MUST SEE: Favour Media telling local stories through film (Trailers+Photos)

Hoping to pioneer the infusion of fresh blood into the industry.

August 25, 2017

Enver Wessels 2 minutes read

Siphiwe Mbata (24) and Nonhlanhla Mncwabe (23) are two aspiring filmmakers from Soweto looking to leave an indelible mark on the South African film industry.

The industry is cutthroat, but the pair is set on being pioneers in an industry where local talent is largely ignored in favour of more established names.

Mbata said, “ I grew up with a love for acting and have appeared in numerous adverts like Pepsi, Nedbank and LoveLife.”

This passion for being in front of the camera propelled him to international exposure when he featured in the official 2012 London Olympics video.

Watch Video Below

The experience strengthened his love for film to the extent that he studied filmmaking, graduating in 2014.

Through his inclusion in the video, Mbata has rubbed shoulders with prominent British athletes such as Dalton Grant who he still keeps in touch with.

Mbata and Mncwabe are fully aware of the potential a career in film-in front or behind the camera-has and the lives which can be impacted through the telling of stories through the use of local actors and a lingo which audiences identify with.

For them, staying relevant and producing quality feature and short films are vital if their stories are to reach Sowetans.

Mncwabe remarked, “When we shoot films in the townships people come up to us and ask how they can be part of future projects. This is indicative of people wanting to see themselves on the big screen, acting out scenarios they are familiar with and which resonates with South Africans.”

**And action: A cameraman shooting a scene at a house**.

Through their company Favour Media, the duo have released a number of short films like Interview, Elevator, Decisions, Ingane Yami and Emathandweni, receiving a number of accolades along the way.

Favour Media is largely self-funded and this presents a major challenge to the group’s filmmaking exploits as production budgets are skyrocketing in turbulent economic times.

A highlight for the two was the screening of Interview at the Kleinkaap Short Film Festival in Centurion and at the Nels Diaspora Film Festival in Kampala, Uganda.

Not content to leave it short films, they have produced two feature films titled Ifa: The Inheritance and Ingane Yam’ of which the latter has been selected to be screened at this year’s Kleinkaap Short Film Festival at the Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel in Centurion.

Favour Media depends largely on using the talents of aspiring local actors but do collaborate with big casting agencies like Zero to Hero casting agency in their quest to infuse the local filmmaking industry with fresh blood and believe that, through film, they will be taking the colourful and vibrant township dynamic of Soweto to the rest of the world.

The dynamic duo have submitted their entry for consideration to Mzansi Magic and are holding thumbs that the broadcaster’s response would be favourable as continue to inspire aspirant actors and filmmakers to break down doors to pioneer a way into the industry.

Favour Media can be contacted on their Facebook page; Favour Media or Instagram on the handle @favourmedia. Anyone interested in assisting the group may also reach them at the following e-mail addresses: siphiwembata@gmail.com or favourmedia.jc@gmail.com.

Below are sneak previews of their latest projects: