IN CONVERSATION WITH APHIWE MDLULI
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Aphiwe Mdluli: A Rising Force in South African Film and Content Production
Aphiwe Mdluli is a South African film and content producer, podcast host, film critic and festival curator who is making her mark in the local film industry. An AFDA graduate who completed her Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium cum laude in 2025, she is the co-founder and managing director of Ellipsis Studios, a Johannesburg-based creative venture focused on film and content production. Her work also extends to film curation, where she has contributed to the Reel to Reality Film Festival by selecting and shortlisting films and developing curated festival programmes.
One of Mdluli’s notable achievements is co-producing the short film Umxoxiso, directed by Khaya Dube, which won the Young Voices Competition at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival. Alongside her production work, she hosts the podcasts What's Your Cheat Code? and BBAF Fridays Actors Edition, creating spaces for conversations around creativity and the entertainment industry. Through her growing portfolio, Mdluli represents a new generation of African creatives working to tell compelling stories, build independent production platforms and contribute to the future of South African cinema.
[DISCUSSION POINTS] :
1. Aphiwe Mdluli’s Journey in Film and Television: Her journey from AFDA graduate to co-founder and managing director of Ellipsis Studios, and her vision for the future of South African storytelling.
2. The Success of Umxoxiso: Co-producing the short film that won the Young Voices Competition at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival, and what this achievement means for emerging filmmakers.
3. Building Ellipsis Studios: Establishing an independent creative company and creating opportunities for emerging talent through film and content production.
4. Film Curation and Creating Industry Platforms: Her experience as a Reel to Reality Film Festival curator, film critic and podcast host, and how these platforms connect filmmakers, audiences and industry professionals.
Aphiwe Mdluli is a South African film and content producer, podcast host, film critic and festival curator who is making her mark in the local film industry. An AFDA graduate who completed her Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium cum laude in 2025, she is the co-founder and managing director of Ellipsis Studios, a Johannesburg-based creative venture focused on film and content production. Her work also extends to film curation, where she has contributed to the Reel to Reality Film Festival by selecting and shortlisting films and developing curated festival programmes.
One of Mdluli’s notable achievements is co-producing the short film Umxoxiso, directed by Khaya Dube, which won the Young Voices Competition at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival. Alongside her production work, she hosts the podcasts What's Your Cheat Code? and BBAF Fridays Actors Edition, creating spaces for conversations around creativity and the entertainment industry. Through her growing portfolio, Mdluli represents a new generation of African creatives working to tell compelling stories, build independent production platforms and contribute to the future of South African cinema.
[DISCUSSION POINTS] :
1. Aphiwe Mdluli’s Journey in Film and Television: Her journey from AFDA graduate to co-founder and managing director of Ellipsis Studios, and her vision for the future of South African storytelling.
2. The Success of Umxoxiso: Co-producing the short film that won the Young Voices Competition at the 2026 Joburg Film Festival, and what this achievement means for emerging filmmakers.
3. Building Ellipsis Studios: Establishing an independent creative company and creating opportunities for emerging talent through film and content production.
4. Film Curation and Creating Industry Platforms: Her experience as a Reel to Reality Film Festival curator, film critic and podcast host, and how these platforms connect filmmakers, audiences and industry professionals.
