About ntsikelelo
Ntsikelelo Mavata Biography
Writer Producer Cinematographer Editor
My film journey, began, nothing more than just an aspiration, at the age of fourteen. With little resources at hand I would often write amateur scripts dreaming one day I would act in them. ‘At the time that’s all my young mind could conjure filmmaking to be, nothing more than a bunch of actors, acting to make a film.’ It was in a 2009, five day script writing workshop, that my journey as a filmmaker would find it’s reality.
The course was held at a school called Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking. This being a tremendous eye opener, for a rural boy whose closest encounter to the industry was a daily episode of generations every weekday at 8pm. I learnt all I could from the workshop and later enrolled for a longer course at the same school for documentary NQF level 4. Within three months on the course I found myself pitching against UCT, WITS and AFDA graduates for a R25, 000 prize to make a documentary for Johannesburg's City of Construction Agency. Against all the odds we won that money and made the project to which I ended up being the camera operator and editor. The documentary was titled No Hands Land, it has been travelling international film festivals since. From there on the was no looking back for me!
No Hands Land (Doccie) Second Sentence (Doccie)
This became an encouraging experience and turning point for my career. I went on to direct a documentary called Second Sentence about an ex community offender who turned his life around after serving his sentence. But the community wouldn’t accept him back for his past sins. This documentary has also travelled film festivals and public broadcaster (sabc 1).
Evaporating Beliefs (Doccie) Butter Flies (Short Film) With Love (Short Film)
That was my 1st Year at film school. I went on to do four more years, two for documentary one for drama and the last for business. Post school my reel now stretches from PSA’s (Public social announcements) corporate videos, documentaries, tv series, commercials, experimental films. ‘Whether editing, directing or filming them I have treasured and grown from all the encounters and experiences these projects have brought me.’
However my true calling lies within Feature films. My debut feature film (Soulties) is currently in post prodcution.
Standard Bank Commercial Soulties (Feature Film) Nkonde (Short Film)
Drawing great inspiration from African film auteurs like Onsman Sembene, inspires me to tell films that remind a people of the dignity, color and beauty of Africa.
