07/08/2025
🎬 Filmmaker Spotlight: Siphosethu Sibandze
Director | Writer | Actor | Cultural Ambassador
Siphosethu Sibandze is a passionate and multi-talented filmmaker whose star continues to rise in Southern Africa’s creative industries. Born in January 1997, Siphosethu’s love for storytelling began at an early age, blossoming through school theatre and skits, eventually evolving into a dynamic career in film.
After completing matric in 2018 at Saim Christian High School, he began honing his skills in scriptwriting and performance. His professional journey into filmmaking began behind the scenes as a boom sw***er in 2020, an experience that gave him a deep understanding of the technical foundations of film. This hands-on training sparked his growth as a director and screenwriter, ultimately leading to his first acting role in the 2022 short film Lifa Lami, which was screened at the European Film Festival.
Since then, Siphosethu has built a diverse and impactful body of work both in front of and behind the camera. His directing and acting credits include Blood Betrayal (2022), New Problem in Town (2023), Emuva (2023), and Khumbini (2025). He also appeared in productions such as Mhlume Goats Race, the Tsengi’ Data demo advert, and the music video Ekhaya (2023). In 2023, he was featured in EswatiniBank’s national billboard campaign and selected for a prestigious cultural and political exchange program in Germany — a testament to his growing influence as a cultural ambassador.
In 2024, he wrote, directed, and starred in his debut feature film, A Dream (Liphupho). The film was screened at Gables Movie Zone and the Bushfire School Festival and went on to win Best Film at the Uhuru Film Festival 2025. That same year, he took on the lead role of King Nwane III in Baka Ngwane, a historical drama that gained international attention, including screenings at the European Film Festival.
Adding to his accomplishments, Siphosethu completed formal training in Film and Television at Joburg Art Alive and worked as Assistant Director on Isiphetho, a television series produced by Black Brains Pictures.
In 2025, his short film Liphupho earned an official selection at the Emalahleni Film Festival 2025, cementing his status as a compelling new voice in African cinema. With a growing portfolio that spans directing, acting, producing, and screenwriting, Siphosethu Sibandze represents the next generation of storytellers reshaping the narrative of African film.
🎥 Liphupho will screen as part of the Emalahleni Film Festival 2025 Official Selection.
