“The next fight is inclusion, it’s collaboration, it’s bringing each other up!”

Every August, we find ourselves meditating on and celebrating National Women’s Month and the grand contributions of the women of South Africa. This year, independent creative producer Lesego Soke and her team were inspired to shine a spotlight on the trailblazing women in South African film and television. Soke and her co-organiser Uletta Botipe came together to give these impactful women their flowers by creating the Female Film Trailblazers. 

With the outpouring of love and grief from the recent passing of veteran actress Connie Chiume as well as mam Mary Twala in recent years, South Africans undoubtedly know and appreciate that the film industry wouldn’t be as vibrant and brilliant without the women shaping it. 

Soke says: “This initiative is to create space for us to tell these women that we see them and to also give them their flowers while they’re alive. Our way of giving them their flowers was a photo shoot in which I collaborated with other female filmmakers.”

Taking this on, Soke and her team were not just interested in the women who grace our screens in hilarious, poignant and thought-provoking stories. They also wished to spotlight the women with a seat at the tables where these narratives take shape. 

The Female Film Trailblazers comes as a call to celebrate women’s excellence in film, not just by acknowledging their presence but identifying them by name. In the important act of naming them, this project shines a light on their significant contributions, often uncelebrated and overlooked.

“Here we have women in leadership roles, group heads, commissioning editors, executive producers. Women who have worked a lot of years to earn their current role and to take up the space that they have.”

Presenting the Female Film Trailblazers of 2024

Group head for Content Development & Strategy at eMedia Helga Palmer

 Independent Producer Khanyi Nxumalo

Executive Producer and co-owner of Yellowbone Entertainment Layla Swart

Executive Producer at e.tv Dithapelo Segodi

Commissioning Editor at Multichoice Malekola ‘Roxy’ Ramohlale

Operations Manager and Producer at StainGlass Production Nontyatyambo ‘Flower’ Daniel

Producer, director & story editor Sihle Hlope

Commissioning Editor at Multichoice Mampho Ramovha

Trainee Executive Producer at e.tv Hlengiwe Sithole.

It is certainly worth celebrating that Soke has brought together such a bold and confident group of leaders who in their strength do not seem to compromise on the values of kindness and generosity. As Soke expresses the compassion and bravery she has witnessed from these women, she says about her mentor Khanyi Nxumalo, “She continues to take the time to hold my hand through challenging moments.”

Reflecting on Nxumalo’s role in her career, Nontyatyambo Daniel adds, “She wasn’t holding anything back with the understanding that ‘one day this person might come for my job’. She was never that person. Even after we stopped working together,  she spoke about me in rooms that I wasn’t privy to.” 

From the bountiful wisdom to the support displayed in the interview, it is no surprise at all that this was the group of women chosen for the debut of this programme.

This first edition of the Female Film Trailblazers celebration exists in two parts. The first, helping us put faces to the names in this group of trailblazers, was the mimosa photoshoot shot by Nolindo Zibi. This was followed by podcast interviews led by the founder of SA Film Chronicles, Eddie Ramohlale. 

The pilot project, which premiered on the 9th of August, was shot at the multi-use creative hub, 99 Juta in the city-centre. 

Soke also trumpets Elelwani Netshifhire, Andiswa Bokweni, Ketli Hatshejame, and Refilwe Magoete as the core creative team that joined her in bringing this moment to life. Highlighting the collective spirit of women coming together to support and witness each other.

Continuing, she declares, “Moving forward, we would like to do an open call, so that women that are still coming up are bridging that gap of not knowing who these women are or having an opportunity to speak to them.”

Alongside bridging the gap, she speaks on the neccesity of creating initiatives such as this as a way to encourage women in all industries to come together and support one another.

While acknowledging and honouring the legions of women who have paved the way in the industry, Soke goes on to ask, “What’s the next fight you know? The next fight is inclusion, it’s collaboration, it’s bringing each other up, because obviously, there’s a certain level of, oh, no, you know, this pie is too small for everyone.” 

The project that saw its inception just two weeks before National Women’s Day can be found on the SA Film Chronicles YouTube page. The collective interview, which debuted on Women’s Day, was the first of a longer project which will see individual interviews being released weekly over the next six weeks. 

Alluding to the continuation of the project, Soke assures us that they will continue working on and improving this initiative. We can certainly expect a second edition next year. 

“The most important thing that I’d like to just say is, for people to start thinking out of the box on ways to get through to their industry and to get to their ‘next’.”

Concluding, these are a few names that were mentioned by the class of 2024 as the inspiring women, teachers and mentors that have helped them achieve their own success. Desireé Markgraaff, Mmabatho Kau, Marie Rushall, Busisiwe Ntintili, Ava DuVernay, Diane Flack and Jana Erasmus. This project is an ode to power in community, love and support amongst women, a testimony to the immense possibilities that avail themselves when people hold each other up.

Nounouche Contributor: Toby iMpendulo kaNgomane