attending
SummiT
fELLOWS
Andrés Cardona is an Amazonian photographer, videographer, and artist from Colombia. His work has been published in international outlets such as Time and Vogue, and in newspapers including The Washington Post, El País, and Al Jazeera. He focuses on documenting the Amazon and its many realities, including armed conflict, rainforest destruction, wildlife guardianship, and the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous communities. Cardona is part of the “Amazonía es Aquí” project by the VIST Projects Foundation. His work has received numerous recognitions, including the POY Latam Award for Best Long-Term Project, the Eugene Smith Grant, the National Geographic Fund for Journalists Emergency Grant, The Global COVID Project by the Magnum Foundation, and the 2024 Gabo Prize for journalistic coverage, awarded to a team of journalists who developed the Amazon Underworld platform. He has been a National Geographic Explorer since 2021.
I am a conservation photographer, filmmaker, wildlife ecologist, and National Geographic Explorer from Kenya. My work focuses on using photography, film, and visual storytelling to change human behavior and support wildlife and ocean conservation across Africa.
Underwater, aerial filmmaker and helicopter pilot. Experience on different wild environments and extreme sports, trying to get new perspectives in hard-to-reach places.
Ashunganya Nchafac Nkemlemo Precious is an award-winning Cameroonian documentary filmmaker. She founded Wild Ash Pictures to tell Africa's wildlife stories through local eyes. Amidst other Projects she is currently working on her first feature natural history film, “Living Totems”, which explores sacred human-elephant bonds. Precious’s work, often beginning with just a smartphone, focuses on partnership—whether between scientists and fishermen or communities and wildlife—to transform storytelling into a tool for conservation. She is dedicated to building a platform for young African voices to protect and celebrate their natural heritage.
Augustino Lyanga is a Tanzanian filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor focused on visual storytelling rooted in people, place, and lived experience. His work span documentary, conservation, and commercial storytelling, with projects across Tanzania and South Africa. He is the founder of One Block Studios and is currently developing Lesser Known, a documentary series beginning in Kitulo.
Augustino Lyanga is a Tanzanian filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor focused on visual storytelling rooted in people, place, and lived experience. His work span documentary, conservation, and commercial storytelling, with projects across Tanzania and South Africa. He is the founder of One Block Studios and is currently developing Lesser Known, a documentary series beginning in Kitulo.
Breno Mayoyo Teixeira Lucano, Angolan with roots in Huíla. Photographer, diver, drone pilot. I have received several awards and nominations throughout my career as a photographer, such as the UNICEF Africa Best Photographer Award 2019. Nominated for the collective photographic exhibition at the Camões Institute of the European Union in 2022, I participated in a National Geographic expedition for the Okavango Delta project. I always do everything with a lot of love, I like to embrace new experiences and fight for social causes. Charismatic and proactive.
Cahali Boaventura Manuel João "Khali", a constantly changing being, a learner of life and grateful with the discoveries and experiences that the world offers. Degree in Sociology of Education, professional photographer for 6 years. I'm diver, tour guide, fascinated with nature, passionate about street portraits, freeze landscapes, capture and awaken emotions at celebration events and tell stories through my lenses with the mission of leaving the world better than I found, making a difference.
Mozambican filmmaker and DOP with 20 years of experience in documentary, nature and environmental storytelling.
Chisomo is a Malawian filmmaker, cinematographer, and storyteller whose work bridges art, emotion, and purpose. With over seven years of experience in the film and television industry, Chisomo has developed a distinctive visual language that blends realism with poetic imagery — drawing audiences into stories rooted in identity, culture, and human resilience.
Cléa Rekhou (b. 1988) is an Algerian-French visual storyteller based in Algiers, Algeria. Her projects broaches topics related to social issues from overlooked angles and identity questions that she explores through understanding her own Algerian heritage. Cléa aims to create visual works that are an expression of her subjective interpretation of the world. Using diverse creative means along with photography, she works in highlighting people, their paths and their stories. Her recent work “Beyond The Steppe” explores the socio-environmental challenges of desertification in the Algerian Steppe. She's a National Geographic Explorer, a member of Women Photograph, and a NEWF fellow.
I am an Oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer passionate about using technology to improve our observations and understanding of the oceans. With a background in Climate Change and Marine Science, I am dedicated to bridging the gap between science and cutting-edge technology. I believe in the power of collaboration and am eager to explore new opportunities in the field of Observational Oceanography and Technology.
Daniel Venturini is a marine biologist from Brazil, with an M.S. degree in ecology and conservation. He has researched humpback whales for four years in the Abrolhos Bank, a fascinating area that supports the largest Brazilian marine biodiversity. In 2016, he founded ECO360, a project focused on spreading nature- and conservation-related initiatives through informative videos. Diving deeper into science telling as a National Geographic Explorer, his goal is to make people more familiar with the ocean through immersive 360-degree virtual-reality experiences, engage them in the conservation cause and raise awareness. Venturini is a strong supporter of the power of storytelling to sensitize people.
Muhamago (Muha) is a composer, aural collector, and storyteller from Maputo, Mozambique. His work explores sound, place, and ecology through immersive soundscapes shaped by field recordings, voice, and the Mbira Nyunga Nyunga, preserving and reimagining Mozambican heritage. He invites listeners to experience landscapes as living archives of memory and meaning. His practice brings together art, conservation, and technology, using tools like ArcGIS to weave sound, photography, and geography into interactive auditory journeys. He is currently completing a National Geographic Society–supported project in Gorongosa National Park, inspiring deeper listening and reconnection with nature, especially among urban youth.
I am a filmmaker, photographer, conservationist, and rescue diver born and raised in the Lamu Archipelago, Kenya. My work combines film, art, and education to build awareness of the natural world, with a particular focus on the ocean. I have experience across all stages of film production, including producing, creative direction, filming above and below water, and editing. I have collaborated with organisations such as the BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, NEWF, and Sound Off. Beyond filmmaking, I am committed to impact-driven storytelling that strengthens ocean literacy and supports marine conservation. I am also actively involved in the management and impact of the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust.
I’m Elshadye Berhanu, a cinematographer and director telling culturally rooted and environmentally conscious stories. I trained in theatre and film at Gondar University and later at the MultiChoice Talent Factory. My work includes short films, aired on Zee World, as well as commercials broadcast across local platforms. I’m a NEWF Lab fellow and the founder of Twenty-Nine Production, focused on documentary storytelling that centers marginalized voices. Currently, I am directing The Legend of a Hyena Man, an animated folktale in development through Durban Film Mart with support from Hidden Hand Studios, and also a mini anthological documentary series under twenty-nine production.
Eman Mounir is an award-winning Egyptian freelance investigative journalist specializing in climate and environmental issues across MENA. She combines rigorous data analysis with human-centered storytelling to examine environmental degradation, climate justice, and the political and economic impacts of ecological change. Her work has earned major honors, including the Bournemouth University New Media Award, the Goethe-Institut Science Journalism Prize, two Nile Media Awards, and recognition from Covering Climate Now. A Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network Fellow, National Geographic Explorer, and 2025 Bertha Challenge Fellow, she investigates water, energy, and land. Raised in Egypt’s Nile Delta, she publishes in Arabic, English, and German.
Enele Twala is a PhD candidate at the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, where she studies comparative anatomy, biology, and macroevolution. Affectionately known as Usisi wamathambo (“the lady of bones”), she describes herself as a biologist who uses living species to uncover deep evolutionary and palaeobiological insights. Beyond research, Enele is a passionate science communicator who believes that science is not complete until it is shared, and she is committed to making complex ideas accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse audiences.
Eric is a artist, entrepreneur and academic specializing in visual effects for video games. He holds a Master's degree in Animation and is committed to advancing environmental agendas through African game development.
