Isadore W. Schlesinger made his home in South Africa after the Boer war, and founded several insurance companies. He pioneered the mass media in this country, creating a nation wide network of cinemas and theatres. He also created the first radio broadcasting organisation run on a commercial basis, and from this the SABC emerged.
Lionel Ngakane[Link to 1951, 1966] - besides being a filmmaker in his own right - Jemina and Johnny (1966, UK), Nelson Mandela: Struggle is my Life Ngakane has been hailed as a father of African cinema for his pivotal role in securing funding and support for other African filmmakers. He was a founding member of the Pan African Filmmakers Association (FEPACI) and has taught and mentored throughout Africa.
Jans Rautenbach - Afrikaans director who made South African classics like Katrina, The Winners, Die Kandidaat (South Africa's first political thriller) and other films that challenged the Afrikaner establishment at a time when dissent was very difficult. His films achieved both artistic and commercial success.
Anant Singh - In the early eighties Singh dropped out of university to create a small video hire business. Today that business is Videovision Entertainment - one of the largest independent distributors of motion pictures in Southern Africa. Not afraid to put his money where his mouth is, he has self-funded many of his films, and brought to international screens two high profile anti-Apartheid films: Place of Weeping (Anant's first feature film) and Sarafina! Singh also produced the top grossing (earning) South African film to date, Mr. Bones.
In 1996, Singh produced a documentary detailing the South African visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan leader forced into exile by the Chinese occupation of his land. Singh is the first South African Producer to be invited to become a member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - the body which awards the Oscars.