KZN is a new powerhouse in global storytelling

KWAZULU-NATAL is no longer just the setting for other people's stories — it is now the source.

- FARHANA ISMAIL

Driven by a rising generation of homegrown writers, directors, and actors, the province is exporting talent and stories that are grounded in local identity but resonate across global audiences.

These creatives are not waiting for permission — they are claiming space, shiftingthe centre, and telling stories that pulse with Zulu heritage, Indian identity, exile, womanhood, and unshakeable resilience.

What was once a province on the margins is now a powerhouse — producing work that is winning awards, opening international festivals, and redefining what South African cinema looks and sounds like.

KZN - which celebrates film month in July — has produced severalcele-brated creatives who've made their mark far beyond provincial boundaries.

Nosipho Dumisa, from Margate, earned widespread recognition directing and producing Nommer 37 (2018) and the Netflix series Blood & Water, launching local talent onto global platforms.

KZN-based documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, Nicole Schafer, directed Buddha in Africa (2019), which won Best South African Documentary atthe Durban International Film Festival and was put forward as an Oscar contender.

Veteran documentarian Xoliswa Sithole - though raised mainly in Zimbabwe has strong KZN roots and earned a Peabody Award (2010) and BAFTA (2011) for Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children reinforcing KZN's reputation in global documentary storytelling.

Durban-born Kajal Bagwandeen, is a versatile actress, presenter, and dancer, known for roles in Impunity, 3 Days to Go, 7de Laan, and Isidingo.

Meanwhile, Dawn Thandeka King, from Eshowe, became a household name as MaNgcobo in Uzalo, winning a SAFTA and a KZN Entertainment Award.

These creatives exemplify how the province's talent thrives at national and international levels as directors, cinematographers, producers, and performers solidifying the province's impact on global screen culture.