Erica Francis Rugabandana is an award winning film maker, has a background in wildlife management and community development, with a specialization in communication for environmental and wildlife conservation education. Erica has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience working with communities in Tanzania as a filmmaker to produce Human wildlife related films. Erica believes film is a powerful tool for sustainable wildlife conservation.
I’m Frank Buluma, a passionate Marine Scientist from Tanzania. Growing up near the coast, I developed a deep connection with the ocean early on, that connection has shaped my career, a journey driven by a desire to understand and protect marine life, and to communicate its importance through science, advocacy, and storytelling. My professional journey bridges science, technology, and communication. I have taken part in research and conservation activities focused on marine ecosystems and climate impacts. My passion for technology grew alongside my scientific work, as I became increasingly curious about how innovation could help solve ocean problems. I developed a strong interest in tools like data visualization, machine learning, and interactive media as ways to communicate complex marine issues in simple and compelling ways. I now see technology as more than just a tool, it is a bridge between science and society, between data and emotion, and between awareness and action.
George Amado is a marine conservationist, educator, underwater filmmaker, and co-founder of Coral Reefstoration Ghana, co-established in 2023 with his wife, Esi Amado. Driven by a shared passion for the ocean, he leads efforts to restore Ghana’s coral reefs through science, education, storytelling, and community engagement. His work includes launching Ghana’s first Dive Lab to train young scientists and transforming abandoned oil platforms into artificial reefs, advancing locally led marine restoration and youth empowerment across West Africa.
Guerchom Ndebo is a Congolese visual artist driven by a deep passion for images. He uses his camera to spark reflection on equality, cultural diversity and solidarity. A communications graduate, he refined his photographic practice through the Congo in Conversation project. His first series, Makala, examines the environmental impact of charcoal production. As a contributor to Getty Images and AFP, his work has appeared in The New York Times, CNN, RFI and other international media. Recipient of several awards, he is also a NEWF Fellow and a National Geographic Explorer.
Gunjan Menon is a Producer-Director, National Geographic Explorer, NEWF Fellow & Mentor, and co-founder and CEO of Beyond Premieres, a Vancouver-based creative studio focused on films at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and Indigenous stewardship. Her work examines human-wildlife relationships through a lens of ecofeminism and has been recognized with over 50 international accolades across 20 countries. She has also worked on shows that have been broadcast on National Geographic, Disney+, Hulu, ABC, PBS, BBC, Amazon Prime, Discovery, Animal Planet, and Roundglass Sustain.
Inès Arsi is an emerging Tunisian filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of identity, truth, and resilience through both fiction and documentary. She graduated in screenwriting and directing from the Higher School of Audiovisual and Cinema in Tunis and later trained in documentary filmmaking at La Fémis Summer University in Paris, where she directed the short documentary All the Truth, Nothing but the Truth (2016). Her graduation short film Yes, but No (2017, 8 min) was selected at several festivals and led to her being invited as a Unimed jury member at the 74th Venice International Film Festival. In 2022, she directed Thick Skin (5 min 45 sec), a LGBTQIA+ documentary that premiered at the Catania Film Festival and was supported by Doc House Tunisia and Mawjoudin – We Exist. Her most recent short fiction film, Flesh and Blood (2023, 20 min), was supported by AFAC, the CNCI, Durban Talents, and premiered at the Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF). Inès also participated in the 2024 NEWF Cinematography Lab with NEWF, that invited her back in 2025 as a mentor. She is a member of WScripted and continues to be active in artistic and advocacy collectives. She began her first feature documentary Pure Madness with DocHouse and Atlas Workshops, and is now developing it through IDFA Project Space and the Hot Docs Fellowship.
Jabi Katy Chale is a journalist, filmmaker and cultural ecology researcher from Buea, Cameroon. Since 2022, she has explored the intersections of environmental issues, marine conservation and cultural heritage through powerful storytelling and media. Her works have touched key issues such as heritage conflicts, Climate change, Amphibians conservation, IUU Fishing, plastic and Marine Debris pollution. She holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism and a Master of Science in Social Anthropology. Her MSC research examined the implications of cultural values in Coastal Wetland conservation in Tiko. Her environmental reporting has appeared on Hi TV and the Cameroon News Agency and was featured in Al Jazeera. Her YouTube channel, “Journey with Jabi,” hosts her acclaimed documentary “Agony of the Blue,” spotlighting illegal fishing practices. She was awarded the 2025 VIMMA Environmental reporter of the year, and 2023 VIMMA Tourism and Cross-Cultural Reporter of the Year. Jabi is a National Geographic explorer and a NEWF Fellow. Styled "mic lover, Camera Sweetheart", Jabi believes her pen, voice and lens, are powerful instruments of change.
Jahawi Bertolli is an award winning Filmaker, National Geographic Photographer and Explorer, iLCP Associate Fellow, ASC Fellow and TV presenter. He strives to portray the beauty, power, and vulnerability of the natural world through sharing African wildlife and conservation stories in an innovative way—through the eyes of communities directly in touch with the environment and its wildlife or through music that connects to our ancestral past. Jahawi and his wife Elke founded East African Ocean Explorers to inspire a new generation that will champion marine conservation. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust.
Jerry Mang’ena is a Tanzanian conservation entrepreneur and systems builder working at the intersection of oceans, communities, and finance. He is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Action For Ocean, where he advances community-led fisheries management, marine restoration, and blue-economy livelihoods across the Western Indian Ocean. Jerry also co-founded Seaweed Café, translating sustainable seaweed value chains into accessible nutrition and jobs. With training in conservation business and an Executive MBA, he mobilizes blended finance, builds institutions, and champions African-led solutions. His work centers dignity, local ownership, and scalable impact for coastal people and ecosystems through policy, partnerships, innovation, and resilient leadership.
Passionate about crafting striking visuals from both sky and ground, I specialize in aerial cinematography, ground filmmaking, and film fixing across Kenya and East Africa. As Head of Operations at Customized Aviation Solutions Ltd, I integrate advanced drone technology with traditional filmmaking to deliver high-impact, cinematic results. I’ve worked on flagship films, documentaries, and commercial projects for global brands and broadcasters, while supporting international productions through location scouting, permits, logistics, and on-ground coordination. With a strong focus on safety, creativity, and regulatory compliance, I help turn complex productions into seamless, powerful visual stories.
Colombian photographer and filmmaker. His work explores the intricate relationships between humans and their environment, merging memory and imagination, past and present, in an effort to provoke reflection on what shapes reality. He often uses photography, video, and audio symbolically to evoke reflections on the conflicts and tensions faced by the communities he works with. His work has received various distinctions, including the Colombo-Swiss National Photography Award, the Nexofoto Award, multiple recognitions at POY Latam in different years, as well as research grants from the National Geographic Society. He is the co-founder and content director of Vist Projects, a platform dedicated to image-based research on contemporary issues. His work has been published in several photobooks and exhibited at international festivals and biennials in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, in addition to being part of contemporary art collections. His work has been featured in media outlets such as National Geographic, The New York Times, El País (Spain), Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), British Journal of Photography, among others.
Fifi is a documentary photographer who is passionate about capturing the positive stories of women and children. With a keen eye for detail and a compassionate heart, Fifi spent her time highlighting the resilience, strength, and beauty of these often-overlooked communities. Fifi uses photography to amplify the voices of those who are marginalized and to advocate for them. Through intimate and evocative imagery, she aims to challenge stereotypes, confront injustices, and inspire positive change. She approaches each project with sensitivity, empathy, and respect for the individuals and communities she documents. Fifi's work reflects a deep understanding of the human experience and a profound belief in the transformative power of visual storytelling. Her photographs have been featured in numerous publications, international exhibitions, and humanitarian campaigns, earning acclaim for their ability to evoke empathy, provoke thought, and spark dialogue.
Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi an award-winning Filmmaker and Storyteller whose career in film and television has spanned over 14 years. Yolanda has produced two television shows and her transition into film was met with much acclaim with her short film “Hair That Moves” and dance documentary, “Rumba In The Jungle - The Return”, playing at many different festivals around the world. “Hair That Moves” was made through Focus Features’ Africa First programme which she was selected into and got Yolanda an inclusion on HBO’s talent list; It continues to garner international interest, a decade after its first release.A Wits Business School, Investec StartUp School graduate, Talent Campus and Africa First alumni as well as a Jackson and NEWF fellow, Yolanda has shared her work and won awards at various markets and festivals all over the world. Her current projects include two animated children’s concepts which have to date each won several awards and pitches and her first narrative feature film script titled “Thula Thula (Hush Hush)” is her personal take around the human rights issue of child brides. The script was shortlisted for the Sundance International writing Lab 2018 and was selected for Film Independent’s Global Media Makers residency in 2023.
Kristina is a bilingual Gabonese writer and producer currently residing in Libreville, Gabon. She previously worked at The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, Virginia, USA before founding Gaboma Multimedia & Production Studios, an independent production company specializing in TV and film production in 2021. Her work focuses on producing nature documentaries, particularly those that explore the intersection between nature and African cultures, highlighting ancestral and cultural relationships with the land as they relate to conservation. In 2023, Kristina participated in the NEWF Producer's Lab, a program supported by National Geographic Society, where she wrote and produced a wildlife film following a young gorilla tracker in southwestern Gabon. The film transports viewers deep into Gabon's rainforests, teeming with medicinal plants and intriguing secrets, as it reveals lessons passed down by the ancestors and the forest's animal inhabitants. In 2025, Kristina delivered a TEDx talk alongside her collaborator Jacqueline Farmer on embracing the female gaze in nature storytelling and the importance of amplifying diverse voices in wildlife filmmaking. She emphasized the power of reframing narratives to help global communities reconnect with nature and rally around the preservation of the earth's wild spaces.
Liana Hassim is a South African writer, director and creative-writing lecturer based in Cape Town. An award-winning screenwriter with a background in film and performance, she develops bold, emotionally resonant stories that centre women, memory and transformation. A graduate of AFDA, she has written and directed short films and experimental works while mentoring emerging writers through the Bachelor of Creative Writing programme at AFDA Cape Town. Her current slate includes narrative and documentary projects exploring family, identity and contemporary African life. Known for her lyrical visual style and character-driven storytelling, Hassim creates cinematic worlds that balance intimacy, magic and truth.
Luyanda Shabalala is a 33 year old photographer, wildlife cinematographer, film director, musician, and sound mixer based in South Africa. He is extremely passionate about telling stories. He has been a photographer for over a decade and has been in the wildlife industry for over 5 years. He is on a journey to share stories on the beauty and importance of the wildlife world and the people in those natural spaces in Africa and beyond. Luyanda has had the opportunity to produce films in South Africa, one namely as part of the Camera crew on PBS Nature’s “The Ocean’s Greatest Feast”, short documentary films in Austria and Botswana have since followed. He has also worked as a video contributor with Mongabay and a fellow at Jackson Wild as a participant in the 2022 Jackson Wild Media Lab as well as the NEWF and HHMI Tangledbank Studios Science Film Fellowship in 2023. The young South African is now looking to bring his style and perspective and make his mark on the visual storytelling world while sharing the critical and beautiful stories of his home land and beyond.
Mainala Silondwa is a Zambian documentary filmmaker passionate about telling human stories that inspire hope. In 2017, she studied video production in Cape Town, South Africa, and subsequently graduated top of her class from the MultiChoice Talent Factory in 2019. She earned a scholarship to the New York Film Academy (NYFA) and later became director of pre-recorded documentary content at Zambia's first 24-hour news station. Mainala has worked on productions for Apple TV and BBC Natural History Unit, and co-produced Ukuxhumana, a documentary that premiered at the Jackson Wild Summit.
