Sara Chitambo-Hatira
Position: Co-Chair
Portfolios: docAdvocacy, docComms, GFC, docFestivals
Sara Chitambo-Hatira is a filmmaker dedicated to telling impactful stories that address urgent social and environmental issues. As Co-Chair of the Documentary Filmmakers’ Association in South Africa, Sara champions the craft of documentary filmmaking and advocates for greater representation of African voices in global narratives. Her work includes short films like Climate Theatre, which addresses climate change, and Reflecting Her, which explores African women’s reproductive health and rights—both demonstrating her ability to approach complex subjects with sensitivity and depth.
Sara’s debut feature-length documentary, Black People Don’t Get Depressed, premiered at the Africa Film Festival in New York and Encounters in South Africa. The film delves into mental health stigma in African families and communities, expanding the discourse on a vital but often overlooked topic. With a Master’s degree in Digital Documentary from Sussex University, she combines academic expertise with artistic vision to create compelling, socially conscious films.
Neil Brandt
Position: Co-Chair
Portfolios: docADVOCACY & SASFED rep
Neil is a dynamic, multi-award-winning filmmaker and producer whose work spans genres, cultures and time zones. As a founding partner at Storyscope, Neil is dedicated to fostering authentic African voices that challenge stereotypes. He was the lead producer on Netflix’s acclaimed true-crime series, SENZO: MURDER OF A SOCCER STAR. His feature documentary INFLUENCE was in competition at Sundance 2020 and was broadcast on Arte, CBC and Showmax, winning best South African Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival. He is currently in production on a variety of high impact series for local and global platforms in both the linear and streaming spaces, exploring personal and political revolutions.
Neil holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and a postgraduate degree in International Law from the University of Cape Town. He has been a pioneer in content entrepreneurship and media advocacy in South Africa, navigating challenging environments across the African continent, the Middle East and Latin America. Neil has produced over 200 hours of fiction and non-fiction series and features that have aired on multiple platforms including Netflix, Amazon, ARTE, VPRO, SABC, eTV, Sundance Channel, BBC, PBS, ZDF, FX, NHK, Al Jazeera and Mnet.
Committed to local industry development, Neil was a founding board member of the Durban Film Market Institute (DFMI) and has served on the boards of the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), the South African Screen Federation (SASFED) and the Documentary Filmmakers Association (DFA). He has regularly served as a juror for the International Emmy Awards and the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
Alette Schoon
Position: Vice Chair
Portfolios: docSHARE, docLOVE
Alette Schoon has been teaching Documentary Filmmaking at Rhodes University in the School of Journalism and Media Studies for nearly 20 years.
Back in the day, in the late nineties and early 2000s, Alette worked as a researcher and director on various exciting documentary film projects. In that time her documentary Wild on Wheels, focusing on a young woman insisting on her right to be considered sexy despite her disability, won the audience award at the Perspectiva Film Festival and was also selected for ZIFF. Another of her films, Phephile’s Story, was part of a series following HIV positive presenters on a road trip through SA and was selected for the International TV festival Input.
Since 2005 Alette has been reinventing herself as an academic, doing research on digital cultures and recently also on ethics in the SA documentary film industry. Alette still finds time in-between teaching and research to return to her first love, making films. She has been an active member of the DFA introducing residents of Makhanda to fantastic films by coordinating docLOVE screenings at Amazwi for the past few years. She is particularly proud that her film, Intellectual Giants of the Eastern Cape, was selected for screening at docLOVE in 2024.
Omelga Mthiyane
Position: Treasurer & Co-Secretary
Omelga Mthiyane is a distinguished documentary filmmaker whose profound storytelling has garnered international acclaim and recognition. Hailing from Inanda, South Africa, Omelga’s films not only showcase her talent but also serve as powerful narratives that bring attention to cultural heritage and social issues.
Omelga holds a degree in Television Studies from the Durban University of Technology (DUT), where she honed her skills in visual storytelling and cinematography. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for her illustrious career in filmmaking. Her films have achieved global recognition, premiering at prestigious festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. Her works have been featured on prominent platforms including SABC, Al Jazeera’s Africa Direct, ETV, and BBC World, amplifying her impact and audience reach.
Lauren Clifford-Holmes
Position: Co-Secretary
Portfolios: docLOVE, docSHARE & docCOMMS
Lauren began her career as a video and photojournalist in 2008, establishing the first multimedia news departments for News24 and The Mail & Guardian. She spent a decade breaking new ground in online video, photographic and mixed media content production.
She went on to find her home in documentary filmmaking in 2015. She has since worked on award-winning independent and commissioned documentary features and docuseries with various production houses and as a freelancer. Her roles have included those of production manager, line producer, series producer, post producer and development producer. Clients have ranged from government to international NGOs, major broadcasters such as CGTN and streaming giants like Netflix.
Her journalism and advocacy routes remain a solid foundation to her ethos as a filmmaker, motivating her to make films that inspire, create debate and challenge the status quo. She is actively committed to development within the local film industry, where she serves on the board of the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) and co-chairs the IPO’s Membership & Fundraising Subcommittee and the Transformation & Capacity Building Subcommittee. She has grown the DFA’s docLOVE programme during five years of volunteering for the DFA. This is her second term serving on the Board of the DFA.
Carolyn Carew
Position: Board Member
Portfolios: docFUNDRAISING & docDISTRIBUTION
Carolyn Carew is a renowned South African film and television producer with a distinguished career spanning decades. Her extensive body of work includes feature films, documentaries, television dramas, reality shows, and commercials. Her projects have been broadcast on major international platforms such as the BBC, Sky Arts, Canal+, ZDF, NHK, and DK, as well as on numerous African broadcasters.
