An upcoming NFVF-funded short film will bring industry professionals to Standerton, creating opportunities for local young people to learn filmmaking on a working production.

Standerton is preparing to become the setting for a new chapter in local storytelling as Nzambenangai Film Productions expands its community arts work from theatre into film.

Led by founder and creative director Wendy Mlangeni, the organisation has been creating platforms for young people to discover their voices through performance and storytelling.

Now, its upcoming short film, funded by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), will take that work onto a professional film set.

At the heart of the production is an ambition that reaches beyond the finished film: to bring practical industry experience closer to young people in Standerton.

Film professionals from Johannesburg and other parts of South Africa are expected to join the production, working alongside local interns and helping them understand the craft, discipline and teamwork behind filmmaking.

Nzambenangai plans to accommodate interns across the production’s departments, giving young people an opportunity to explore the work that happens both in front of and behind the camera.

For an aspiring creative, that exposure can make an unfamiliar industry feel within reach. A film set brings together many different skills, from directing and camera work to sound, lighting, wardrobe and production coordination.

Learning alongside experienced practitioners can help young people discover where their interests and abilities fit.

The initiative connects with the NFVF’s broader role in developing South African cinema. According to the foundation, its work includes funding film development and production, supporting filmmaker training, and expanding participation in the industry. (nfvf.co.za)

For Nzambenangai, the move into film builds on the foundations laid through theatre. Its work has included preparing young performers for the stage and introducing local children to live performance.

During its The Light Within theatre event on 20 March, the organisation invited primary schools in Standerton to experience theatre, following three months of preparation with young performers.

The upcoming production will introduce another way of telling stories—and another set of skills for those who want to help tell them.

By bringing experienced filmmakers into Standerton, the organisation aims to create a space where local talent can learn within its own community.

The town will become both a filming location and a place of practical learning, where young people can observe how a production moves from preparation to performance and the capture of each scene.

As part of preparations, auditions and internship registration are scheduled for 10 October 2026 at 10:00 at Stanwest Hall. This will be an early step in bringing together the local talent and aspiring crew who hope to participate.

The lasting value of the project will extend beyond what appears on screen. It will also lie in the experience young people gain, the professional relationships they begin to build, and the confidence that comes from contributing to a shared creative goal.

For Nzambenangai Film Productions, this is a significant next step in its development. For Standerton’s young creatives, it is an opportunity to move closer to the filmmaking process—and to imagine their own place in South African cinema.