From the quiet hills of Ha-Khakhu Makuleni to the global spotlight in Cannes, a South African filmmaker has just made cinematic history… and he did it with a Venda story that refuses to be forgotten.
Global (06 May 2025) – A powerful new voice in South African cinema is rising and it’s coming from the valleys of Venda.
Murena Emmanuel Netshitangani, a passionate filmmaker from Limpopo, has just clinched the Best African Film award at the Cannes World Film Festival for his riveting feature Lubunyu. And while some media headlines may have confused the win with the more famous Cannes Film Festival (which kicks off later this month), this achievement is still hugely significant and worth celebrating properly.
Murena is a name to remember, not only because of his storytelling prowess but because of how far he’s taken a deeply local story, filmed in a village many South Africans have never even heard of and placed it on a global stage. And he’s done it with heart, grit and an unwavering belief in his dream.
“From the timeless mountains of Khakhu Makuleni, a name shall now echo across the world,” he wrote on social media.
“What once was a patient waiting game has blossomed into a triumph — we bask in the glory of history: the second professional Venda film ever made.
Who could have foreseen that it would all lead to this singular moment in time?
Today, crowned with the title of Best African Film at the Cannes World Film Festival, we celebrate a monumental achievement — a boy from Venda, armed with nothing but a dream and a relentless spirit, has carried the heart of Venda culture onto the grand stage of the world. Congratulations to the cast and crew 🥂
All gratitudes to World Film Festival in Cannes.”
So, what exactly is the Cannes World Film Festival?
Founded in 2020, the Cannes World Film Festival is an independent hybrid event that takes place in Cannes, France. It is not affiliated with the official Festival de Cannes, which runs this year from 13 to 24 May 2025. Instead, it offers a monthly and annual competition format where filmmakers from around the globe can submit their work via platforms like FilmFreeway. The festival celebrates fresh perspectives, underrepresented voices, and socially-conscious storytelling. Monthly winners like Lubunyu qualify for the prestigious “Luciole d’Or” (Golden Firefly) at the annual awards held in the same iconic city.
This structure opens the door for independent creators and has become a vital launchpad for powerful stories that may not otherwise be seen on international screens.
And Lubunyu is just that: a deeply layered film grounded in Venda history and modern-day conflict. Filmed entirely in Ha-Khakhu Makuleni, Limpopo, the title translates to “the naked intruder”. A metaphor that begins to unravel as the story unfolds. Inspired by real events with fictional threads, the film explores the complex tensions between tradition and change, diving into themes of justice, deception and identity.
The cast is stacked with heavyweights of South African television and film: Tshamano Sebe, Macdonald Ndou, Elsie Rasalanavho, Hangwani Ramakuwela, Nokukhanya Luthuli, Azwidohwi Tshirangwana and Murendeni Ramunenyiwa all bring their A-game to this powerful project.
To call it a win for Murena would be an understatement. It’s a win for Venda. A win for South African cinema. A win for homegrown storytelling that doesn’t try to be anything but itself and still manages to resonate far beyond our borders.
So let’s celebrate this moment. Let’s share it widely. And let’s remember that even the smallest villages can produce world-class voices. All it takes is someone brave enough to tell the story.
Congratulations, Murena. You’ve made us incredibly proud.
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