I'm a documentary filmmaker with a passion for connecting my city and the world through authentic stories. As a primarily solo-filmmaker, I've been running my own company since 2017, collaborating with companies and organisations to create story-driven films and video content. When I'm not dancing with the camera or splicing together an edit, I'm usually dreaming about narratives that might shift perspectives toward a world where love is king. It's my goal to build companies that strengthen my nation, to produce independent films at leisure and to keep an open mind with my art in an ever-changing world.
Manu Akatsa is a documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, and animator with a passion for natural history and cultural preservation and amplification. Akatsa’s work captures the beauty and complexity of the world around us, while also highlighting the importance of preserving our planet's rich natural and cultural heritage. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, he was exposed to the biodiversity and cultural diversity of his homeland from a young age and developed a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the power of visual storytelling. He believes that, through his films, he can inspire people to reconnect with nature, protect it, and appreciate the deep cultural heritage that has evolved alongside it. Akatsa recently collaborated with Freehand Studios to co-create Uli & Tata's African Nursery Rhymes, a 2D-animated children's series that follows Uli and her brother Tata on their adventures in search of Africa's disappearing nursery rhymes. Akatsa believes this will play an important role in fostering a sense of connection to the natural world, positive self-identity, and encouraging conservation among children. He continues to push the boundaries of storytelling by collaborating with Indigenous communities and using modern, innovative technologies to create immersive and interactive experiences for his viewers.
Maritza Lavín is a Mexican documentary photographer and filmmaker whose work explores the relationships between people, water, and land through stories of territory, ecology, memory, and identity. Her projects often unfold over time, following how landscapes and communities shape one another. She works across photography and film. Maritza has collaborated with organizations such as UNICEF and UNHCR, and she is a member of Women Photograph and a National Geographic Explorer.
Matamba Kombila has been directing short films since 2014, several of which have received awards or secured distribution. Since 2019, she has also been teaching filmmaking in both public and private institutions, in addition to leading professional training workshops. Her work examines the impact of environmental constraints on individuals, with a focus on societal, cultural, and structural forces. Through visual storytelling, she explores how her characters adapt, assert themselves, and emerge often as role models within their communities. Her films bring the old and the new into dialogue, sketching new African identities and imaginaries.
My name is MBOUTSOU MAPAGA Evy Prince, a Gabonese marine biologist and graduate in Marine Ecology from the University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM). In 2024, I coordinated a scientific project funded by CARN ASPIR (USD 5,000), focused on the inventory and composition of fish species in Lake Anengué, located within the Ramsar site of the Lower Ogooué. Passionate about marine research, audiovisual production, scuba diving, and tourism, I am committed to promoting Gabon's aquatic ecosystems and enhancing their scientific and ecotourism potentia.
Mlu Ntuli is an enviromentlist, short film producer. He manages a waste management center in his home township, has worked for a decade in the wetlands and River health space. Provides youth capacity building in townships and rural areas. He also champions stakeholder engagement in the Catchments.
Nada Abdelkader is a Tunisian marine researcher, scientific diver, and storyteller. Her work focuses on the ecological restoration of seagrass meadows in Tunisia. With over six years of experience working with local NGOs, she has managed projects on marine biodiversity, scientific outreach, and field research missions across Tunisia and the Mediterranean. Nada is also a science communicator, leading educational programs and scientific camps for children. Nada is OceanX Education's inaugural Resident, combining science, education, and storytelling to inspire ocean conservation. An emerging documentary filmmaker, Nada is currently producing her first short film with Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmaker (NEWF).
Nancy Iraba is an award-winning marine scientist (MSc, Hons), coral reef restoration expert, Divemaster, and science communicator. She is Co-founder and CEO of Healthy Seaweed Co. Ltd. (™ Seaweed Cafe), an innovative ocean enterprise promoting nutritious seaweed-based foods and empowering women farmers in Tanzania. As Technical Advisor at Action For Ocean, she advances underwater ecosystem monitoring and builds capacity through Tanzania Dive Labs in partnership with NEWF. Recognized locally and internationally, Nancy is a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow and a champion of science communication, gender inclusion, and youth capacity-building to drive sustainable oceans and marine innovation in Africa.
ALAKIND™ is a visual storytelling companion - from conception to production. We are a dynamic Cameroonian startup production company specializing in strategy and production of advertisements, documentaries, music videos, and inhouse production.
Nathan Rice is an award-winning South African filmmaker known for his versatile work across feature films and documentaries. A graduate of AFDA Durban, his film Homeless earned a Student Academy Award shortlisting. Rice’s feature credits include his debut, The Road Less Cycled, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video, and the co-directed Lilith: The Ground Beneath Her Feet. A decorated short-form director, he has won awards for films like Dream Writer and Ngikhona. His impactful environmental documentaries earned him the Africa Rising Star Award from NEWF in 2021.
Nondumiso Masache is an award-winning South African documentary filmmaker and SAFTA-nominated producer with over a decade of experience in non-fiction storytelling. Her debut short film, Umhlaba Wokhokho – Land of My Ancestors, explores land dispossession, reclamation, and environmental conservation, and has screened at 15 festivals since its June 2025 premiere, winning three awards and receiving an honorable mention at AFRICON. She is the founder of Zenkosi Films, focused on amplifying underrepresented African narratives. Nondumiso is currently developing Taste of the Land and Ladies Race. She is a NEWF Fellow, qualified impact producer, and active industry contributor.
A National Geographic Explorer and a member of the International Academy of Television Arts Sciences (iEMMYs), Ntokozo Mbuli has spent in excess of 28 years in television broadcasting - both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Most renowned for her work in conservation storytelling as well as presenting and producing what was once South Africa’s flagship wildlife and environment show, she has developed a passion for harvesting untold stories. Her work in other television genres includes creating the medical drama series, Vutha; procedural police drama series, The Docket; as well as eTV telenovelas Ashes 2 Ashes and Broken Vows.
Paushali Saha is a passionate storyteller and wildlife cinematographer based in Dooars, With a keen focus camerawork and a dedication to capturing the essence of wildlife conservation, Paushali's journey in storytelling began with a deep fascination for the power of narratives to connect people from all walks of life.
Peter Ndung’u is a National Geographic Explorer and a Kenyan documentary, travel, and wildlife photographer and filmmaker with over a decade of experience across Africa and internationally. His work focuses on biodiversity, culture and conservation, with recent projects including producing a National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab film in Kenya and cinematography for "Bugs That Rule the World" that aired on PBS Nature. His work has been featured by National Geographic, Apple, Canon, and CNN, and exhibited globally. Alongside his practice, Peter is committed to mentorship and capacity-building, leading workshops and masterclasses that support the next generation of visual storytellers.
As a child, Robert was inspired by the wacky, adventurous science communication of The Magic School Bus. This inspiration led him to create compelling educational films, working with organizations including National Geographic, the National Park Service, GBH, the Alabama Rivers Alliance, E/V Nautilus, and most recently, NEWF. Beyond his professional endeavors, Robert actively creates content under the handle @BoydRB3, posting on platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok, as well as on his website, www.boydrb.com. Moving forward, Robert is keenly interested in creating films that highlight Sierra Leone’s biodiversity and the hidden world of microscopic life.
A biologist-turned-game developer, I create emotional and unique gaming experiences! As a 2D artist, writer, and programmer, I enjoy developing visual novel games that dissect the human psyche.
Samson Moyo is a wildlife filmmaker and producer from Zambia who specialises in short documentaries. Having developed an interest in wildlife filmmaking and nature, he pursued studies in Digital Film Production to gain a more in-depth understanding of videography. He has since worked on a number of shoots with different production companies including the BBC, National Geographic, Walt Disney, Natural History New Zealand, Iniosante, and Wildstar. When he is not on assignment for productions, he runs his own production company - Mosam Media - where his projects centre around producing his own film projects.
Saiyam is a producer, editor, and co-founder of Beyond Premieres, a Vancouver-based creative studio that creates impact-driven films at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and Indigenous stewardship.
