We get your films seen

A one-stop distribution partner for filmmakers

Indigenous Film Distribution, established in 2009, is South Africa’s leading niche film distributor.
Over the past decade, we have distributed more than 60 films.

Distribution

Development

We are a team of people who have expertise in the acquisition, distribution and marketing of films.

Through our dedication to the promotion and growth of the industry, we have developed a proven distribution methodology uniquely tailored to the South African environment.

African content for Africans is our motto.

We find unique ways to fund and distribute films in South Africa and into the rest of the African continent. As a boutique distributor with an established track record, we work with a wide network of producers, directors and investors, and we have deep insights into how film marketing works.
Whether your project is just beginning, about to go into production, or ready to be released, we will work with you to ensure that your film is successful – by which we mean that it reaches your target audience.

The best marketing campaigns ensure that movies reach the cinema, or other distribution channel, and live on for many years. At Indigenous Film Distribution, we work with filmmakers to maximise the lifecycle of every film, on every platform – including cinema, DVD, television and online.
We enjoy supporting new and emerging directors and producers, and have increased our diversity, reach and scale to be able to meet the demands of the vibrant African film industry.

Everyone has a story. What’s yours?

Things we are proud of The range of films on our slate speaks volumes about the passion we have invested in our work and the insights and creativity that drive the release strategy of every film we distribute. We love South African film, and you should too!

2010
- We released blockbusters like ‘Schuks Tshabalala’s Guide to South Africa’, ‘Jakhalsdans’ and the phenomenal success ‘Liefling, die Movie’, as well as some niche market titles like ‘Eternity’, ‘The Unforgiving’ and ‘Long Street’.
- Leon Schuster’s ‘Schuks Tshabalala’ became the biggest grossing South African feature film of all time.
2011
- We released ‘Night Drive’, ‘Paradise Stop’, ‘Visa Vie’, ‘How To Steal 2 Million’ and the hugely popular ‘Platteland’, which starred the biggest number of local singers in a South African film ever.
2012
- Multi-award winning South African coming-of-age film ‘Otelo Burning’, directed by Sara Blecher, became an international triumph, winning awards across the globe for its moving tale of a troubled yet gifted young surfer in KwaZulu-Natal in the late 80s.
2013
- Local 3D animated comedy ‘Khumba’, about a half-striped zebra who is rejected by his superstitious herd, made history after it became the first South African film to be released on DVD in English, Afrikaans and Zulu.
- We released ‘Fanie Fourie’s Lobola’, a South African romantic comedy based on the novel of the same name by Nape à Motana. Directed by Henk Pretorius, it tells the story of the complications that ensue when an Afrikaans man and a Zulu woman fall in love, especially when the traditional custom of lobola makes things even more difficult for them.
2014
- We released, ‘Elelwani’, South Africa’s first Tshivenda language feature film. Directed by Ntshaveni Wa Luruli, and based on the novel by Titus Ntsiene Maumela, the film tells the story of a young woman who leaves her rural village for the big city. However, when she returns home after completing her studies, she finds herself baulking against the cultural norms of her family. The film was shot against the glorious green backdrop of the Thohoyandou area of Limpopo.
- Director Ian Gabriel’s acclaimed, hard-hitting drama ‘Four Corners’ opened to rave reviews, locally and internationally. The coming-of-age thriller explores the harsh realities of the unique and volatile gangland sub-culture of the sprawling Cape Flats.
- Local crime drama ‘iNumber Number’ featured in the top ten at the box office for several weeks. It won Best Screenplay at the Toronto Film Festival and went on to win many more awards before being picked up by Universal Pictures for a Hollywood remake. Directed by Donovan Marsh, the film stars Sdumo Mtshali, Presley Chweneyagae, Hlubi Mboya, Israel Makoe and Brandon Daniels as gangsters intent on pulling off a multi-million rand hijacking.
2015
- ‘Ayanda’, a coming-of-age story about a 21-year-old Afro-hipster, produced by Terry Pheto and directed by Sara Blecher, won multiple local and international awards and screened at films festivals around the world. That same year, ‘Ayanda’ became the first South African film to be screened on Netflix USA.
2016
- The documentary ‘Blood Lions’, directed by Nick Chevallier and Bruce Young, blew the brutal lid off the canned lion hunting industry. It was made by a team of filmmakers and conservationists, including wildlife campaigner Ian Michler, and accompanies them on their quest to uncover the dark truth.
- We brought homegrown romance to the big screen with ‘Mrs Right Guy’, an escapist romcom directed by Adze Ugah. The film stars Dineo Moeketsi as the lovelorn Gugu Hlatshwayo. Downhearted and disappointed by love, she has grown up with the curse of being the ‘It Girl’, the most beautiful and wanted by everyone.
2017
- ‘Pop Lock ’n Roll’, is about finding the strength to dance again – despite life’s curve-balls. With a cast led by avid hip-hop dancer Maurice Paige, and singer-songwriter and actress, Yasirah Bhelz, the film was directed by Ziggy Hofmeyr and produced by Mayenzeke Baza. It features heart-stopping dance feats, accompanied by some of South Africa’s best produced hip-hop and dance music.
- Pioneering film ‘Love by Chance’, directed by award-winning international ﬁlm and television producer and director Samad Davis, brought together US and South African talent, bridging cultural and continental divides against the backdrop of a comedy. The film was produced by Atlanta-based Ty Johnston-Chavis, and South African producers Dumi Gumbi and Catharina Weinek .
2018
- ‘Inxeba’ (The Wound), a gay love story told entirely in isiXhosa, starring musician and singer Nakhane and produced by Urucu Media, was chosen as South Africa’s entry into the 90th Academy Awards, known officially as The Oscars, in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.
- Michael Matthews’ ‘Five Fingers for Marseilles’, starring Vuyo Dabula, made a thunderous debut at the box office, opening with more than half a million in ticket sales. The contemporary Western, the first to be made in South Africa, is set in the rugged badlands of the Eastern Cape. It premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.