BBC shines light on SA musical export, amapiano
South Africa’s newest lucrative cultural export, amapiano is getting a BBC documentary treatment. Shining a light on the genre, THIS IS AMAPIANO recently aired on BBC in the UK and is currently available on YouTube.
The Black Panther returns this November
The second instalment of the Black Panther franchise debuts in November 2022! Ryan Coogler returns as the the director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever alongside Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Lupita Nyong'o returning to reprise their roles as well.
Kerry Washington & Audible present ‘The Prophecy’
Audible has announced three scripted multi-cast Audible Original productions in collaboration with Kerry Washington’s Emmy award winning Simpson Street Productions. The first of the three Audible Original podcasts is The Prophecy.
Blonde, the re-imagination of Marilyn Monroe
Filmmaker, Andrew Dominik is the next Hollywood buff to re-imagine the life and times of Marilyn Monroe with Blonde, starring Ana de Armas. Based on the 2000 bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates, this biopic debuts this September.
Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow lead 2022 MTV VMA nominations
The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards nominations have arrived! Seeking to highlight artists who’ve been culturally impactful, transformative of the music industry, and sparked global conversation, some of the nominees include Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, Drake, and Harry Styles to name a few.
WAFCON 2022 tournament winners highlight gender pay gap in women’s sports
South Africa’s national women’s soccer team, Banyana Banyana has won their first African Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2022 tournament. Winning a tournament of this nature is a major achievement for any sports team. However, Banyana Banyana’s win has highlighted the plight of women in the South African sports industry and the overall treatment of sportswomen throughout the world.
‘Bad Weather’, Nanette is acrimonious & unashamed
South African singer Nanette has made her album debut with nothing less than vocal prowess, candid lyricism, and moody melodies set against the backdrop of bad weather. This UMG signee makes a solid case for accepting and making space for post-relationship acrimony without the burden of shame with the release of her 9-track album, Bad Weather.
The Idol, The Weeknd’s dark and twisted series
The Idol is the creation of The Weeknd, Euphoria’s Sam Levinson, and Reza Fahim, following the story of a self-help guru, LA club owning, cult leader and his relationship with a pop star on the rise. The Weeknd stars in this series as the male lead acting alongside Lily Rose-Depp who plays Jocelyn.
Netflix’s best single set films
Over the years, Netflix has steadily prioritized single set films and brought them further into the collective consciousness of the film community; all while tackling themes of police brutality, institutionalized racism, and romantic resentment.
South African filmmakers are re-interrogating Apartheid
When history is enveloped in mystery, artists fill blanks and re-imagine what could have been in a medium of their choice. This can be seen as South African directors and screenwriters re-interrogate race relations derived from apartheid in recent Netflix film and series productions.