Samira Vera-Cruz is a Cape Verdean filmmaker and underwater cinematographer. She directed the short films Buska Santu (2016) and Hora di Bai (2017), and is a founding member of the PALOP-TL Film and Audiovisual Network. Her internationally awarded documentary Sumara Maré (2023) took part in the NEWF Producers’ Lab. She is currently developing the hybrid feature Plastic Atlantis, supported by Generation Africa 2.0, Visions du Réel, and NEWF, which received the World Cinema Fund: TUI Care Foundation Award and six awards at Durban FilmMart 2025, including the Sundance New Voices Award, the OIF–ACP–EU Award.
Shamier is a National Geographic Explorer, freediver, rescue scuba diver, and underwater cinematographer based in Cape Town. As co-founder of Sea The Bigger Picture ocean initiative, he leads community-driven conservation efforts, including the #SeaTheBiggerPicture Defenders of the Blue Citizen Science Programme, which focuses on marine education and youth development. Shamier's award-winning documentary, "Rise From The Cape Flats," highlights his storytelling abilities. He is a NEWF fellow, focusing on filming and photographing and collaborates with other National Geographic Explorers across Africa. His work documenting the Great African Seaforest, sharks, and whales showcases his dedication to bringing these environments to a wider audience. He recently led a storytelling workshop for National Geographic Society and is currently a student on an Ocean Mastery Cinematography course, under the Mentorship of Award Winning Underwater Director Of Photography Roger Horrocks.
Shamik Sanyal is a filmmaker and cinematographer based in India, working across Documentary and Natural history formats. Raised in Jalpaiguri at the Himalayan foothills, his storytelling is rooted in ecology, science, and climate justice.
Shorouk Elkobrosi is a Director of Photography whose work focuses on human–nature relationships. With her tactile and visceral images, she explores new ways to visualize survival. She is a NEWF wildlife cinematographer, documentary filmmaker, and underwater camerawoman. She holds an MSc in Climate Sciences from the University of Hamburg and an MA in Cinematography from MetFilm School London. Before turning fully towards cinematography, she spent over a decade in visual science communication, developing environmental storytelling across formats. Her work has included collaborations with international clients such as BBC World Service, producing newsroom-style climate science programs; the African-German Youth Initiative, filming a documentary on the impact of African social entrepreneurs on climate mitigation; and organizations like the European Science Foundation, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and IIASA. With proficiency in cinema camera operation, lighting design, and visual storytelling, Shorouk is seeking opportunities as a Director of Photography, cinematographer, or camera operator, particularly with productions creating impactful, human-centric environmental films.
Trishaan Norman is a South African line producer with hands-on experience managing production logistics, budgets, and on-the-ground coordination across film and media projects. Known for his practical problem-solving approach and calm execution under pressure, he bridges creative vision with operational reality to ensure productions run efficiently and on schedule. Trishaan is passionate about building sustainable production models within the local industry and collaborating with emerging and established creatives across Africa.
Victor Adewale is a Nigerian documentary photographer and visual artist whose work explores urban life, resilience, and social dynamics. His photography has been exhibited internationally, including the Bamako Biennale, and presented in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut. In 2025, his work appeared in National Geographic Magazine, and he received the Air Afrique Prize and Golden Scarf Award from the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop. Adewale is a National Geographic Explorer, a NEWF Fellow, and a Prince Claus Fund Building Beyond Fellow. His practice combines storytelling and visual research to highlight overlooked perspectives and experiences.
Yvonne Chizara is a Tanzanian filmmaker and conservation storyteller whose work focuses on wildlife, marine ecosystems, and community-led solutions. She began her filmmaking journey in 2018 and has since worked as a director, producer, and editor across impact-driven projects in East and Southern Africa. A NEWF Fellow and REDucation graduate, Yvonne combines cinematic storytelling with environmental advocacy. Her project Lesser Known: Saving the Last Orchids of Kitulo won 2nd place at WildPitch Tanzania 2024. Through One Block Studioz and the Lesser Known initiative, she tells stories that inspire awareness, action, and conservation-led change.