Inspiring Women

 

By Fred Felton | Aug. 19, 2026

August is Women’s Month and Durban Life takes a look at some of the inspiring women shaping our society in South Africa.

Nasmera Buckus, COO at Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) – Founder of the Northern Collective

‘’For me, leadership is not only about reaching a position of influence. It is about what we choose to do with the influence, who we bring into the conversation, whose voice we amplify and which doors we open for the women coming behind us,’’ said Nasmera Buckus.

Dr Aobakwe Segwe, leading radiologist, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Centre of Medical Imaging (CMI)

‘’Leadership isn’t measured by personal success alone but by how many young people grow because of your influence. I aim to drive research that lets Africa contribute its own evidence to global medicine, rather than importing findings built on other populations,’’ said Dr Segwe.

Karen Farred, CEO, Girls and Boys Town South Africa

‘’As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month under the theme ‘’Empowered Women Empower the Nation,’’ I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary women who have shaped my own leadership journey and those who continue to make an immeasurable difference in the lives of children and families every day. Their courage, empathy, and determination remind me that empowerment is not simply about personal success, it is about personal success; it is about creating opportunities for others to flourish.

Botlhale Boikanyo, Poet, Actress and UNFPA Regional International Conference on Poplulation and Development (ICPD) Youth Champion

‘’My hope and dream is to live in a world where every young person, especially women and girls, has the freedom and opportunities to shape their own future and is included in the rooms where decisions about their lives are made,’’ said Botlhale Boikanyo.

Laverne De Jager, Founder of the 2026 Scottfin Revive Selfcare Summit

‘’The self-care was never created simply to host an event, although from a marketing perspective, it has helped boost our brand connection, says De Jager. ‘’It began because we saw too many women running on empty. Women are the heartbeat of families, businesses and communities, yet they’re often the last people to receive care themselves. We wanted to create something that reminds women that investing in themselves isn’t selfish – it’s essential. When women are restored, everything around them becomes stronger.’’

Opportunity for Female Filmmakers

Blue Ice Pictures in partnership with The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will be hosting a four week

mentorship and hands on training programme for emerging female filmmakers in September 2017.

Blue Ice Pictures is an independent film and television production company based in Toronto with an office in Cape Town. The company’s highly skilled team develops and produces critically acclaimed and commercially viable films, television shows, documentaries, and reality series, with a longstanding involvement in international co-productions and studio production services.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture that was

created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa's film and video industry. We do this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers.

In addition, the NFVF commissions research and produces industry statistics that provide both the public and

stakeholders with valuable insights into the South African film industry.

The two successful candidates will be working closely with a director and producer on the set of Blue Ice Pictures

television series production in Toronto. The programme offers accommodation, travel and a stipend whilst in Toronto.

Criteria:

Applicants must have a minimum experience of 2 – 3 years proven track record in producing /

directing a Fiction / Drama (NO DOCUMENTARIES)

South African citizen or permanent resident and must reside in South Africa

Previously disadvantaged individuals are encouraged to apply

Requirements:

Full comprehensive CV

A short career profile within the film industry

Certified ID copy

Certified valid passport

Must be AVAILABLE for 45 uninterrupted weeks whilst based in Toronto

Important Notice:

1. Incomplete applications will be disqualified

2. Only certified documents will be accepted

3. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered

4. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for a one on one interview

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31 July 2017

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS TO: applications@nfvf.co.za

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton 

CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge at DIFF and DFM

CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, in partnership with Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT), invites South African women filmmakers to participate in the inaugural CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge. 

The CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge aims to create opportunities to garner international recognition and global distribution and is presented at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) (13 to 23 July) and the Durban FilmMart (DFM) (14 to 17 July).

SWIFT is a newly formed organization that aims to advance the participation of women in the South African audio‐visual sector. CaribbeanTales is a group of companies that produces, markets, and sells Caribbean‐themed film and television content for global audiences. It includes CaribbeanTales Inc. a registered Charity based in Toronto, Canada; the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival (CTFF) which takes place annually in Toronto in September; the renowned CaribbeanTales Incubator Program.

The challenge also aims to connect South African filmmakers with those in the Diaspora as well as a

global audience.

SWIFT will present a preparatory workshop on no‐budget filmmaking at the Durban FilmMart on Monday, July 17 from 12:30pm to 2pm at the Tsogo Sun Maharani Hotel. This workshop will provide participants with useful tools for making a short film with constraints in time, budget and other resources.

This is a free workshop and no booking is necessary.

Following the workshop (which is not mandatory to enter the Challenge), the CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge will take place from 19‐23 July and will be open to teams with the roles of writer, director and producers filled by women and queer filmmakers from South Africa. The theme from the challenge will be announced on 18 July on the CaribbeanTales website www.caribbeantales‐tv.com and the teams will have five days to write, shoot and edit a film of no longer than 5 minutes. Entering teams need to feature female identifying crew in the key positons of writer, director and producer.

Completed films must be uploaded by no later than Sunday, 23 July at midnight (GMT +2) on the CaribbeanTales website. Teams unable to upload the films for submission, from their own internet connections, should contact cinefamza@gmail.com on the first day of the challenge to make arrangements for submission.

A shortlist of up to ten short films will be selected and posted on the CT website for online voting. The challenge will recognize three winning films including best story, best direction and audience choice. Two of these films will be given their World Premiere Screening at the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival and all will be given the opportunity to acquire distribution by CTWD.

“We are very excited to be collaborating with both SWIFT and Caribbean Tales on this initiative and hope it will lay the foundation for more cooperation between filmmakers on the continent and those from the Diaspora,” says Toni Monty of the Durban FilmMart.

Sara Blecher said “Short films are brilliant ways that filmmakers and their projects can get noticed.

“We are delighted that this new programme to encourage South African filmmakers to take the short film challenge during the festival focuses on women in line with the Women Led Film theme for this year’s festival,” says Chipo Zhou, DIFF manager.

For more info contact cinefamza@gmail.com .

For more info about the DIFF go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za  and for the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.com.

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton