Being Mandela
Our Team
Leo Phiri
Founder
An established filmmaker, Leo’s first notable work was as a Director in the acclaimed HIV/AIDS documentary ‘A Fighting Spirit’ (STEPS), a special jury prize winner at the 2002 BANFF Film Festival. The year 2001 saw Leo collaborating as co-Director with South African filmmaker Rehad Desai (‘Miner’s shot Down’) in the internationally acclaimed documentary film ‘My land My Life’, a story that tackles the land issue in Zimbabwe commissioned by Australian broadcaster SBS.
In a career spanning almost 30 years, credits as a Feature Film Assistant Director include Idrissa Ouedraogo’s ‘Kini and Adams’, Charles Burnett’s “Namibia- The Struggle for Liberation” and Raoul Peck’s ‘Lumumba’. Visit www.imdb.com/name/nm0681062 for Leo Phiri’s online resume.
Leo has become one of South Africa’s most sought-after Television Producers with producing credits for popular TV shows that include ‘Muvhango’ and ‘Isidingo’ and Line Producing credits for ‘Uzalo’, ‘Imbewu’ and the recently released first African Netflix Original Documentary Crime Drama Series ‘Senzo:Murder of a soccer star’. Leo is the Creator and Executive Producer for all content under the ‘Being Mandela’ production banner, a content platform that Produced ‘Nelson Mandela’ themed content in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to celebrate Madiba’s centenary year in 2018. The first film project under the banner ‘Joko Ya Hao’ directed by Mmabatho Montsho and nominated in the 2020 South African Film and Television awards for ‘Best short Film’ was picked up by Showmax and Mnet. The 2nd film ‘July 18th is’ directed by Mandla N is currently in Post-Production.
As Producer, Leo’s first Feature length film ‘Blind Eye’, a drama that explores municipal corruption in Kwa-Zulu Natal is slated to be released by evod in 2023 and has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Known Associates Entertainment. As of 2021 Leo has been Showrunner on ‘ubettina Wethu’, a South African adaptation of the popular Colombian telenovela ‘Yo soy Betty, La fea’ currently now going into Pre-Production on its 4th Season in August 2023. Season 3 has finished its first run on SABC 1 and is currently showing on etv.
Projects in development include ‘Stolen Freedom’ a 100- minute feature film funded by the KZN Film Commission and ‘Love Hard’ a 24- minute film funded by the NFVF in development funding. Episodic drama series in ‘The Paymaster” and ‘Black Dragon Rises’ complete Leo’s slate of active projects.
Eugene K Mametse
Head of Sales & Sponsorships
Soweto born, Eugene K Mametse is the Head of Sales & Sponsorships at BEING MANDELA with responsibility to drive marketing programs, corporate sponsorship and public engagement with the brand. Eugene’s greatest strengths are his creativity, strategic skills and his passion for excellence. He has worked in strategic communication positions in the corporate space. Notable is his 5 years at the public broadcaster, where he marketed key Television properties.
Having been in the media, film space for over a decade, Eugene has had many career highlights including working on the 2006 Oscar Award winner SA film TSOTSI, local art favourites Carmen Ukayelitsha, Zulu Love Letter, launching the successful City of Joburg New Year Event Annual Party broadcast on SABC2, Late Night with Kgomotso and Qbase28 brand, conceptualizing the Lyric Theatre Afro Café Concerts, Pasella Nights and marketing and leading PR of Motsweding FM in the North West Province.
He holds a national film & broadcasting Diploma, a Bachelor degree, Advanced Certificate in Public Relations and currently serves as a board member of the Sindi Dlathu Foundation and is a panel advisor to the council at the National Film and Video Foundation.
He is a passionate about the business of broadcasting, communications, media and film. He is also a co-founder of Seven Colors Communications.