Mpumelelo is one of South Africa’s leading artists and cultural activists.

Best known as one part of internationally acclaimed award winning South African rock band the BLK JKS – Mpumelelo plays the guitar, self-taught at that, but he is quick to remind us…that he is not a guitarist. Mpumelelo is somewhat of a polymath and considers himself a conduit and artist who is as passionate about film or art in general as he is about music. He is an autodidact musician and filmmaker.

Black President – his debut feature – a creative documentary set in the life and work of celebrated Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai – world premiered as part of Forum Expanded at the 65th Berlinale in 2015 and had its African premiere at the 2015 Durban International Film Festival as well as taking part in the Durban FilmMart 2011.

Mpumelelo is currently developing An African Thrillogy – a fiction feature trilogy, comprising the films: Somebody Has Got To Do It; White City; and Black Sunlight.

His second feature Film Festival Film, co-directed with Perivi Katjavivi, will World Premiere at the 69th Berlinale in February 2019.

PREVIOUS WORK

• Film Festival Film 2019 | 46 mins | co-director Perivi Katjavivi | World Premiere at the 69th Berlinale with Forum Expanded.
• Black President 2015 | 79 mins | Berlinale 2015; Durban International Film Festival 2015; Film Africa 2015; Africa in Motion 2015; CinemAfrica 2015; Afrikanische Filmtage 2015; T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival 2015; Festival Cinema Africano 2015; Matutu Festival of Stories 2015.
• Twin Lakes 2013 |2 mins | A short film in response to Trayvon Martin’s murder featuring artists from the US State Department’s Cultural Diplomacy Program “One Beat” in which Mpumelelo also participated as a musician.
• Motèl Mari – Just Like A King 2012 | 4 mins | Official Video.