Town, South Africa, in 2003, post-Apartheid. Two 14-year-old friends, Madiba and Sipho, encounter a dead man after a train passes by, leading them to find a gun...

Direction Oliver Hermanus

Cast Kai Luke Brummer · Ryan de Villiers · Hilton Pelser · Shaun Chad Smit

Synopsis Moffie (2019) is a compelling narrative inspired by André-Carl van der Merwe's memoir, "Moffie." The film follows the journey of a young man who is drafted into the South African military during the tumultuous year of 1981. As he navigates...

Direction William Kentridge

Direction Etienne Kallos

Cast Brent Vermeulen · Alex van Dyk · Morné Visser · Juliana Venter

Synopsis The Harvesters (2018) is set in the isolated Free State region of South Africa, a bastion of Afrikaans white ethnic minority culture. This conservative farming community is deeply rooted in traditions of strength and masculinity, where Janno stands out as...

Direction Anthony Fabian

Cast Sam Neill · Sophie Okonedo · Alice Krige · Tony Kgoroge

Synopsis Skin (2008) follows the life of Sandra, a ten-year-old girl with a distinct African appearance, raised by her white Afrikaner parents, Abraham and Sannie, in a secluded part of the Eastern Transvaal. Despite her mixed-race features, Sandra is lovingly raised...

Direction Carlos Agulló · Mandy Jacobson

Synopsis Plot for Peace (2013) unveils a hidden chapter in history, focusing on a clandestine effort that led to a global icon's liberation. This documentary delves into the little-known story behind Nelson Mandela's release, revealing how various African frontline states played...

Direction Gavin Hood

Cast Presley Chweneyagae · Terry Pheto · Kenneth Nkosi · Mothusi Magano

Synopsis Tsotsi (2005) unfolds over the course of six days in the vast Johannesburg township of Soweto, where mere survival is the main goal. The narrative follows a cold-hearted young gang leader who, after a botched carjacking, finds himself unexpectedly responsible...

Direction Avie Luthra

Cast Sihle Dlamini · Jayashree Basavaraj · James Ngcobo · Vusi Kunene

Synopsis Lucky (2011) follows the journey of a resilient 10-year-old South African orphan who bids farewell to his Zulu village, embarking on a quest to forge his own path in the bustling city. However, his new environment proves to be unforgiving,...

Direction Donovan Marsh

Cast Troye Sivan · John Cleese · Tanit Phoenix · Jason Cope

Synopsis Spud (2010) unfolds in the vibrant backdrop of South Africa during a pivotal year, 1990. The nation is on the brink of significant change with the impending release of Nelson Mandela. However, for young Spud Milton, the more pressing event...

Direction Mark Dornford-May

Cast Pauline Malefane · Andile Tshoni · Zweilungile Sidloyi · Lungelwa Blou

Synopsis U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha (2005) is a captivating retelling of Georges Bizet’s timeless opera, first staged on 3 March, 1875. The original opera, penned by librettists Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Helévy, draws its plot from Prosper Mérimée’s short novel. Set in the...