Thati Pele

Born and raised in Johannesburg (South Africa), Thati PELE is a statistician turned storyteller who uses humour to interrogate intimate relationships, gender, social norms, and the human condition. She is an alumni of New York University’s graduate film programme and won the Spike Lee grant for her short film Lerato, which travelled to numerous festivals, including SXSW, and won best film at Ciclope Africa 2019.

Her award-winning commercial work has been screened around the world and she has recently directed shows for Netflix, including Blood and Water and Savage Beauty. Thati’s work stands out for its moving performances, bold visual storytelling and unusual characters. She is a 2020 alumni of the prestigious Realness African Screenwriters’ Residency, and a 2021 alumni of the Locarno Filmmakers Academy. Thati is currently in development of her debut feature film Brace Yourself, a thrilling drama with comedic elements about an unassuming orthodontist who holds her family hostage on an island getaway and won’t let them leave until they love her again.

Filmography

Lerato (2019, short)