Reel Nights is a seasonal event curated by Behind Her Lens Visuals that brings African diasporic cinema to audiences in an intimate, accessible, and unique way. The event will include panel discussions with industry professionals, live masterclasses, Q&A sessions with directors, and incredible films. We have partnered with our valued sister brand, Mmamodiselle Concepts, to bring you a special night of cinema-infused experiences. 

FILMS SCREENED AT REEL NIGHTS:

RAGE OF A LIONESS:

Directed by Adze Ugah

Starring: Samela Tyelbooi and Wiseman Ncube

A vengeance-filled mother, enraged by the miscarriage of justice over her daughter’s brutal murder, traps the ruthless gangster responsible and his gang of killers in an abandoned factory – to elicit a taped confession but nothing goes according to plan, when the bait for the trap happens to be the gangster’s younger brother and her dead daughter’s lover.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

Adze Ugah has directed several television drama series for both the SABC and DSTV cable TV platforms over the past 11 years, with directing credits on dramas such as Zone 14, Isibaya, Jacob’s Cross, Society, Skwizas, Room 9, My Perfect Family, Tshisa III, Mfolozi Street, to mention a few. In 2010, his documentary feature, The Burning Man, was awarded 4 Golden Horn awards under the auspices of the SAFTAS.

In 2014 and 2015, Ugah was awarded the Golden Horn at the SAFTAS for Best Director for his work on the Mzansi Magic daily drama, Isibaya, produced by the Bomb Shelter Film and Television Company. Mrs Right Guy, a romantic comedy he directed, under the NFVF slate films, was the second-highest-grossing local South African film in the cinemas in the year 2016. Rage of a Lioness, an action thriller, is his most recent film, with a sequel currently in development. 

Adze Ugah has served in various film training and skill transfer capacities such as NFVF Youth FilmMakers project, as a Directing Mentor. As well as a mentor for the Durban International Film Fest talent campus. He has been a visiting lecturer at WITS drama school, Tshwane University of Technology, Film/drama department, University of Johannesburg film faculty and the South African school of Motion Picture Medium and Live performance. Ugah has also served in various adjudicating capacities such as The MUSE awards for the Writers Guild of South Africa, the Africa Magic viewers choice awards for Mnet and the Baka Forum Documentary film festival in Karlsruhe, Germany.

OVERCOME BELOVED:

Nomhle, an abused wife and mother has found temporary refuge with her teenage daughter Nandi in the safe house of Bab’Somandla, on the run from her abusive husband. In this home Nomhle lives in the present while her mind is stuck in the past. She is unable to reconnect with her daughter and delays their progress to living a life free from fear.  

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Nthabiseng Mosieane is a South African Female scriptwriter and director and holds a post-graduate diploma in Picture Production from the Tshwane University Of Technology. Nthabiseng has written and directed her debut 2021 short film ‘Overcome Beloved’, a piece dedicated to Gender Based Violence survivors that plagues South Africa. The film was made possible by the National Film And Video Foundation; Emerging Female Filmmaker Programme in partnership with the South African Broadcasting Commission. Since the premiere of her short film, Nthabiseng became a finalist at the Writers Guild Of South Africa Muse Awards, with ‘Overcome Beloved’ receiving a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Writing amongst other proud accolades.

“It is my dream and life goal to always strive to tell the original African.”

PANEL DISCUSSIONS: 

LANDING THE ROLE

A panel discussion featuring industry experts sharing insight on what it takes to land a Film and Television role, navigating auditions, self tapes, character development and landing an agent. The panel was joined by Noxolo Dlamini, John Otto, Nthabiseng Mosieane and Nontobeko Mazibuko. 

Noxolo Dlamini is a South African actress, dancer and singer. She began her career in 2015 when she joined the cast of Disney’s The Lion King Musical West End in London and gained international recognition when she played the role of Ntombi in the Netflix Original series JIVA! In 2017, she played the role of Sarafina in the Broadway Hit Musical Sarafina! at The South African State Theatre. She received a Naledi Theatre Award and Broadway World Award nomination for her portrayal of this role. In late 2017, she was set to make her return to the Pridelands, this time originating the principal role of Nala in The Lion King Musical International Tour. She toured the Philippines and Singapore with the production before returning to South Africa at the end of 2018. For Black History Month, in 2019, she played alongside exceptional South African female talents in Nina Simone: Four Women at the Market Theatre as Sephronia and landed her television role as Nkosazana in local South African Soapie, Isibaya. In 2020 Noxolo played her first television starring role in Netflix original dance series JIVA! Which was released June 2021. At the beginning of 2022, she was cast in the 2nd season of Mzansi Magic’s The Republic as Thina and was casted in the third season of Mzansi Magic’s Housekeepers. She recently had her first film released on Netflix called Silverton Siege, where she plays an MK Cadre, Mbali “Terra” Mabunda, on a sabotage mission gone wrong with two other fellow cadres and friends. It is based  on the true events of the Silverton Trio. 

John-Otto Phike is a creative entrepreneur in the television and film space. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Drama and Psychology and an Honours Degree in Drama from Rhodes University. His work spans from Content Producing, Press Work and Casting. 

John-Otto’s press affiliations include the likes of Mzansi Magic, Netflix and Showmax. His casting experience spans both locally and internationally in shows and films such as, The Estate, The Wife, King Shaka and Thabo: The Rhino Adventure (children’s movie) to name a few. His goal in the industry is to create a safe, inspiring and disciplined child-actor industry that will grow young artists not stars.

Nontobeko Mazibuko is an entrepreneur who specialises in Social Media Management/ Public Relations and Influencer Management. She holds a BCOM Marketing and Business Management Degree and a certificate of Fundamentals of Digital Marketing. She began her journey in the Film/Entertainment industry as a Casting Associate and has worked on numerous films such as The Royal Surprise, The Umbrella Men and Low Rider (A South Africa and UK co-production). She currently handles the Marketing and Social Media Management for WMG Representatives, a talent agency that represents some of South Africa’s biggest stars.Her biggest accomplishment to date has been handling the PR/ Marketing for MUSIC IS MY LIFE documentary film, about the late Joseph Shabalala and his legendary band Ladysmith Black Mambazo.