A group of young filmmakers from Thokoza have taken their creativity to an international stage with Thando, a short film developed through the Of Soul and Joy Photography Project and CinemaTAKE, which premiered at a youth film festival in Paris.
South Africa (09 November 2025) – What started as a weekend project in Thokoza has grown into something truly extraordinary. A short film called Thando, created by a group of young South Africans, has premiered at the prestigious Cinéma Cent Ans de Jeunesse (CCAJ) youth film festival in Paris.
The screening, held recently at Delta Park, brought together filmmakers, art lovers, and supporters of the Of Soul and Joy Photography Project, the Thokoza-based initiative that partnered with CinemaTAKE, a non-profit film education organisation. Together, they guided young people in exploring storytelling through film. And the result was Thando, a horror short that cleverly intersects themes of individuality, community, and belonging.
Mpumelelo Mcata, one of the founding members of CinemaTAKE alongside Emilie Démon and Muriel Huet, said the organisation’s goal is to help young storytellers find their voice through film.
“We really step back and let the young people lead. We give workshops on scriptwriting, story thinking, and critical reflection, but they’re the ones who decide what story they want to tell and how. Tando is really a reflection of their honesty and creativity.”
The film was part of an international programme where groups of young filmmakers from different countries are given a shared theme. This year’s theme was “Individual, Group, Community.” What’s remarkable is how differently each country interprets it. At the screening, audiences were treated to short films from across the world, each offering a unique cultural lens.
“There’s something completely different about the South African approach. It’s not that we’re trying to be different, it’s just that our context, our authenticity, brings another kind of energy. You can see it, you can feel it. And it’s been incredible to see that resonate internationally.”
Indeed, South Africa made history as the first and only African country to participate in the CCAJ programme, which has been running for 30 years. Mpumelelo shared that the experience has been transformative for the young filmmakers, who not only learned technical skills but also discovered new ways of looking at the world around them.
“We ask them things like, ‘Why is the camera zooming in here? What does it mean?’ That kind of thinking starts showing up in how they engage with life. They start questioning, analysing, seeing differently.”
Thando also saw a collaboration with young actors from the Windybrow Arts Centre in Hillbrow, adding another layer of depth to the story.
As for what’s next, Mpumelelo says this is only the beginning.
“One of our big dreams is to create a youth film festival of our own, right here in South Africa.”
From Thokoza to Paris, Thando proves that powerful stories can come from anywhere.
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