Director Mthokozisi Zulu with the cast and crew of Sired, which won Best Film at the 48 Hour Film Project Durban and is now competing internationally.
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Two filmmakers from KwaZulu-Natal are taking their work to international audiences this week. One is screening in Portugal, while another, a scriptwriter trained through the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA), has secured a slot at the Miami Beach Film Festival in May and will appear on eNCA on Sunday, alongside the cast.
This momentum reflects a growing screen ecosystem in the province, where local stories are reaching global platforms.
The Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Congress, taking place in Sodwana Bay this week, forms part of that ecosystem. It brings together filmmakers, industry players and storytellers to build the skills, networks and exposure needed for local work to travel.
Against that backdrop, filmmakers from KwaZulu-Natal are beginning to translate opportunity into real international recognition.
Director Mthokozisi Zulu is not new to storytelling, but this week marks a defining moment in his career. His short film Sired, which won Best Film at the 48 Hour Film Project Durban 2025, will be screened on Friday at Cinema São Jorge, Lisbon, competing against films from more than 100 cities worldwide. This is part of Filmapalooza, the global festival of the 48 Hour Film Project.
The 35-year-old Durban filmmaker directed Eye of Ngwenya in 2021 and has worked in theatre since 2012.
The film tells the story of a young girl trapped in a system she cannot escape, using poetic storytelling grounded in Zulu heritage and set against the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
Featuring Minnie Dlamini and Zazi Kunene, it confronts difficult social realities through strong visual storytelling.
At the Durban leg of the competition, Sired won Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematographer and Best Actresses, and was nominated for Best Film Score, earning it the right to represent the city globally.
Zulu said the selection reflects what is possible from Durban.
“My entry into Portugal has proven that filmmakers can make it from Durban to the world. I also had a group of young people who trained with me during the shooting of the film. It is amazing how they will see their efforts on the big screen.”
He plans to develop the documentary into a series.
Zulu’s career has taken him beyond South Africa, with experience in Berlin, Frankfurt, London and Hollywood. That exposure now informs both his work and his role in developing others.
He acknowledged provincial support in reaching this stage: “Thank you so much KZN Tourism & Film Authority. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to represent my city, province and country. You have made it possible for my art to cross borders.”
Scriptwriter Lungisani Lucas Gwadiso, whose film A Shepherd’s Joy has been selected for the Miami Beach Film Festival.
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While Zulu’s film heads to Europe, Lungisani Lucas Gwadiso, a scriptwriter from the Harry Gwala District, is taking a different but equally significant path built through structured training.
His project, A Shepherd’s Joy, has been selected to screen at the Miami Beach Film Festival on May 9 and 10, marking a major milestone after completing KZNTAFA’s scriptwriting programme in 2023 and script editing programme in 2025.
He will also appear on eNCA on Sunday at 06:30am, alongside the cast, bringing his work to a national audience while it reaches global platforms.
“The KZNTAFA scriptwriting programmes aligned me with industry standards in screenwriting. They equipped me with essential tools, including scriptwriting software, proper formatting, and a deeper understanding of story structure and technical execution,” he said.
Poster for A Shepherd’s Joy, written by Lungisani Lucas Gwadiso, selected for screening at the Miami Beach Film Festival.
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His earlier documentary, A Preserved Nation, produced on a mobile phone, went on to win Best Lesotho Film, becoming his first international award.
“It gave me my first international award and elevated me into a new phase of my career. More importantly, it affirmed my belief that I am truly a filmmaker, regardless of resources.”
In addition to Miami, his work has also been recognised at the 9th International Folklore Film Festival in India.
“Being officially selected for the Miami Beach Film Festival is a powerful reminder that dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to quality can open global doors, even with limited resources.”
Gwadiso helped establish the Harry Gwala Film Institute and launched the inaugural Harry Gwala International Film Festival in June 2025.
His ambitions extend further through partnerships, including collaboration with the Gem Institute in Lesotho, aimed at building a cross-border film market in the Southern Drakensberg.
Despite his progress, access remains a challenge: “I truly wish to be present at this once in a lifetime opportunity at the Miami Beach Film Festival, and while the institutions I had hoped to rely on are currently unable to assist, I am seeking the support needed to make this moment possible.”
While the two filmmakers are gaining ground globally, NEWF is working at the level that supports those outcomes.
The congress reflects a focus on practical industry development, including global storytelling pathways, international markets, distribution and platform strategy.
Workshops on cinematography, post-production, budgeting and emerging technologies such as AI and immersive formats further highlight the Congress’s role in building technical capacity.
While their journeys are distinct, both filmmakers reflect the kind of storytelling environment that NEWF Congress is designed to support.
From the KwaZulu-Natal coastline to cinema screens in Lisbon and Miami, the trajectory is becoming clearer. Local stories are being developed with structure, supported through training and industry access, and increasingly positioned to compete globally.
If that pipeline continues to hold, these filmmakers will not be exceptions, but early examples of what the province can consistently produce.