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Byte-Sized Storytelling

Meet The Team

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Zunaid Mansoor

Programme Director

Zunaid Mansoor is an award-winning story development consultant, script editor and screenwriting educator with over 16 years of experience inspiring some 10 000 filmmakers with AFDA, Durban University of Technology, the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, Durban Film Office, and Durban International Film Festival etc.

After passing the Attorney’s Admission Exams at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he became the top Fulbright Scholar in 2007, earning an MFA from Oscar-winning film school Chapman University. He’s worked for CBS’ The Bold And The Beautiful, and for Oscar-nominated producer Alex Rose. His students have won Student Oscars, SAFTAs, Simon Sabela’s, NEFTI’s, Loeries, and are alumni of Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban, MultiChoice Talent Factory, and the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans. Many of his students/clients premiered their short films and features on all continents, serve as Commissioning Editors for leading broadcaster MultiChoice, and have written-directed films for Netflix and Showmax. He is a SAFTA, Simon Sabela’s and Writers Guild of South Africa judge, and served on the Oscar selection committee for South Africa. In 2025, he serves as facilitator and script mentor for the Durban International Film Festival’s official and prestigious screenwriting lab, the isiPhethu isiZulu Scriptwriting Programme. His masterclass on AI at Durban FilmMart 2024, led to critical engagement and advocacy with the Writers Guild of SA, and the NFVF.

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Luke Sharland

Project Manager

Luke Sharland is a Cape Town-based executive producer and director with a passion for powerful, emotionally resonant storytelling. Through his work with Mandala Films, Luke has built a reputation for creating visually striking and thought-provoking content that explores the complexities of the human experience. His projects span feature films, documentaries, and short-form narratives, often rooted in South African settings with universal appeal.

An honours graduate of AFDA Johannesburg, Luke discovered his love for documentary filmmaking during his final year, laying the foundation for a career defined by depth, sensitivity, and purpose. Since then, he has produced and directed a range of acclaimed projects, including his debut feature documentary Normal to Me and the upcoming drama The Man, The Cliff & The Dog — a deeply personal story co-written with his grandfather.

A two-time South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) winner, Luke is known for his commitment to quality, collaboration, and creative integrity. He has worked across the country and in Europe, and continues to develop a growing slate of scripted and unscripted work that challenges, inspires, and entertains.

At Mandala Films, Luke is dedicated to nurturing authentic voices that reflect the richness and complexity of South African life. Just as importantly, he is passionate about upskilling and supporting fellow industry members, creating opportunities for growth, learning, and shared success. He continues to collaborate with top-tier talent, institutions, and funding bodies, including the NFVF, with a vision for a bold, inclusive, and sustainable South African film industry.

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