Carolyn has a proven track record of producing high-quality content, with two of her films premiering at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival and one in Berlin. Her last documentary was the SA submission to the 96th Academy Awards. She has also received critical acclaim, including a Special Jury Prize at the IDFA. Her dedication to nurturing talent and developing the South African film industry is evident in her work as a trainer and her role on the inaugural council of the National Film and Video Foundation
Elelwani Netshifhire
Position: Board Member
Portfolios: docLOVE & docSHARE
Elelwani Netshifhire is a passionate storyteller specializing in film as a writer, director and producer. She has worked on various leading international and local (South African) film productions. A long standing DFA member who was also the organisation’s DocSHARE Programme Manager.
Elelwani has just completed producing After School Series pilot project and is currently working as a creative producer on e.tv’s Isiphetho-Destiny. She is well equipped, with qualifications from the University Of Cape Town’s Film & Media Department, University Of South Africa, and University of Southern California’s School Of Cinematic Arts.
Kastarine Neo Kgola
Position: Board Member
Portfolios: docYOUTH & docLOVE
Kastarine Neo Kgola is a 26-year-old Documentary Filmmaker, editor. Currently working for STEPS a nonprofit pan African organization passionate about the power of documentaries to disrupt, shift and move the world around. She works as a trainer capacitating other young people on how to tell their own stories using mobile phones. To date more than 80 young people have been trained from Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Zambia. Also, a social media coordinator for AfriDocs.
In 2020 she Directed and edited a short documentary Schools Shutdown that got screened in more than 5 film festivals Encounters, DIFF, REFA, LFF, Jozi Film Fest and SAFF. As a young person I feel very honored to be contributing to society in this way by sharing my skill to enable young people apply a skill easily transferable making me a better young leader.
Mmabatho Montsho
Position: Board Member
Portfolios: docLOVE, docADVOCACY & SASFED rep
Mmabatho Montsho is a multifaceted creative force, celebrated for her work as an award-winning writer and director, and as a visual artist. Guided by a passion for social justice, she has curated and directed the Human Rights Film Festival and the Basha Uhuru Film Festival, both commissioned by world heritage site Constitution Hill in 2024. A seasoned script development mentor, Montsho has guided multiple novice writers and their scripts to broadcast, nurturing emerging talent and encouraging innovative storytelling.
In addition to her creative pursuits, Montsho has lent her expertise to various award platforms, serving as a jury member for multiple awards, including the South African Film and TV Awards (SAFTAs) and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Awards.
Through her diverse creative pursuits, Montsho continues to champion women and children’s issues, challenge social norms, and inspire meaningful dialogue.
DFA Administration
Hanné Koster
Position: Communications Manager
Hanné Koster is an award-winning television director and documentary filmmaker. Her career started as a radio journalist. Then she joined SABC current affairs as a researcher, before becoming a producer. She works professionally as a director, video editor, camera person and scriptwriter.
Past work includes Agenda (SABC), Truth Commission Special Report (SABC), Frans Schutte & Mathews Phosa inc launch video (corporate), Coenie 2.2, die maak van ‘n album (Via), I am Woman – Leap of Faith (SABC), Coenie de Villiers – Hart van Glas (kykNET), Groen Namibië (kykNET) and Kwêla (kykNET).
She was a lecturer in broadcast journalism at what was then, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, and is currently a part-time scriptwriting trainer at the Writers Guild of South Africa. Hanné has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing, BA Honours in Communications and multiple marketing certifications.
Hanné is intrigued by the art of storytelling and compelling narratives. She is a perpetual student who is always learning more about this fascinating craft.
Monique Kloppers
Position: Intern
Monique majored in English, Film & Media at the University of Cape Town and graduated during COVID in 2020. She then studied at The South African Film Academy and went onto working in many different paths including digital marketing, sales, media and television.
She has worked as a Guest Coordinator, Producer, Director, Writer, Make up’s Assistant and Video Editor. She then went on to entering a film competition; her work Producing, Writing, Directing and starring in the advertisement for the City of Cape Town landed her and her team a winning spot at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa.
She became a Producer for Yuri Arcurs Productions and since then she has also managed several social medias for several companies. Monique continues to learn and grow throughout the highs and lows in career growth.
Thea Aboud
Position: Financial Administration & Public Officer
Thea Aboud started her career in industrial engineering with Iscor, and moved to local, provincial and national government. She branched out into accounting, procurement and human resources and, after 17 years, decided to work for herself. She started Shacabanga Consulting, working as a strategist and capacity-building advisor and, in cooperation with New Horizons, facilitated Business Implementation Plans for local, provincial and national government, non-profit organisations and the private sector in South Africa and other African countries.
In a complete turn-around, Thea then ran a successful take-away / bakery / general dealer in the Eastern Cape, before she returned to Johannesburg in 2010 to set up the Writers Guild of South Africa, which she still runs as Executive Officer in conjunction with the WGSA Council. Among her other clients are the Documentary Filmmakers’ Association, the South African Screen Federation, Sisters Working in Film and Television, the Southern African Freelancers’ Association and the South African Science Journalists’ Association.
Thea’s strengths lie in organisational capacity building, system analysis, financial management, strategic planning and project management, and she has a sound knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act. As a writer, she has screen credits on a children’s programme and has also been a ballet, ballroom and Latin American dancer and trainer.