FILM CURATION
Throughout my career, I've grown a deep passion for the visibility of marginalised communities in cinema and my work is focused on finding ways to bridge the gap between emerging and independent filmmakers, audiences and communities (both creative and grassroots). I believe that Film curation, when exercised to its fullest extent, stretches beyond the screen and is a strong facilitator of meaningful platforms for urgent socio-political dialogues, access to key industry practitioners and skills, as well as community and career building platforms. As a curator and programmer of the short film format, I am devoted to amplifying African and Marginalised cinema through curated programmes that showcase diversity, complex identities and aid filmmakers as they navigate the business of filmmaking.
The Power of Programming Panel
Umlindelo Q&A
The Power of Film Programming Panel
The Power of Programming Panel
REEL TO REALITY FILM FESTIVAL
2021 - presently
Reel to Reality Film Festival is an annual short film festival run by Behind Her Lens Visuals, to spotlight films made by filmmakers of African descent, and within the African diaspora at large, to showcase the past, present and future of storytelling through strong voices in film.
As the Film Festival Director and Head Curator my tasks include:
- Developing artistic, informative, multidisciplinary and creative film curation ideas into visual and technical briefs that span across Art Direction, Marketing Materials and Technical expertise for every edition of the festival.
-Executive producing and curation of film and talk programmes through research and audience needs.
Managing relationships with international distributors, sale agents and artist managers for the procurement of film titles, performers and negotiating rates.
- Leading funding negotiations, applications and fundraising endeavors, while managing budgets and cashflow for film events and film productions.
- Hiring, training of freelance staff and delegating briefs to creative, producing and technical departments for the execution of small to large film screenings and events.
- Running the logistics of the film festival and overseeing submissions, branding and partnerships.
BEHIND HER LENS VISUALS
2020 - presently
Behind Her Lens Visuals, a South African based film creative agency that aims to provide accessible stories to audiences on the African continent and the African diaspora, in order to bridge the gap between industry professionals, first time, emerging storytellers and their audiences.
To date, BHL VISUALS has showcased over181 films to over 835 audiences across South Africa. As the founder and head curator, my tasks include the creative and executive producing, creative direction and the curation of all events, films and talk programming, and marketing strategies.
- Head Curation: Leading the creative direction and curation of the company’s events, film screenings and film festival partnerships at a Senior level from ideation, to execution. This role also includes managing relationships with international distributors, sale agents and artist managers for the procurement of film titles, performers and negotiating rates.
- Executive Producing: leading funding negotiations, applications and fundraising endeavors, while managing budgets and cashflow for film events and film productions.
- Program Management: Hiring, training of freelance staff and delegating briefs to creative, producing and technical departments for the execution of small to large film screenings and events. This role also includes curating daily programmes and films.
- Creative Direction: Developing artistic, multidisciplinary and creative film curation and events ideas into visual and technical briefs that span across Art Direction, Marketing Materials and Technical expertise.
DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM FESTIVAL RESIDENCY 2025
The residency offered an incredible opportunity for South African film festival directors to engage in strategic planning and curation alongside African diasporic mentors to create a network that helps to strengthen our festivals as well as the promotion of South African cinema.
We embarked on a transformative 7-day residency, where we collaborated, strategized, and built a powerful network dedicated to strengthening our festivals and championing the promotion of South African cinema.
Guest Curator for Independent Cinema Office UK 2023
Screening Days: Young audiences is a hybrid event that looks at strategies independent cinemas can deploy to improve the representation of children and young people in their audiences and workforce, and additionally gives exhibitors the chance to watch upcoming releases for young audiences. In my session, I outlined key approaches to curation that have made real connections with audiences, that can work at any level and reach a wide range of young people.The session looked at:Targeted film programming - through the success of Reel to Reality FilmFestival 2022Brand partnerships and collaboration - through Girls in Film SA and Open Television’s Brave Futures Intersectional Film Race.Multidisciplines - Through Africa in Motion’s 2022 Film festival program.
Africa in Motion Emerging Curator Co-hort 2022
I was a part of a dynamic and vibrant film curating team selected to watch, rate and shortlist Africa in Motion's Short film competition films. Working through over 200 short films, I actively contributed to the selection of the top 10 short films competing for the Short film competition. My work also included engaging with films to select films that aligned with the competitions curatorial vision in a critical, unbias standpoint and writing a reflective essay on a chosen film of choice for the festival's website.