Johannesburg, South Africa – 4 June 2025 — The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) proudly announces the selection of acclaimed South African filmmaker and multi – British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) winner, Xoliswa Sithole for the 2025 Documentary Slate funding programme.
Sithole, through her production company Nayanaya Pictures, was awarded the slate from over 60 applicants across eight provinces. Once all submitted applications were evaluated for compliance, a rigorous and competitive evaluation process followed, from which her proposal entitled Climate, Youth Incarceration and LGBTQIA+ Justice Films stood out for its compelling vision, exceptional quality and strong alignment with the NFVF’s mission to foster sustainable film enterprises and amplify South African narratives on the global stage.
Xoliswa Sithole is an internationally recognised filmmaker whose powerful documentaries have consistently explored the intersection between human rights, identity and social justice. Among her many accolades, Sithole has won a prestigious Peabody award for the documentary, Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children, which also garnered her a BAFTA, as did the documentary Orphans of Nkandla. In addition, Sithole received a BAFTA nomination for the documentary South Africa’s Lost Girls. Her body of work reflects a deep commitment to unearthing complex truths and highlighting the voices of the marginalised. Sithole’s solid experience will be of the utmost value as she manages the development of nine concepts and the production of the best three into full-length documentaries over a three-year period through the NFVF Documentary Slate.
The NFVF Documentary Slate initiative was established to empower 51 black-owned production companies, especially those led by women, to create cinematic works of universal appeal, while creating sustainable and viable industry transformation and contributing towards the global visibility of South African film.
Sithole’s selection not only marks a milestone for her illustrious career but also signals an inspiring chapter for documentary filmmaking in South Africa.
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ENDS.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lerato Mokopanele
Marketing and Communications Manager
Email:Leratom@nfvf.co.za
Web: www.nfvf.co.za
About the NFVF: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is a statutory body mandated to promote and develop the South African film and video industry. It provides funding for film projects, facilitates training and skills development, and promotes South African content locally and internationally. The NFVF aims to create a sustainable and globally competitive industry that reflects the diverse stories and voices of South Africa.
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