AFDA Durban’s Postgraduate students were recently treated to an inspiring Master Class by one of South Africa’s most accomplished film producers, Bongiwe Selane. During the session, Selane shared her compelling career journey, from receiving a scholarship to study film in the UK, to rising through the ranks to become a commissioning editor at M-Net, and eventually breaking away to create her own content.
A pivotal moment in her career was being awarded a scholarship by Creative Europe Media, which enabled her to attend the prestigious EAVE Producers Workshop in Europe, an experience she credits as being instrumental to her later success.
While Selane has experience in documentary filmmaking, her breakout feature film, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word (2016), was a major milestone. The film broke South African box office records and was later followed by Happiness Ever After, currently streaming on Netflix. A third and final installment in the trilogy has been commissioned by Netflix and will be released soon.
The Postgraduate students were joined by several Bachelor of Creative Writing (BCW) students and faculty members. Attendees praised Selane’s warmth, generosity, and the valuable insights she offered into navigating the film industry and bringing creative visions to life.
More About Bongiwe Selane
Bongiwe Selane is an award-winning producer with a diverse portfolio spanning serial content, short films, documentaries, and feature films. Her notable credits include:
Culture Shock – Winner of the 2013 SAFTA Award for Best Reality Show
Unomalanga and The Witch – Winner of Best South African Short Film at the 2015 Durban International Film Festival
Great Africans – A documentary series for Africa Magic Entertainment
NFVF’s Female Only Filmmakers Project – A series of 26 narrative short films directed by women
Her debut feature, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word, grossed over R14 million (approximately €1 million) at the South African box office. Selane is also an alumna of the Durban FilmMart, La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut Français (Cannes), and Produire au Sud. In 2018, she received a full scholarship from Creative Europe Media to attend the EAVE Producers Workshop, further cementing her reputation as a formidable force in African cinema